Samaritan Unveils New Courtyard Mural To Enrich Therapy Programs
One year after celebrating its 60th year of behavioral health services for Middle Tennesseans, Samaritan Recovery Community unveiled a new mural in its courtyard to enhance the presence of its new complex and add to the artistic component of the Community’s therapy programs.
CEO Dr. Mark Lasko praised nationally-recognized muralist Eric Harold for his creative efforts. “Our programs incorporate many elements to help people deal with addiction,” Dr. Lasko said. “Art is one of those, and the addition of this mural reflects that commitment to celebrating creative expression through art as a means of helping people succeed. We appreciate Eric’s work and know that it will have an impact on our community.”
Dr. Lasko praised the work of his leadership team at Samaritan, which serves a community of more than 1,000 people. Within the Samaritan community, more than 70% of entrants complete the program and remain sober after treatment, a figure approximately double the national average.
Pointing to the bridge featured as a focal point of the mural, Dr. Lasko added: “For 61 years we have been located here on Shelby Avenue, right down from the bridge, and we’ve really embraced that symbol. We teach all of our clients to take one step at a time, letting go of the bridge behind you and building a bridge into the future so that you can live a better version of your own self.”
Harold, the founder and executive director of the Chicago Creative Initiative headlamp creative — an Illinois-registered nonprofit corporation — created the mural with funding from a grant through Metro Arts Nashville. He leverages his experience to drive social impact and transform communities through impactful, purpose-driven modern art exposure, expression and educational programs.
“For 28 years I struggled with my drug and alcohol addiction. For years I didn’t think that I would ever stop using. I knew I was tired but I just didn’t know how to stop.
I heard about Samaritan from a friend that said how good of a treatment program it was and how the staff was commited to making sure that we understand what this disease is that we are dealing with. So in March of 2016 I came to Samaritan and started in their intensive residential program.
This was an intensive program where for 29 days you are taught about alcohol and drug disease. From day one when I came into Samaritan I had doubt of ever being able to stay clean. But I was determined to do whatever it took to come out of the dark of my life that I had been living in for so many years.
I think what opened my eyes up the most was the passion that the staff had with each individual client, how they showed each of us that they care and were willing to go to any length to get us away from the doubt that we had in ourselves. The staff opened my mind up to a lot of the issues that I have encountered over the years that has caused me to react and turn to my addiction.
The Samaritan program has given me hope I didn’t have. And I am grateful.”