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
We are a women led nonprofit organization and a peer-support recovery community.
Mission
Crescent Moon Center is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to build a community of support around people recovering from addiction 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
Vision
Crescent Moon Center envisions 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 Approach
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. 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 Core Values
Community
Connection
Compassion
Authenticity
Trust
Courage
Hope
Diversity
Nature
Creativity
Well-Being
Mindfulness
Gratitude
Respect
Our Story
Karen Kahn is the Founder, President, and Executive Director of Crescent Moon Center.
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. Learn More about Karen and our team.
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.