Faith, Food & Art

A clinical psychologist, board-certified music therapist, educator, and musician by training, Dr. Vivian Nix-Early is the owner of a private clinical & consulting practice, and co-founded BuildaBridge International in 1997 with university colleague Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt. BuildaBridge is a non-profit 501(c)3 therapeutic arts intervention organization that has engaged hundreds of artists and the transformative power of art-making to address poverty & suffering and to bring hope, healing, and resilience to children, families, indigenous artists and communities in the USA and in more than 30 countries around the world. Dr. Nix-Early and Dr. Corbitt established trauma-informed arts-focused programs in Philadelphia's network of homeless shelters, refugee communities and schools. In 2003, they co-authored the book Taking it to the streets: Using the Arts to Transform your Community.
Dr. Nix-Early has over 30 years of experience in higher education administration and senior academic leadership, serving as the founding Dean of the Campolo School for Social Change at Eastern University in Philadelphia. Before going to Eastern University in 1995, Dr. Vivian served for 16 years as psychologist, faculty, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Interim Associate Provost at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

A woman of deep faith with a passion to see young people thrive, Dr. Vivian has been an active leader in her Star of Hope Baptist Church, providing leadership for its youth ministries beginning in 1980.

Dr. Nix-Early received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from New York University in 1979, and a post-graduate Certificate in Creative Arts Therapy-Music Therapy from Drexel University in 2009. She retired from all formal administrative and teaching posts in 2017, and moved to central Florida, where she continues to write, create, consult and serve according to God's calling.

This "tiny book" is a visual journal that documents the author's creative works made as part of an arts-based self-care strategy to survive the COVID-19, toxic political & racial injustice pandemics of 2020. The book encourages holistic wellness and gives steps for creating your own self-care plan.

Artmaking (including culinary, visual and fabric art) & spiritual study became the major pieces of my self-care strategy for thriving and healing during one of the most challenging years for our world. The commentaries accompanying the imagesidentify 9 basic principles of self-care for everyone;
illustrate and instruct on both product and process of creating the art pieces;
give a number of health tips.
highlight the wellness benefits of creative activity & faith practice



Author's Note: The creative works reflect my groanings & prayers as well as my assurance of God's Light and Hope. The art-making process presented opportunities for mastery. The products facilitated living out my faith, serving as vehicles for connecting, giving, and other expressions of generosity, kindness and love. While all the pandemics have brought great loss and sorrow to our world, it blessed me with the time to create, meditate, focus on others, and take care of my body, mind and spirit. Through the opportunity to stand still, I am more aware of God's presence in the world.
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The book will: nourish your spirit and sense of beauty as well as
facilitate a plan toward personal wellness
encourage your engagement in creativity and holistic, arts-based, faith-centered self-care.
make a great gift/table book for friends and family (hardback version)



BONUS: For those purchasing a copy of the book, if you send the author a copy of your receipt, you will receive free entry to her webinar planned for this Fall, 2021. The webinar will focus on formulating and sharing self-care strategies, plans, and creative/art projects. Details for how to participate can be found at the author's website referenced in the book.