The organizers of the annual Central Coast Bioneers Conference have said they want to help “restore your optimism” in response to the current political climate.
So one of the topics they have included on its schedule this Saturday—during the conference’s second day at Pavilion on the Lake in Atascadero—is “The Art of Healing,” presented by Andrea Lizama Pinto of Voces Que Sanan.
A grassroots nonprofit led by Latina immigrant women in Lompoc, Voces Que Sanan uses art, community theatre, photography, and popular education to create safe and inclusive spaces where Latina women and families can express themselves, strengthen their identity, and find their voice.
“We want people to feel that art belongs to everyone—not only to people who have had the opportunity to study or practice it before,” Pinto says.
I asked Pinto more about the organization and her presentation at the conference.
Deborah Bayles: What will people take away from “The Art of Healing”?
Andrea Lizama Pinto: One important takeaway is that art is not only something we watch or create for entertainment. Art can be a tool for healing, connection, leadership, and community change. Another is that our stories have power. When we create spaces where people feel safe to share their experiences, individual stories can become collective strength. I also hope people leave with a simple question: What can I do with my own voice, my story, and my creativity to make a positive difference in my community?
DB: What is Voces Que Sanan, and what does your organization address?
ALP: Many women, especially immigrant women, have important stories and experiences, but they may not always have a safe space to share them or opportunities to participate in community leadership. At Voces Que Sanan, we believe art can help people connect, heal, and create change together. We are not a therapy organization. Instead, we use creative and participatory activities to build connection, confidence, expression, and community leadership.
DB: Was there a defining moment in your life that inspired you to co-found Voces que Sanan?
ALP: My connection with theatre began when I was a child in Chile. I remember watching community theater in the streets . . . That was where I fell in love with theatre and discovered its power to connect with people. As I grew older, I participated in different theatre workshops and explored pantomime, aerial theater, and classical theater. I studied theater as my first career. Later, when I began studying social work, I had a very clear dream: I wanted to bring these two passions together. My own experience as an immigrant in the United States gave this dream a new meaning. When I came to California from Chile, I experienced the challenges of starting a new life in another country, building a community, and finding our place in a new home. For me, Voces Que Sanan represents the connection between two of my greatest passions: theatre and social work, together with my desire to transform my own immigrant experience into an opportunity to support and strengthen others. I believe art can open doors, create connections, and help us transform our individual stories into a collective strength that can create positive change in our community.
DB: Who can join Voces que Sanan?
ALP: There are no special requirements to participate in Voces Que Sanan. You do not need to be an artist, an actor, or have any previous experience with art. All of our workshops are free and offered in Spanish, and they are open to the community. Our programs are especially focused on Latina women and immigrant families, because these are communities we know and work closely with. At the same time, our activities are open to the community in general, and everyone is welcome. What matters most to us is creating a safe and welcoming space where people can connect, express themselves, learn from each other, and share their voices.