July 7, 2004
Just Imagine turns pain into positive force
Healing Center provides grief counseling along with artistic and spiritual programs
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Two area women are transcending tragedy and sharing healing through art and spirituality.
Laurie Gonda and Marti Copplestone both have survived their share of grief and loss in the past few years. They have transformed their pain into a positive force by founding the Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center, an interfaith church they opened in March. Through a range of programs, including dance, yoga, fiddle classes, grief counseling, music and health education, the pair offer the community a respite from specific grief issues as well as a place to grow emotionally, artistically and spiritually.
"We kind of knew this would have a life of its own and I networked for ten years and just gathered all this information," Copplestone said. "We just wanted to open our doors and have everyone come in and heal through the arts."
Copplestone noted that the center, located in the former Traverse City Christian Church on 14th Street, is not just about grief or loss.
"A lot of people think that when we talk about loss it is about death," she said. "But we're just here to offer a wonderful space so people can go through any loss they've suffered. We hope to offer a divorce support group in the fall."
Copplestone was inspired to start the center in part by her daughter Kerrie Hanson, who died of leukemia in 2000. The two had planned a healing center together modeled after Gilda's Club, a worldwide program for people whose lives have been touched by cancer. The death of Copplestone's 15-year-old nephew, Scott Conrad Bowen, last year from a car accident provided the additional impetus.
"I came home from Alabama [where the accident happened] and fell on my knees and said, 'God, take my life or show me my purpose,'" Copplestone recalled. "About a week later the money was donated to us [to purchase the building for the Center]. That's been my whole life, no matter what the tragedy, make something positive, no matter where you're at."
Tragedy also brushed Gonda's life as her sister, Jacqueline, died in January and her niece, Maria Rose, in 2001.
The two closed on the 4,600-square foot building in December and began an intense three-month period of preparation. Artists and volunteers materialized to help redecorate the sanctuary, fellowship rooms and offices, whose walls are now vibrant with color and artwork.
Copplestone and Gonda continue to add programs, determined to provide a full-range of offerings for individuals, families and children. Classes include a course in miracles, praise dance, meditative movement and dance exploration. The facility also includes a healing garden, a Namaste room for quiet meditation and a lending library.
"We want to have wonderful programs for everyone here, a wonderful facility that's full all day and jammed with wonderful programs for healing," said Copplestone.
Saturdays include a family gathering day at no charge, where parents and children are urged to attend and create artwork or take a class.
"Families first is our initiative here, back to basics with kids," Copplestone said. "We want parents to take time out of this fast-paced life, so they can come here with their children to do things separately or together."
The Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center also offers a Friday Night Express Coffeehouse every week at 8 p.m. Led by local storyteller Steven Holl, the event features stories, music, poetry and song geared to teens and adults.
"It's my hope that Just Imagine's coffee house can be a place where we can take a risk, become vulnerable, share a little bit of who we are," said Holl Friday evening during a performance before 12 attendees. "That's what I'm hoping this will be."
The Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center is located at 225 W. 14th St. For more information, call the center at 932-9808 or visit their website at www.justimaginecahc.com for a schedule of classes and events.