Navigating Emotional Well-Being: A Trauma-Informed Journey
Discover peer-supported strategies for emotional well-being. Join us on a journey of resilience with practical self-care tips and a customizable toolkit.
Stars of HOPE in Lewiston, ME
Join us for a life-changing experience of compassion with Stars of HOPE in Lewiston, ME. Handcrafted by survivors and artists, these therapeutic stars bring comfort and solidarity to diverse communities. Thanks to nationwide volunteers for igniting hope’s light.
Creating Connections: Art, Mental Health, and Community Support
Discover the transformative power of art in mental health and community support. Explore how Stars of HOPE fosters connections through collective creativity. Find crisis helpline resources for support.
Stars of HOPE: Healing Through Art in Times of Crisis
In the wake of mass violence or natural disasters, the path to recovery can often feel uncertain and overwhelming. The emotional toll on survivors and communities is immeasurable, and the healing process can be tremendously challenging. Amidst the chaos and heartache, there exists an organization that serves as a beacon of hope – Stars of HOPE USA.
Imagine wooden stars becoming canvases, meticulously adorned with vibrant colors and heartfelt messages of support. These stars transcend mere art; they symbolize the indomitable spirit of humanity, the catalytic power of collective healing, and the restoration of social connections. Let us now delve into the purpose and profound impact of Stars of HOPE, exploring the transformative role of art in disaster response, and seeking to understand how this innovative initiative can truly change lives.
The Hidden Wounds: Understanding and Coping with PTSD in Disaster Survivors
When someone survives a disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake, terrorist attack, or accident, their problems don’t necessarily end when the event does. For many people who have witnessed or experienced a disaster, the symptoms of PTSD become a greater burden than the trauma. Although survivors may be safe, their minds are still struggling with the aftermath. Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as “PTSD,” is common among disaster survivors. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges of coping with PTSD after a disaster and provide effective strategies for survivors.
Art-Based Self-Expression for Emotional Release
Art-based self-expression can be a powerful tool for facilitating emotional release and promoting healing. Discover how Stars of HOPE can be used as a tool for self-care and support for individuals impacted by trauma. Learn how art-based self-expression can help individuals connect with their emotions and find a sense of peace and clarity. Join us in creating messages of hope and love through our Stars of HOPE program and experience the healing power of art for yourself.
Painting as Therapy: How Stars of Hope is Using Art to Help Trauma Survivors Find Healing and Resilience
Art has long been recognized as a powerful tool for self-expression and healing. For many people, the act of creating art – whether it be through painting, drawing, sculpture, or any other medium – can be a therapeutic and cathartic experience. This is particularly true for individuals who have experienced trauma, as art can provide […]
The Important Role of Being a Survivor Advocate
As a survivor advocate, it is important to be able to connect with people from all walks of life. Oftentimes, survivors need someone to trust, and they may not feel comfortable opening up to others. As an advocate, it is essential that you create a safe and supportive environment for them. This means being patient and understanding while also being assertive when necessary.
How Art Heals Emotional Pain
Note: by using the term ‘art,’ we’re not referring to the entertainment industry or any other form of artistic commercialization. Rather, we discuss art as a tangible bridge between reality and the world of ideas and dreams. Art is a window into our inner worlds. It’s the only way to tell the story of […]
How Creative Play Helps Heal
As adults, creative play is often viewed as a waste of time. However, for children, it’s encouraged and celebrated. Are these two things really so different? Find out how art can actually help to heal the wounds left by trauma.
How to Exercise After A Traumatic Event
If you’ve suffered a traumatic event, exercise can help you heal. Here are some things to remember as you begin your journey towards healing through movement.
Healing Emotional Pain is Possible
Some wounds are impossible to measure. How do you quantify the number of sleepless nights or hours spent crying? While physical wounds can be seen and treated, emotional pain — especially that caused by trauma — can be challenging to repair.
KPMG: Hope Spotlight
In this series, we celebrate organizations that create hope where it’s needed most. Our first spotlight shines on KPMG LLP. A longtime collaborator with Stars of HOPE, KPMG is one of the world’s largest professional services firms. For twenty years — in fact, since our parent organization New York Says Thank You (NYSTY) was founded […]
Five Ways Art Heals Trauma Survivors
In art therapy, it’s the act of creating art that heals, as well as the act of sharing it with others.
Here are five ways that can art heal a trauma survivor:
How Can Art Help Ukraine?
It seems that, at any given point in time, it’s possible to turn on the news and read about something terrible happening on the other side of the world. Recently, the news has been dominated by the war in Ukraine, and it’s been heartbreaking to see such unnecessary horrors unfolding in our time. At Stars […]
The 5 Stages of HOPE
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was the psychiatrist who gave the world its most famous psychological model of grief: the five stages we all go through after a loss – anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While there exists debate within the psychological community as to how many stages the process of grief consists of, there’s are […]
How to Talk to Your Kid About Mass Tragedies
The last few years have brought changes in the world that most adults never thought we’d see in our lifetimes. We can only imagine how scary it must be to be a kid right now. Mass shootings in their schools. A global pandemic. A war in Europe. What can we tell them about what’s happening? […]
The HOPE Bank: How donating hope is like donating blood
Did you know that we all have two different kinds of hearts? Just as your physical heart pumps blood through your body, your emotional heart sends your feelings throughout the world. Where the physical heart needs blood, the emotional heart runs on hope. Everybody knows the process of donating blood. But fewer people know what […]
You Will Laugh Again
This blog deals with depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance, help is available here. The world is badly in need of reasons to hope. As we write these words in March of 2022, we are two years into a global pandemic that has claimed the lives […]
Finding Your “New Normal”
Creating new hope in the ashes of what you’ve lost
Hope for Doomscrollers
It’s not an “empathy deficit”—it’s emotional exhaustion. Here’s how to recognize the signs and heal them in yourself and others.
