ART4HEALING & STUDIO ART
ART SPEAKS WHERE WORDS CANNOT.
ART4HEALING
Certified in an established program called "Art4Healing", Crescent Moon Center's director will facilitate a theme-based two-hour art workshop using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and collage. It is a fast-paced painting project created around themes and questions within the themes, some allowing only 2 minutes to respond to. At the end of each exercise, participants are encouraged to share about their painting experience and the emotions involved. This is an educational exercise, and no prior art experience is necessary.
STUDIO ART
Center participants will have access to a well-equipped art studio which allows self-expression through art in an unstructured environment, selecting from a range of materials such as paint, clay, etc. An Artist in Residency will provide a peer mentorship to all particpants.
ART4HEALING & STUDIO ART
ART SPEAKS WHERE WORDS CANNOT.
ART4HEALING
Certified in an established program called "Art4Healing", Crescent Moon Center's director will facilitate a theme-based two-hour art workshop using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and collage. It is a fast-paced painting project created around themes and questions within the themes, some allowing only 2 minutes to respond to. At the end of each exercise, participants are encouraged to share about their painting experience and the emotions involved. This is an educational exercise, and no prior art experience is necessary.
STUDIO ART
Center participants will have access to a well-equipped art studio which allows self-expression through art in an unstructured environment, selecting from a range of materials such as paint, clay, etc. An Artist in Residency will provide a peer mentorship to all particpants.
ABOUT US
Crescent Moon Center is a place for healing through horses and art located at Rush Ranch
on a 2070-acre nature preserve. We offer an innovative, experiential learning program
for people in recovery from Substance Use Disorders.
​
We are a women-led 501c3 nonprofit organization and a peer-support recovery community.
OUR MISSION
Crescent Moon Center's mission is to build a community of support around people recovering from substance use disorders by:
(1) offering experiential equine-assisted learning and creative arts programs
(2) improving access to recovery resources and programs for diverse, underserved and under-resourced communities
(3) advocating for change in the public’s perception of substance use disorders
(4) developing coalitions and initiatives for addiction recovery support locally, regionally, and nationally
OUR VISION
We envision a world where addiction is met with compassion -- where shame and stigma are no longer obstacles to recovery.
​
Through advocacy, we give voice to the systemic and cultural barriers that negatively affect people impacted by addiction and facilitate public dialogue that will lead to a shared understanding and change.
​
We offer a bridge for people in recovery, a bridge that helps avoid relapse, a bridge to a meaningful and life-fulfilling engagement with community.
OUR CORE VALUES
Community
Connection
Compassion
Authenticity
Trust
Courage
Hope
Diversity
Nature
Creativity
Well-Being
Mindfulness
Gratitude
Respect
1. We believe that substance use recovery is a challenging journey which requires a support system.
​
2. We believe everyone should have access to recovery programs and support, regardless of socio-economic status or position.
​
3. We believe that horses and art enable people to learn about themselves through different lenses of discovery.
​
4. We believe this experiential process promotes personal development and healing for people recovering from substance use disorders.
​
5. We believe educational activities which take place in a natural environment enhance our quality of life.
​
6. We value the preservation of wilderness and the beauty and serenity of nature as a means for finding inner peace and engagement with life.
​
7. We believe that developing self-awareness, insight, and confidence help us to realize our full potential.
​
8. We encourage people living with the challenges of substance use disorders to pursue their unique purpose and achieve wellbeing in their lives.
​
9. We believe in addressing the specific needs of each individual and supporting reintegration into meaningful relationships.
​
10. We maintain safe, caring, and sustainable standards of practice relating to our programs.
WHO
WE SERVE
​​Our program is for adults (18+) who are looking for connection to community and a fresh perspective that includes new and creative ways to help with long-term sobriety.
​
Many participants do not have the resources to attend private rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient services. Others have exhausted their financial resources while still needing support on their recovery journey.
As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to improving access to recovery resources and programs for diverse, underserved and under-resourced communities. Through scholarships, we enable participation for those who need financial support.
​
Crescent Moon bridges the gap between residential and outpatient programs, and sober living homes.
We provide support for reintegration into meaningful personal relationships and employment.
​
We work in partnership with 501C3 nonprofits, Access Adventure, which provides therapeutic horses for our EAL workshops, and The Solano Land Trust, which hosts our program at Rush Ranch (an in-kind donation) to primarily serve the residents of Solano County, one of the most underserved and under-resourced counties in CA. Participants also come from the San Francisco Bay Area and around the country.
We started locally with our pilot program and are building our network with the intention to scale our program nationally.
​
OUR APPROACH
Our program is inspired by scientific research into the healing benefits of equine-assisted learning and creative expression which support mental health and addiction recovery.
​
Crescent Moon Center approaches recovery through the creative process and experiential learning - learning through personal observation and interactive experience, followed by reflection, integration and application of newly learned perspectives. Our arts and equine programs are designed to integrate with one another. Each workshop provides a unique lens of self-discovery, helping to address the root causes of addiction through a deep and creative journey.
Through our program, Healing Reflections, we provide ongoing support - 1:1 peer-mentorships, peer-support groups, individual and group activities, internships, community events, and art exhibits. Our art gallery provides a platform for participants and the recovery community to share their journey to sobriety and advocate for change in the public's perception of addiction.
OUR FOUNDER
Karen Kahn is Crescent Moon Center's Founder, President, and Executive Director.
Crescent Moon grew out of Karen's personal experience with a family member who struggled with addiction. With this perspective into the recovery process, she realized how important it is that people in recovery have access to affordable programs which promote sustained recovery.
​
Karen strongly believes that horses and creative arts can have a transformative effect on one’s life. She is a certified member of the Board of Equine Interaction Professionals and is a licensed partner of Medicine Horse Ranch. She is also certified in Art4Healing by Brandman University.
POETIC VISION
Karen wrote this poem as she was contemplating what to say about the vision of Crescent Moon.
It was supposed to be a paragraph, but it came out as a poem. The imagery came from her belief that the phases of the moon are metaphors for the phases of recovery. It shows the magic of recovery, the importance of connection to the universe- the sky, the moon, the earth- the physical and the spiritual.
​
We invite you to support this vision for Crescent Moon, a place for healing through horses and art.
Your gift will help to provide an innovative, experiential journey into recovery from drug and alcohol addiction for people who have exhausted their resources trying to maintain sobriety, those who have not been able to take advantage of costly recovery programs, or those who are looking for new, creative ways to enhance their sobriety.
WHY
"CRESCENT MOON" ?
​
In ancient times, the Naja, an emblem which symbolizes the crescent moon, was placed on the headstall of a horse's bridle to ward off "evil spirits."
​
The word 'crescent' comes from the Latin term 'seres' meaning to bring forth and create. 'Crescere' is a Latin term for grow and thrive. This is a perfect metaphor for individuals in recovery who are creating new pathways and cultivating personal growth.