Creative Spirit is dedicated to the imaginative expression

of spirituality through the arts and education.

Creative Spirit assists schools, churches and groups to incorporate the arts into their

programs and services and facilitates artists in developing work for spiritual settings.

Using drama, comedy, music, storytelling and the visual arts, with imagination and

creativity, Creative Spirit encourages audiences to transform their world by

celebrating and living social and spiritual values.

Fulfilling Our Mission By Jamez Murck

Creative Spirit is dedicated to the imaginative expression of spirituality through the arts and education.

Creative Spirit assists schools, churches and groups to incorporate the arts into their programs and services and facilitates artists

in developing work for spiritual settings. Using drama, comedy, music, storytelling and the visual arts, with imagination and

creativity, Creative Spirit encourages audiences to transform their world by celebrating and living social and spiritual values.

This is the mission statement of Creative Spirit. Throughout our nearly 28 years of existence, the board of directors has

reviewed our mission and tweaked this statement, perhaps twice, but on the whole it has remained durably consistent and

unchanged. Everything we do flows, first and foremost, from our mission dedicated to the imaginative expression of

spirituality through the arts and education.

This is no easy task. Spirituality can be an elusive subject to facilitate for its reach covers so many other disciplines like

psychology, philosophy, religion, ritual and art. The danger is that our programming might morph into merely one of these

other disciplines and not be about the cultivation of Spirituality at all. Therefore, we are continuously developing and

evaluating our programs as to how they incorporate Spirituality into the creative and educational processes and programs

that we offer. This whole process starts with copious amounts of research, writing and planning and continues throughout

with critique, evaluation and updating as needed.

In this newsletter, we will attempt to describe our three flagship programs (SafeTouch, Befriending Creation Camp and

SoulJournal for women at the MN Women’s Correction Facility in Shakopee) in terms of how they fulfill this mission.

In doing so we hope that you may acquire a deeper understanding of why we do what we do and how we do it. We are

grateful to all our benefactors, supporters and clients for joining us on this wondrous journey, a journey dedicated to

encouraging audiences to transform their world by celebrating and living social and spiritual values.

October 2016

Volume 46

By Gabriel Ross

Why Befriending Creation Camp?

Part of the mission of Crea-

tive Spirit is to help people -

“transform their world by cele-

brating and living social and

spiritual values”. One way

we do that is to provide

girls ages 8 – 13 an oppor-

tunity to experience “caring

for creation” as an impera-

tive and spiritual value. The

girls learn about leadership

from strong women role

models like Peggy Callahan

from the Wildlife Science

Center. Connecting with

large animals and improved

self-esteem happen through

successful horseback riding and learning to relate to the horse

as a partner. The girls use arts like creative writing, mask

making and music to express what they are experiencing.

Everyday there are rituals that invite the girls to a deeper,

spiritual connection to all of nature. The girls are encouraged

to lead their peers in new ways of living compassion for crea-

tion. Comments from this year’s campers: “The best week of

the summer.” “It is so important to be confident in yourself.”

“Be good to nature and speak up!” Suggestions for changes:

“Make the camp longer – it should be one month long.”

Most of the girls who attend the camp come from inner city

families and economic need. The camp cannot happen with-

out donor support. Indeed, it is through your support that

you join us in helping people transform their world by celebrating

and living social and spiritual values.

Why Soul Journal at the Women’s

Correctional facility in Shakopee?

by Gabriel Ross

“Transforming the world by celebrating and living social and

spiritual values” is central to our mission and that ideal comes

to life in the empowerment of women through our unique

Soul Journal program. "Creating a safe, if not sacred, place

for people in painful conflict to tell their story, without inter-

ruptions, has been found throughout the ages to be at the

core of healing." - Dr. Mark S. Umbreit, founding Director of

the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the

University of Minnesota.

Darla Fortune and other researchers have studied and writ-

ten about incarceration of women in Canada.

"Low self-esteem can contribute to the inability to plan for the

future and to take responsibility for one's actions.

Incarcerated women have very limited control over their

lives. Their lives are filled with unending regulations of every

aspect of their daily routines. There is little privacy or person-

al space. Boredom, loneliness, shame, guilt, and a sense of

powerlessness lead to emotional distress and rage. Journaling

is a powerful vehicle for reflection on painful experience. Our

Soul Journal program provides a safe and supportive environ-

ment where the women can reflect on their story and spirit

without interruptions.

Rehabilitation and reintegration for offenders is the ultimate

goal of all restorative justice programs. Our program opens

the door for one important step in the process: healing that

can replace rage.

Most incarcerated women will return to the community some

day. The objective of reflective, creative programs is for

women to leave prison stronger than when they arrived.

Our Soul Journal program helps the women who attend leave

prison stronger than when they arrived and in the process

transform the world.

Creative Spirit has provided Soul Journal workshops at the

prison for mothers, grandmothers, CIP (boot camp), Native

Americans and women with long-term sentences.

With Great Gratitude we thank our community of supporters each fall. Our donors this past year gifted us with $18,900.00.

These donations funded the “Befriending Creation Camp” for inner city girls, the “Soul Journal Program” at the Shakopee Correc-

tional Institution for women and “A Very Touchy Subject” for inner city families. Your monetary gift enables us to present spiritually

engaging programs for children, families, and adults in inner city and rural areas.

