LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Vaillaun Gentry finds herself spending hours healing inside Shawnee's Sacred Earth Community Garden.
It's a safe place to help those get through trauma.
"If you don't have the right way to cope with it, or the right way to deal with your stress or anger, it might lead to a bad area like a bad path," said Gentry.
She helped plant some of the vegetables inside the garden. It's a constant reminder to her of just how far she's grown.
"I've become more communicative with other people because at first when I joined I was very to myself and I would always draw in my book," Gentry said.
UofL Health – UofL Hospital and the J. David Richardson Trauma Center partnered with organizations in communities deeply impacted by gun violence over the last six months through it's Motivating Individuals Navigating Trauma (MINT) project. The hospital connected the community through different mediums of art therapy.
For example, participants are able to express themselves through music within the program.
"We have created different playlist with them and then we say how is this making you feel in this moment," said Kiara James, community health worker supervisor at UofL.
Gun violence victims and others with trauma were taught how to heal through different workshops.
Organizations like 50/50 Mentoring Collaborative, which focuses on art, technology and mentorship is proud to partner with the hospital and trauma center.
"I think it is needed for them to come inside of community, the hospital is a beautiful resource for families and people dealing with different types of trauma but sometimes some people don't want to go to the hospital," Nicole Hayden, the founder of 50/50 Mentoring Collaborative, said.
Gentry is now sharing her story to help others heal through their pain.
"It makes me feel happy to know there's a lot more people than just my family caring about me and trying to get me to a better place," she said.
Music and art continue to be two reminders that healing can come through peace.
Anyone who is a gun violence survivor and interested to learn more about the program can call the Community Health Workers at (502)-693-2749.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.