Healing the Healers: The Unspoken Pain of Being a Healthcare Worker
Every day, there are people who spend their days constantly facing all the different ways the world can fall apart. How unkind people can be to others. And every day, they must find the strength to put people back together again.
What is Social Healing?
Social Healing is a phrase used to describe the work we do. But what exactly does that mean? We’ll explain it, using examples from the organizations and people who make up the movement.
Heal Yourself by Healing Others
From the moment tragedy strikes, community members heal each other through art. Our mission is simple: We want to provide communities impacted by disaster with the tools they need to express their grief and rebuild hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Hope Spotlight – Josh’s Story
Pulse, Orlando, and the tragedy that followed transformed Josh Garcia from nightclub operations director to a man on a mission for hope. This is his story.
10 Reasons to Give Hope This Holiday Season
Are you looking for a unique gift this Holiday Season or New Year? Do you want your gift to have meaning? How about giving the gift of hope?
Trauma survivors: What happens after the headlines?
The media can bring public attention to a mass tragedy, highlight injustices, and demand calls for action. All of these are in the name of public service for the greater good of society.
What’s really in a box of hope?
At Stars of HOPE, our mission is simple – help survivors of tragedies heal their emotional trauma. We do this by sending them handmade stars, made by people like you, with messages of hope and love.
Only an act of love can heal the wounds of hate
Emotional scars caused by trauma hold a victim hostage in their memory, paralyze them there, and make them feel as though it’s impossible to move on. There is hope.
The Journey of Stars of HOPE
Volunteers from different backgrounds come together to paint stars with messages of hope and inspiration.
9/12/21 Resilience Projects
HOPE UNDER THE WINGS OF THE OCULUS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY Stars of HOPE and Partners Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 by Creating Messages of Hope for Health Care Workers.
I need you to help me make the future happen.
Whether you see it or not, your actions touch the lives of people you may never meet.
How to create meaningful volunteer opportunities for your team.
Getting employees involved in their communities can improve morale, build camaraderie, and help the company brand shine through local philanthropic efforts. Here is how to get started with Stars of HOPE!
When kids see violence on TV and the internet, what can they do?
How to let children know they can talk with you about their fears.
Volunteer Spotlight: Lynn Hildebrand
Lynn Hildebrand– mother, grandmother, STARS of Hope volunteer, extraordinary empath
Girl Scouts Help Make the World a Better Place
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email The Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. So it’s no surprise when we see Girl Scout troops creating Stars of HOPE for their community and worldwide. It’s […]
Gratitude Banners for our Frontline
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email How people created HOPE right from their kitchen table. For many of us, the world stopped when life, as we know it went into lockdown. But while many of us stayed home, there were those out on the frontlines, doing […]
RESILIENCE and COMPASSION in the Age of COVID
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email [Coffee Warning: First, you may need one or two cups of coffee to get through what I am about to write freestyle. Second, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I have not had my coffee this morning but awoke […]
Charlottesville, VA Unity Days Create HOPE
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email When I was 10 years old, in 1977, the Nazis tried to march in Skokie, Illinois, and there was a battle over constitutional rights. Looking back, that was probably when I first understood that the law was complicated . . […]
Highlands Ranch, CO STEM School
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email It is said that one person can make a difference in the world, this time it was Dina Barnum a Mom, Wife and Real Estate Agent who lives in the community of Highlands Ranch. After the incident that took place […]
Ocoee resident finds healing through Stars of HOPE
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email Elsie Cintron-Rosado spreads hope and pays it forward through volunteering with Stars of HOPE. by: Danielle Hendrix Associate Editor They come painted with different colors and styles, each emblazoned with phrases and inspirational mantras. “Just breathe.” “Love wins.” “Choose hope, choose love.” […]
NEWS: Creating, Sharing HOPE after Hurricane Michael
Stephanie Wray quickly grabbed the attention of the chattering children seated before her. “I came here for you to help me with a special mission,” Wray said. Now, any parent or teacher of children ages 4-6 knows “special mission” is catnip to a young mind. The quest is to keep that mind engaged. And Wray […]
SPARK Creates Stars of HOPE® For Opening Ceremony In Houston, Texas
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email SPARK, a program put in place by Hope Worldwide to assist children in healing from the effects of Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 hurricane that caused comprehensive damage including massive flooding. This caused many to lose homes, personal items and […]
The Mitzvah Project
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email In honor of Paige’s Bat Mitzvah, she chose Stars of HOPE as her Mitzvah project. Mitzvah project is a meaningful way to make a difference by participating in hands-on, community-based projects. Here’s how she did it: Paige took the challenge […]
Stars of HOPE Volunteers Making A Difference
Share This Post Share on facebook Share on linkedin Share on twitter Share on email On April 22, 2018 in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, TN a senseless act of violence occurred that took four lives and injured two others, at a local restaurant. Immediately a #HOPEAlert was issued to our network of volunteers. Volunteers […]