Join our group of donors, keep Creative Spirit alive and well as a creative resource for our community. Please consider a tax-

deductible contribution to continue our efforts. Your donation can be sent to Creative Spirit at 1640 Ashland Ave., St. Paul, MN

55104 or made online at: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Creative-Spirit

Alicia and Roger Yost Elizabeth Brown Katie Moen Pat Burns

Alexandra Woods Fred Kroog Katherine Emery Pat McMullen

Anita Kohrer Felicity Britton Kathleen Datica Patricia Carroll

Anne Eagan Gabriel Ross Kathleen Monicatti Patrick Troska

Anne Frosch Gail Lappen Kathryn Maruyama Patty Peterson

Anne Shea Ginny Meuers Kathy and Duke Piotter Paul Ebling

Barbara and John Roban Ginny Sathe Kay and Dennis Kane Paul Kane

Becky and Joe Vaudreuil Glenda and Hugh Huston Kay Georgens Phyllis Cavanagh

Beth Beutel Greg Peterson Kelly Christianson Rachel Braaten

Beth, Nick and Bailey Maurer Harry and Nancy Cohen Kevin Shea Rachael Kroog and Shannon Pierce

Bill Wright Heather Conover Kren McManus Rachael Smith

Bonita Strand Henry Bromelkamp Kristin Kane and Ben Brown Rhonda Farran

Brad and Boo Hinker Jackie Dubbe-Ohan LaVerne Levy Robin Cook

Brigit Sullivan Jacqueline Smolen Linda Butler Ronald and Catherine Sutherland

Bruce Goodman Jamie Knoph Linda Gorman Sally Lofte

Caitlin Shea Jan and Dennis McCarthy Linda Kroog Sandra Chmielewski

Carol Kane Jane Powers Linda Metclaf Sharon Charles

Carolee Lindsey Jean Stepp Louise Sandwick Sharon Miller

Carol Lindow Jeannette Bach Lynn Larsen Shelly Jagow

Cathy Oehmke Jeff Scott and James Rocco Lynn Skupeko Shirley Carlson

Chip Abernathy Jen Robinson Maggie Usher Susan Foster

Cindy Torgerson Jill Trescott Marge McInery Susan Narayan

Copper Schadow Jo Groth Marguerite Anderson Susan Znameroski

Cristine and Cecilia Patlan Joan Barnett Mark Beltz Teresa Marshall

Christina and Jim Furber Joan Revels Mary and Dan McGurran/Schmit Tiffany Roemer

Clare McCarthy Joanne Tromiczak Neid Mary Elise Miller and Richard Conner Tish McKenzie

Danielle Robinson-Prater Joe and Jane Cavanaugh Mary Jaeb Todd Colbeth

Darolyn Clark John and Gail Moore Mary King Velma Bunne

Dave and Laura Fenton Kovanda John and Shelia Robertson Mary Thal Vickie Underland-Rosow and Ric Rosow

Deb Harley John Hetterick Mary Lou Flandrick

Denise Bowyer John Benkovich (in memory of Kathleen) Eleven Anonymous Donors

Diadra Decker and Donald Heian Judy Brindley Nancy Kampa

Donald Clay Johnson Judy Tischleder Nancy Andreotti Mall Area Religious Council

Donna Simonetti Julie Ditzler Nancy Murnane

Donna Trethewey Karen Colton and Barb Schreiner Nancy Ninteman Grants from: the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Doug Schmid Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas Pat Baker and the Mdewakanton Sioux.

2015 - 2016

Why SafeTouch? by Rachael Kroog

Eight years ago, I was approached by three different faith formation directors who asked me if I could

come up with an interactive Safe Touch Program that might educate and empower young people to

keep themselves safe. In their words, the material that was “out there’ was not that effective. These

directors were familiar with my work and believed that I could design a program that would really

engage these children and help keep them safe. Gabriel Ross and the entire Creative Spirit Board

supported me in researching and writing this program that took me over a year to craft. This was a

creative challenge that required sensitivity and candor with a delicate delivery. I continuously ask for

families to fill out evaluations to help me improve my presentation, helping me to tap into the

collective wisdom, guidance and creative spirits in my audiences.

Here are the main spiritual principals of my program:

Every part of your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes is special and a gift

from God. We are all created in the image of God. It’s a beautiful thing!

When we give and receive Safe Touch it feels happy and it makes us feel loved.

Jesus used Safe Touch to show people that he cared about them and loved them. He washed their

feet, he healed the sick, he said “let the children come unto me” and hugged them.

www.creativespiritmn.org

2016

On Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 Give to the Max

Day, our fundraising goal of $20,000 goes to sup-port our work in the community through three

core programs:

Connecting girls to nature with our

Befriending Creation Camp

Teaching children to be safe through

A Very Touchy Subject

Helping women in prison transform their lives

through Soul Journaling

$20k for a small organization goes a long way! Our

Board of Directors has even offered to generously

match up to $1500. Be a part of making a real con-

tribution to the lives of under-served communities

by participating on Thursday, Nov. 17.

To donate online on Nov. 17, please go to https://givemn.org/organization/Creative-Spirit

or visit our website at creativespiritmn.org.

On the right hand side, choose your dollar amount

and hit donate which then allows you to add in

your credit card information.

Two other ways for you can donate:

1. Mail a check to Creative Spirit,

1640 Ashland Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

2. Hire us to conduct a workshop, program or

performance.