Hegira Health, Inc. and Downriver Council for the Arts -
A community partnership initiative

Because together we create a better community

A partnership made for the betterment of our community.

The Downriver Council for the Arts (DCA) is committed to connecting art to the community. We partner with others in the region to strengthen arts and cultural relationships between groups and to engage artists. We do this through creating partnerships with service agencies to offer exposure, accessibility and equity in the arts and cultural environment of our communities. We actively engage our community in a manner which is inclusive of the broadest range of ideas and approaches while in the pursuit and creation of arts and culture. The DCA remains committed to strengthening our understanding of equity and diversity by listening to our community’s needs, researching and providing rich and diverse artistic programming.

Hegira Health, Inc. and the DCA are excited to partner on developing art and behavioral wellness opportunities in our community. We are working on year-long programming for all ages, centered on therapeutic art to build healthy mental wellness. We need your help to make our efforts reach as many people as we can. Please join us in our journey to mental wellness through this professionally-guided, unique, fun and creative partnership that will provide opportunities for self-expression and personal growth through art! Thank you in advance for your contribution, your gift will be put to work immediately.

  • Hegira Health, Inc. (HHI) has been a behavioral health care leader in Wayne County for nearly 50 years—and is one of Michigan’s largest non-profit, freestanding, integrated behavioral health care organizations – providing services at our clinics located across Wayne County’s western to downriver communities. Hegira Health’s goal is to ensure the availability of quality, individualized, and rapidly accessible integrated behavioral health treatment and prevention services to infants through older adults. Contracted by the Detroit Wayne County Integrated Health Network, Oakland County Health Network and federally funded as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Hegira Health serves persons of all income levels. Hegira means journey and we are here to provide support along the journey of life.

  • Founded in 1978, the Downriver Council for the Arts (DCA) is a non- profit 501(c)(3) arts and cultural organization that strives to enrich the quality of life in the Downriver communities by advocating and promoting the arts and providing opportunities for involvement and participation in arts and cultural activities. We actively support local artists and performers through artistic outreach programs and special promotional opportunities. The DCA also creates regional partnerships with other cultural organizations, schools and service clubs to promote artistic, cultural and special events throughout Southeast Michigan. We hold these activities in our Arts Center and by operating in the various cities we serve.

Art therapy video with Hegira, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and the Downriver Council for the Arts

Support our youth in developing positive self-esteem.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month so the partnership kickoff event will be a “Self-Esteem” art exhibit that will allow Downriver middle and high school students to express what self-esteem means to them through art. A strong sense of self-esteem is one of the foundations we all need to build resilience as we maneuver through the ups and downs that life can bring. We will be contacting Downriver teachers to help facilitate the art creation with their students and offering incentives to the teachers to participate. Prizes will be awarded to the teachers of the winning entries for both middle and high school categories. $100 Best of Show, $75 1st Place, $50 2nd Place, $25 3rd Place. This exhibit will be the springboard from which Hegira Health, Inc. and the DCA develop future art and mental wellness opportunities for our community. We hope you will visit the art exhibit and join us at the closing event where you’ll gather more information on future programming as well and meet some of the artists and their families.

The Self-Esteem Art Exhibition (general information and dates)

Teachers register their classes to participate by: Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Closing Event: Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 5-8pm - Refreshments, entertainment, awards, meet the artists, participate in a community art project

Art Exhibit Run: April 25 - May 18, 2024

If you are a teacher, student or parent wishing to participate, please click here for guidelines.

If you would like to be kept informed of upcoming activities with this partnership or volunteer in any way, please contact us via the form below.