with just some art supplies and an open
heart there is a group in Detroit that's
helping to change life Mitch Albom shows
us how art and soul is using the power
of creativity to make a difference in
the heart of Detroit tucked inside
central United Methodist Church is a
cozy studio that welcomes homeless men
and women to step inside and express
themselves artistically as people
wouldn't necessarily think the first
thing that a homeless person would want
to do is to sit down and paint something
what we'd love to do it our torso as we
love the creepy
[Music]
a home where art feeds the soul run by
an Winsley part and soul is providing
dignity and a sense of purpose to people
who are homeless people like Tiana Odom
once destitute but now flourishing we
try to be a family down in Arden so once
you come in I think you'll hear laughter
there's a lot of bright colors around
people are doing their own thing maybe a
crayon or some pencil sitting by them in
there start a doodle project and the
next thing you know we're framing and
hanging it somewhere art and soul has
exhibited of multiple venues including
Henry Ford Hospital and festivals like
ArtPrize and Grand Rapids artists also
sell their work throughout Detroit
giving each artist a sense of
fulfillment what is it about art or
creativity
that is soothing educational healing I
guess in some way you all have artistic
abilities but to follow through and
complete a project is what's important
and
we have
bringing art into the hands of the
homeless art and soul is painting with
the purpose right here in the heart of
Detroit great story and joining me now
in studio is tuwana Odum an artist with
art and soul thank you so much for being
here thank you thank you now Mitch
mentioned in the piece that you know
what the artists are going through
because you were once homeless that's
correct I was once homeless and art and
soul is a refuge for a lot of homeless
people down in the city of Detroit all
right so what does it mean when they can
do something like this for people what
does that mean it means a great
follow-through a lot of times like their
piece said we go through our prize and
Grand Rapids we get a chance to showcase
our art pieces
okay now speaking of art pieces we have
several here in the studio tell us about
them I'm so happy to show you the first
piece with all of our Detroit sports
teams and we got Stanley one of the
creatives of marble where you love our
piece here on the table fierce warrior
girl mm-hmm and I tell this people about
this last piece is that it's only a tree
it's only a tree but I see a face yes
okay good I caught that I like it I like
it so how do those who are homeless
become part of the program I'm actually
only thing you got to do is just bring
yourself we have a lot of supplies down
at the Art Studio we are at Central
Methodist on the fifth floor and that
studio provides a place for everybody to
shine through just shifting from art a
little bit or there are other ways
beyond the art that people can get help
in services maybe counseling I'm sure
there is
we're part of the NOAA project which
works out of central Methodist and they
have a bunch of resources down there for
everybody that's wonderful so how can
people help your program people can help
our program by participating
if they have any art supplies we also
need a sustainable idea you know we want
to carry our program further and to
shout-out to anybody who has a
sustainable idea for us okay beautiful
Towanda thank you so much for being with
us we appreciate you