Rooted in Healing, Connected by Art: Reflections from AFTACON 2025

Written by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP, FAAF, QPRT

Community Engagement, Cultural Awareness & Belonging Manager, Healing Arts Project, Inc. (HAPI)

When I arrived in Cincinnati for AFTACON 2025, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew it was a national gathering of artists, cultural workers, and creative change-makers, but I didn’t anticipate just how transformative the experience would be for me personally, and for what it means to represent HAPI in this moment.

At Healing Arts Project, Inc., we walk alongside individuals navigating mental health and addiction recovery, offering creative expression as a path toward healing. At AFTACON, I had the chance to see how that mission aligns with a much larger national movement, one that centers justice, equity, and the radical power of art.

Each day, I stepped into workshops that pushed my thinking and affirmed the heart of what we do. Sessions like “Aspiring to Liberation Through Art” and “Dance is for Everyone” reminded me that healing isn’t always linear, and that the arts give us room to grieve, resist, imagine, and be restored. These were more than discussions; they were reminders that art can hold what traditional systems often can’t.

One of the most beautiful parts of the conference were what they called our daily Artventures. Before or after sessions, where we explored Cincinnati’s cultural heartbeat, Black-led art spaces, mural walks, interactive exhibitions, Indigenous historical information, and conversations that reminded me why art belongs to the people. These moments weren’t just inspiring, they gave me ideas for how HAPI can expand our healing framework through more community-based storytelling and cultural immersion.

Networking also played a huge role. Connecting with artists, funders, and fellow administrators from across the country opened doors we didn’t even know existed. I had meaningful conversations with grantmakers who understand the intersection of recovery and creative expression, and I learned from other leaders developing innovative, community-rooted programs. These exchanges planted seeds for future collaborations and reminded me that HAPI’s work is deeply valued beyond Tennessee.

Two standout sessions were “Creative Collaborations: Innovations in Partnership,” and "Justice Through Creativity: Advancing Equity in Divided Times," where we explored what it looks like to build partnerships across healthcare, education, and cultural institutions. This resonated with me so deeply, because it mirrors how we at HAPI show up, in peer centers, galleries, and the community, bringing art where it’s needed most.

And then there was joy. The after-hours events like the Arts Action Fund Fundraiser Reception and Party at the Banks weren’t just fun, they were a space to be in community, to laugh, to dance, and to share space with people who are just as passionate about art, artists, and community as we are. It reminded me that connection is part of the work too.

I left AFTACON 2025 feeling energized, seen, and rooted. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose, not just as a community engagement employee, but as someone entrusted with creating space for others to heal and thrive. I carry with me new ideas, new allies, and a deeper belief in what’s possible for our artists at HAPI.

We are not alone in this work. We are part of a movement.