Grantee Spotlight: Creativity Offers a Path to Healing & Resistance

We see you. We hear you. We believe in you. Those powerful phrases are all encompassed in one Zulu word: Sawubona.

So it’s fitting that Sawubona serves as the name of an innovative nonprofit that supports youth and teens in Bridgeport through creative expression. A first-time grantee this year, Sawubona aims to nurture resilience and mental well-being through expressive arts such as drawing, drumming, movement, writing, music, and gardening.

“Studies show that for people who suffer from trauma, talk therapy is not always the most effective,” said Dr. Charles Morgan, Sawubona co-founder. “Trauma often resides in the body. If we can get people to express that, especially young people, who aren’t necessarily comfortable talking to adults, then that’s a win.”