Features Overview

We collected here the news about Circle of Friends appeared in Public Media.

Our President with AIESEC volunteers at the office /photo credits: Yongkuk Ryou/

March 9-10, 2017

The Daily UW, Vol 125 issue 39

“It’s not obvious; they come to school, they come [to work], and you don’t necessarily know what they’re struggling with and a lot of times they don’t share,” Lewis said. “We want to provide them with opportunities to enrich their lives, and bring an outlet for recovery and healing and self-expression to people who are marginalized and are not looked at as humans.”

To do this, Circle of Friends relies entirely on a staff of unpaid volunteers — from board members to teachers — to provide classes in recovery centers and residential facilities across the city of Seattle.

Writer: Mayova Aina /wellness@dailyuw.com/

Artwork from Circle of Friends participants featured at a 2013 art show. (Photo via Circle of Friends for Mental Health Facebook page)

April 11, 2017

The Seattle Globalist

“Through art, people are able to escape or cope with their realities, I can’t think of any other way for people to experience this kind of healing.”

The class facilitating expression and sharing is coordinated by Circle of Friends for Mental Health, an organization that brings free art, drumming, creative writing, and movement classes to people in Seattle who are homeless, or struggle with mental health or addiction issues. Geared towards adults of all ages, the organization now provides 10 classes activating creative self-expression at nine locations throughout Seattle.

Writer: Jeevika Verma /editor@seattleglobalist.com /