Beverly Nest Project Aims To Support Child Sex Abuse Survivors

Beverly MA

17 September, 2021

2:02 PM

Description

BEVERLY, MA — A special project to support survivors of incest and childhood sexual abuse will offer that healing in a Beverly backyard this weekend. Beverly resident Carla Beatrice, a community artist, helped build a giant next with Portland, Oregon artist Debbie Baxter along the shores of Cape Ann this week. On Thursday, the nest was brought to Beatrice's backyard where Beatrice has invited survivors of childhood sexual trauma to "enter this nest and feel nurtured." "Our bodies have lived through these experiences, and we hold onto these things in them, and the nest invites people to just leave all that behind," said Baxter, who has helped make more than 50 similar nests across the country. The Survivor Nest Project involves Beatrice, Baxter, survivor advocate Donna Jenson, sound healer Lisa Kawski and filmmaker Katie Bourgeois. Beatrice told Patch the project involved more than two years of planning. On Friday night, she will host a Sound Healing Benefit, with the Survivor Nest staying in her backyard through Sunday. Friday's event was set to include a sound bath to facilitate healing for all, as well as Baxter reading from her recently published book "Nest." Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the project organizers and share their experiences. "Knowing other survivors helps you realize you're not alone, that you're not the only one," said Jenson, founder of Time to Tell, a nonprofit that offers survivor healing through creative writing. "And building community with other survivors around using voices is very empowering." The Survivor Nest Project collaborators are planning an art exhibit for April 2022, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, at a location to be determined. This will include the giant nest, photographs, showing of a documentary film and audio recordings of survivors' stories. "I feel a deep sense of connection to the participants involved in this project," Kawski said. "I am blessed to offer my healing modality of sound to aid in the experience, and to be able to connect with each on a very personal level, touching their hearts with love." More information on this weekend's events can be found here. Donations and sponsorships are also being accepted for the second phase of The Survivor Nest Project, which allows the project to expand its scope to a wider audience. For more information email Carla Beatrice at [email protected]. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)