Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) & the Nest have a rich history with the community of Lincoln County rising up to demand and create a positive change. Since its founding, HEAL has seen hundreds of individuals come together to fight to shape a world free of violence for everybody, starting right here in Ruidoso. Because of the rich history, and its tendency to be lost over time, Executive Director Coleen Widell and volunteer Irene Marsh started a scrapbooking project telling the story of how HEAL was formed and how the Nest came to be.
Staff at HEAL got busy making history and pretty soon, preserving the story fell by the wayside. For the next five years, the treasured stories at the Nest were told, shared, written and published. But, because staff was busy helping residents of the Nest in the shelter, the archive of the past became a formidable stack of newspaper clippings, invitations, event announcements and very important thank you notes from clients.
Suzie Owensby, a resident advocate at the Nest for two and a half years, eventually found herself in need of a project. Realizing what a remarkable arts-n-crafts devotee Owensby is, Widell asked her if she would be willing to catch up on the scrapbook project while on graveyard shift at the shelter. Owensby brought in scrapbooks she had done for her children and shortly after, took on the endeavor.
“I’ve always done scrapbooks for all of my children as they were growing up. I do my best at it. I enjoy it. I enjoy anything like it. I love doing arts and crafts, especially with children. I believe that if you know even half of what you’re doing, you can help a child learn how fun it is – before they get too old to get into it,” said Owensby.
Because she wanted to help children find enjoyment in art, she has included many of the children residing at the Nest in her project. It shows that everybody, even the very young, can help shape the story of HEAL and the Nest, even if it involves something as small as the placement of glitter glue or a butterfly sticker.
The scrapbooking project, though fun and creative, serves an important purpose with which Suzie Owensby deeply identifies. “It helps staff remember where this – the shelter – all started. We get swept up in our work, in our operations, and we think about today. But the Nest is so much more than just what is happening today. We would not and could not be in this situation with all our support today if it were not for all the hard work people have put into our history. We need to remember that, because it keeps us focused.”
The scrapbooks covering the creation of the Nest contain the history from 2008 through today and are available for viewing in the lobby of the shelter. HEAL invites you stop by and meander through this rich history that is so beautifully displayed in the scrapbooks. According to Widell, “It is absolutely apropos that local citizens feel a sense of “ownership” in the success of this life-saving program. The Nest truly is Lincoln County’s shelter for survivors of domestic violence.”
Pictured is Suzie Owensby, Advocate at the Nest, who has managed the HEAL scrapbooks documenting the history of the organization.
