Southbury Art Event To Support Children Affected By Violence

SOUTHBURY, CT — A community art event in Southbury on June 4 will support children affected by domestic and sexual violence through the nonprofit Hearts of Hope.

The “Paint with a Purpose” event, hosted in partnership with Vicinanza Studios & Gallery, will invite participants to paint ceramic hearts and include handwritten messages of compassion and encouragement. The hearts will be donated to Pathways to Hope, a program run by the Center for Family Justice that serves children ages 7 to 17 who have experienced trauma in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull.

The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vicinanza Studios & Gallery, 493 Heritage Road, Suite 4C. Participation costs $10 per heart, with donations also welcome.

The program marks the first installment of Hearts of Hope’s three-part Summer Series. The national nonprofit, founded in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, established its first Connecticut chapter in Newtown after the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. It supports individuals and communities navigating grief through art, education and outreach programs.

For more information, visit www.ourheartsofhope.org.