Uniting veterans through art: COSACOSA’s Community Engagement Grant Project

Date Published: August 1, 2024

For over three decades, COSACOSA art at large, Inc. has been pioneering community-centered art projects. A 2023 Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant enabled COSACOSA to expand its reach, fostering creative expression and social connection for veterans in the Philadelphia area. In the past year, their efforts culminated in a veteran-led mosaic project, spoken word album, and poetry chapbook. These projects, in close collaboration with the Women Veterans Center (WVC) of the Veterans Multi-Service Center and the Veterans Empowerment Center (VEC) of the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, have become a beacon of creativity and community support for many local veterans.

COSACOSA’s artistic vision

Kimberly Niemela, the founder and director of COSACOSA, started the organization in 1990 with a mission to bring art directly into communities rather than expecting people to come to traditional art spaces. Reflecting on the impact of the Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant—which featured a mosaic project and a spoken word project—Niemela shared, “Receiving this grant has allowed COSACOSA to deepen its arts programming work with veterans. We aim to create meaningful and empowering projects by, for, and about our participants.”

The mosaic project, entitled “Encouragement & Inspiration,” prompted veterans to express their inspirations visually, and includes a central piece with the quote, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” Niemela described the cooperative nature of the project, where individual mosaics frame the larger centerpiece, symbolizing unity, power, and purpose. “The mosaic has both individual and collaborative elements,” she explained. “It’s a legacy left for future generations coming into the Center.”

A multi-color tile mosaic with text in the center that says: Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world. In the center of the text is an image of an Army boot and a red high heel in the center. The center image is surrounded by square tiles that depict images from nature, people, and sayings such as "power and equality" and "puppie love." — The community mosaic created by women veterans as part of COSACOSA’s Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant project, in partnership with the Women Veterans Center. Each piece of the mosaic reflects the individual inspirations of the participants, symbolizing their experiences and unity. *Photo courtesy of COSACOSA art at large, Inc.*

For the spoken word album, veterans gathered weekly to write poetry, essays, and stories about community, identity, belonging, and bearing witness. This collective effort resulted in a spoken word album now available on Soundcloud and a chapbook featuring over 30 poems. The project emphasized the importance of listening to participants and allowing their interests and needs to shape the work. “The most rewarding aspect was seeing how veterans supported each other, especially when sharing their hopes and struggles,” Niemela said.

Empowering voices through mosaic

Shymeka Wright, a Client Service Coordinator for the WVC, actively participated in the COSACOSA mosaic projects. “It’s so beautiful,” Wright said. “Whenever anyone comes here, I say, ‘Please come see this artwork on this wall. It’s amazing.’” For Wright, the centerpiece, inspired by the WVC’s poster of a woman with a high heel on one foot and an Army boot on the other, became a symbol of strength and unity.

Wright’s mosaic piece focused on equality, a core value she holds dear. “Equality was my contribution to the mural. Just making sure everyone feels at peace and heard. So my mosaic piece had the word equality and colors like purple. Purple is one of my favorite colors, so I wanted it to be a piece of me as well as a piece that I can give back to the Center,” she explained.

Roslyn A. Jarvis, a Philadelphia native and U.S. Army veteran, found a sense of community and empowerment through the mosaic project. Having served in the military from 1977 to 1982, Jarvis drew a piece reflecting herself and her outlook for the future. “I drew a woman who was reflective of myself, African American, and with a positive outlook for the future,” she said. “In the beginning, I didn’t know what to expect, but seeing the outcome of the whole thing was lovely. It highlights the diversity within the Center and the empowerment that we have between one another. When I saw it all put together in the end, it was a wow moment for me.”

A black woman with her hair pulled back stands smiling while looking down at mosaic art she is holding. — Roslyn A. Jarvis, a U.S. Army veteran and participant in COSACOSA’s Community Engagement Grant project, proudly displays her mosaic in progress. Each participant created a unique piece that contributed to the larger mosaic project at the Women Veterans Center. *Photo courtesy of COSACOSA art at large, Inc.*

For Jarvis, art provided a therapeutic outlet. “I think it’s a wonderful thing. The art allows you to express what’s going on with you in a way that you are not able to do so verbally,” Jarvis said. “And for a lot of people, it’s therapeutic, especially for people who are going through rough patches in their lives, and that’s the case for many of us at the Center. The arts are one way to help us get out of the negativity that sometimes enslaves us or keeps us hostage in our head.”

Michael’s journey through spoken word and music

Michael D. Harvey found himself homeless after his military service. His journey led him to the Sunday Breakfast Mission homeless shelter, now Philly House, where he began to rebuild his life. Participating in the spoken word project was a profound experience for Harvey, who initially felt like an amateur among professionals. “Everyone has been friendly and supportive. I was sheltered all my life, and meeting new people and connecting with them has been incredibly touching,” Harvey said.

Harvey contributed several poems and a song to the spoken word album. One of his favorite pieces, “Serving Justice,” talks about the personal costs of service in a song paired with an electronic beat. The piece resonated deeply with COSACOSA staff, as “Serving Justice” is the name of the organization’s Creative Forces-supported military arts program.

Listen to the song “Serving Justice”

“Serving Justice” is a song by Michael D. Harvey on the Love & Loneliness album, which was created during Serving Justice, COSACOSA art at large’s Creative Forces-supported military arts program. Download a transcript of the lyrics.

Creating and sharing his work gave Harvey a sense of purpose and belonging. “Meeting people who are serious about their work gave me a renewed sense of purpose,” he explained. “Hearing the experiences of other participants living in Philly was fascinating. I was surprised that their stories resonated with my own. They provided suggestions, tips, and support in a kind and practical way.”

Harvey believes that giving military communities access to the arts is priceless. “The arts provide a way for military personnel to express themselves and share their stories,” he said. “Arts programs give them a chance to rediscover their talents and develop their creativity in a supportive community.”

The power of art in healing and connection

The stories of Wright, Jarvis, and Harvey illustrate the impact of COSACOSA’s art projects on veterans’ lives. Through mosaics and spoken word, these participants have found a platform to express their experiences, heal from past traumas, and build a supportive community. As Niemela explained, “Having access to the arts gives folks another way to find their voice and footing, feel empowered about their lives, and find support in each other.”

COSACOSA’s projects have not only fostered individual expression but also built strong community partnerships. Niemela highlighted the value of partnerships with organizations like WVC and VEC. “It’s been amazing to work with organizations that engage and support veterans with us, throughout the creative process,” she said.

Looking ahead, COSACOSA plans to continue its work with veterans. Upcoming projects include a mural, a community garden project, and another audio project involving oral histories and future imaginings. Ultimately, Niemela hopes to bring together everyone who has participated in COSACOSA’s projects for an end-of-year communal meal to celebrate the fruits of their labor.

In a world where many veterans struggle with isolation and trauma, COSACOSA’s projects offer participants ways to tell their stories, connect with others, and envision a brighter future.