About Us

History

Laura Ann Walton founded “The Wisdom Project” in 1991 with support from the Sisters of Mercy, Loaves and Fishes, and Ann Rudin, Mayor of Sacramento at that time. The program was located in Loaves and Fishes’ Maryhouse, a daytime hospitality shelter for homeless women and children. Working with Susan Kelly DeWitt, Nancy Earl, and Julia Conner, the art empowerment program was created for women experiencing poverty, violence, and loss as a way to provide access to a supportive, creative community.

“Women’s Wisdom Art,” as the organization is now known, continued to operate as a program under the wing of several sponsors until early 2012. In June 2012 the organization began operating as an independent non-profit corporation under the umbrella of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (now City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture) with funding from additional small grants and private donors. In 2015, Women’s Wisdom Art became an independent 501.c.3 non-profit organization.

Participants include a diverse range of women from across a broad spectrum. They gather in our supportive community to engage in creative and wellness activities as they forge new friendships, recover from or manage illness or loss, avoid isolation. Through this process they become empowered to improve and transform their own lives and the lives of others in their families and our communities.

The Women’s Wisdom Art center moved from midtown Sacramento to Del Paso Boulevard in North Sacramento in May, 2021. Located in Sacramento Promise Zone, the center is in a historically disinvested community in urgent need of resources. Women’s Wisdom Art offers a wide array of free creative art, writing, and wellness workshops and events with programs planned in conversational ESL, basic computer literacy, and job search skills scheduled to begin in early 2024. Free food, toiletries, and PPE supplies are available at the center, and free food, care kits, and art kits are regularly distributed to passersby and at outreach events. All women are welcome and encouraged to join our free classes and supportive community.

A Message From Our Founder

Why The Arts?

Laura Ann Walton

Art demands the involvement of the whole person: body, mind, emotions, imagination, spirit and, it requires unrelenting self-reflection and self-discipline. No matter what her condition in life, level of education, degree of physical, emotional, or mental health, any woman can participate in art, can assume the identity of “ARTIST.” Engaging in art is the primary survival skill of the human spirit.
~ Laura Ann Walton ~

Board and Staff

We are a team of artists, educators, and activists dedicated to empowering women
through engagement in the arts in a welcoming, affirming community.

Lauren Baggett
Director

Roberta Beach, B.A., M.A. 
Board Director

Vicki Boyd,B.A.
Outreach Chair

Julia Connor
Advisory Council

Susan Kelly-DeWitt
Advisory Council

Yvonne Evans, M.A.
Advisory Council

Pamela Fitch, PhD
Board Chair

Sharon Liberatore, B.S.N.
Advisory Council

Ali Tucker Lichtenstein, PhD
Advisory Council

Elizabeth Mendez, MA, MT-BC
Board Director

Jaymie Pressley, B.S., R.N.
Board Secretary

Laura Ann Walton, B.A.
Board Director

Deborah Wender, MSW
Treasurer, Fundraising Chair

Workshop Facilitators

Lauren Baggett
Multi-disciplinary art, 
@lbcomposition

this is liz bratum

Liz Bratun
Glass Bead Mobiles, Jewelry

Barbara Church
Acrylics, @cookiejaradventures

Steff Echeverria
Visual Journaling, @steffecheveria

Yannah
Mixed Media, Into the Soul Wisdom Cards, @yannah.live

Pam Fitch
Crochet

Sharon Liberatore
Mosaics

Ali Tucker Lichtenstein
AWA Writing, Fiber Arts, @zazasews

Yoli Manzo
Mixed Media, @sacredyolidesigns

Carrie Markel
Clay, @cmarkel12

Elizabeth Mendez
Music Wellness, @emmusictherapy

Jenny Nousen
Framing, Tombow Drawing and Watercolor

Wencke Roed
Yoga

Marie Taylor
Mandala,  Drawing, @marietaylorink

Hilda Tonarley
Acrylics

Contact Us

To reach us or attend workshops and events, please email wisdomart@womenswisdomart.org

VISIT OUR ORGANIZATION

1029 Del Paso Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 916-838-2981

501(c)(3) non-profit

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR FOR OUR CURRENT OPERATION HOURS.

Email wisdomart@womenswisdomart.org with questions about workshops and events.

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