January 2023: Letter from the Director

Once again, we blinked, and another calendar year has arrived! Happy 2023! During our first team meeting of the new year, I asked everyone whether they were “resolution people” or not. Folks generally seem to be in one camp or the other and we had a pretty even split. I usually don’t make a resolution, but this year I decided I want to be more creative.

Over the holiday break I crocheted my very first scarf. Reader, I will be honest: it is not pretty. The weave is loose and it has more than a few dropped stitches. But it is soft and it is warm so that’s a win. I also have a watercolor kit waiting to be opened and ingredients to make homemade candles; deciding how I want to be creative was more challenging than I expected. Perhaps my resolution should have been “how to make a decision.”

My Year of Creativity will hopefully yield more than just inundating the SARA team with my unsolicited handicrafts, because creativity isn’t just for the arts and crafts. Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed—and that gets to the heart of what we do here at SARA. Healing from trauma is the formation of something new and valuable. Discovering impactful ways to reach new communities takes imagination. Changing our culture to prevent sexual violence requires innovation. My Year of Creativity is, in part, inspired by the creativity I see our team use every day. They problem solve, dream and craft, share ideas, ask hard questions, take chances, and try new things to make SARA more vibrant and impactful every day. So, when every table in the office is covered with a crocheted doily and homemade soap is in every restroom, blame it on the SARA team for inspiring me.

If you would like to support our work, it is never too late or too early to make a donation.

I wish you a creative and happy new year.

Renee Branson

Executive Director