Healing Happens in Community

Our community offerings are designed to bring people together in ways that nurture healing and inspire change. From circles of reflection and culturally rooted wellness gatherings to creative spaces of art and storytelling, each experience opens pathways for connection, advocacy, and renewal. Whether through prevention initiatives, panels that raise awareness, or moments of shared expression, we honor the resilience of those impacted by violence, grief, and systemic oppression. And because L.O.V.E. speaks for itself, this page lifts the voices of our community as living proof of healing in motion.

Kayla E. Jones

I remember the first time I worked with Dionne. It was around 2013, I was 17 years old. Luckily there was a youth work program to help students who needed extra credits in school, along with actual work experience in exchange for a paid part time position. Through this program I was connected to Dionne & her beautiful art studio in Oakland. Though I had no idea what to expect, I soon realized I got more than money could pay for. During my time working with Dionne, I learned more about life. She was exactly the role model I needed during that time in my life as a 17 year old girl growing up in the Bay Area. She not only guided me, I also witnessed her helping other youth in the local area. Her art studio was a safe haven where I got to be a young girl learning the ins & outs of becoming a young woman. Now at age 29, I can say the things I learned from Dionne helped me throughout my life. She taught me the art of clearing my mind, using my words & feelings to articulate & understand various seasons of my young life. She kept it real, and even allowed me to see some of the things she as my elder was still working on in terms of healing. I can truly say she helped me heal through art & poetry. I will never forget how she interrupted a time in my life when I truly needed a brave woman such as herself to help guide me on the right path for myself! Much Love Ms. D

Dymea Craig-Riley

The day I witnessed Dionne stand on her passion, as a resource and advocate for the community she grew up in, that was confirmation of Dionne’s calling for me. Dionne’s action has shown LOVE and commitment through change initiatives for the communities she lives and works in. I personally witnessed her passion for orchestrating change by leading with LOVE, with her feet on the street for over 30 years throughout Bay Area major cities. Dionne arrives with momentum, imprint, and a heart-shaped footprint in awareness and resource initiatives related to unsheltered neighbors, gun violence prevention, and avoidance measures, to prevent health deficiencies. She inspires me & others with her expressions through Art. Dionne is a visionary vessel for the community as her many perspectives, knowledge, and LOVE inspires positive impact on the overall well-being of the people

Nicky MacCallum - Former Healing Director at Youth ALIVE!

Dionne always brings her whole heart, her compassion, and her professionalism to the events she hosts. For the past five years, Dionne has been providing “Painting for Peace,” events for both participants and staff at Youth ALIVE! A violence prevention and intervention organization in Oakland California. The most impactful events Dionne hosts have been in support of our Khadafy Washington Project families. These are families who have lost loved ones to homicide. Participants of these events talk about the joy and healing Dionne’s events have given them, and they immediately start asking when they can attend another of Dionne’s “Painting for Peace,” events. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Dionne for more than fifteen years and I cannot recommend her highly enough.