Unbroken 2025 Celebrates Survivor Stories Through Art and Community

The NWA Center for Sexual Assault is set to host **Unbroken 2025** on **October 9, 2025**, at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. This event aims to honor the experiences of survivors through art, showcasing a diverse collection of original pieces that reflect their journeys. The program runs from **18:30 to 20:30** local time, with doors opening at **18:00**.

Attendees will experience a vibrant evening featuring live performances, including spoken word poetry and choreographed dance. The highlight of the event is the display of artwork created by survivors, encompassing various mediums such as pottery and mixed media. The NWA Center has facilitated artistic healing experiences for these individuals, allowing their stories to be expressed through creativity.

Taylor McKinney, the center’s development director and a survivor herself, emphasizes the importance of the process. “She’s an official art therapist, so she’s not only walking survivors through the art-making process, but she’s actually providing a healing experience at the same time,” McKinney stated. This approach ensures that participants receive support tailored to their emotional and psychological needs.

McKinney expressed a deep personal connection to the artwork on display. “I can see how a survivor’s healing journey is getting off the ground based on the way they’ve composed their art,” she added. A survivor shared with her how the communal aspect of creating art enhanced their experience. “It’s that sense of community, that connection,” McKinney reflected.

Creating a supportive environment, the event will also feature a dance led by **Cece Marie**, who has worked with survivors over the past ten weeks to help them reconnect with their bodies through movement. McKinney noted, “We’re going to see what has been months in the making. It is incredibly empowering to reclaim that sense of safety in your body through the dance workshop and through the other workshops, too.”

In addition to the artistic showcase, several awards will be presented during the evening. **Judge Matt Durrett** will receive the **Roger Collins Beacon of Hope Award** for his significant impact on survivor safety and justice in Northwest Arkansas. **Dr. Danna Grear** will be honored with the **Beacon of Light Award**, recognized for her compassion and advocacy within the community. The **Silence Breaker Award** will be given to **Tenisha Gist** and **Carl Dunn**, who have been instrumental members of the Let’s Talk NWA steering committee since its inception in **2014-2015**.

McKinney described the significance of the event’s title, “Unbroken,” as a powerful declaration of survival and resilience. “I would define ‘unbroken’ as a way for survivors to take ownership of and shift their personal narrative,” she explained. She emphasized that trauma does not have to define one’s identity, stating, “You might say, ‘I’m a victim.’ Well, in fact, you are a survivor. And I think that language really matters.”

The concept of “Unbroken” invites all attendees, whether survivors or supporters, to engage with their experiences of pain and healing. “It helps everyone envision that two things can be true: that I was harmed in all the ways I was harmed and terrorized, and I can hold that thought without having to identify with it if I don’t want to,” McKinney articulated.

She conveyed the center’s unwavering commitment to being a safe haven for survivors, ensuring that they are met with understanding and support. “We will believe survivors when they come in and tell us their story,” she affirmed. “You will never be questioned. You will be affirmed and heard and seen. You deserve healing. And whenever you’re ready to take that step, our doors are always open. Our hotline is always on.”

As **Unbroken 2025** approaches, the hope is that it will foster connections, inspire healing, and celebrate the strength of survivors in the community.