Transformation
Project 2024

The Transformation Project is a collaborative effort involving the NOpiates Committee, Arts Letters & Numbers, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, the Rensselaer County Mental Health-Student Assistance Program, the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, and local artists. The project aims to promote awareness, support, hope, and recovery in response to substance use disorder (SUD) and its impact on individuals, families, and communities, fostering healing through artistic expression.

This year's initiative includes an open call for art to be exhibited and performed at Arts Letters & Numbers and Sand Lake Center for the Arts, as well as in-person workshops facilitated by local artists. These workshops are open to individuals of all ages, including incarcerated individuals at the county jail affected by SUD. The workshops encompass art, music, movement, and writing. Through creativity, participants engage in introspection and cultivate connections with others.

The project plays a crucial role in building supportive communities that transcend age, values, and beliefs. It provides a safe space for expression and sheds light on the hardships, shame, and stigma often felt by those affected by addiction. The collaboration between organizations offers a unique opportunity to bridge communities, bringing together individuals and families affected by SUD and those who wish to be allies.