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"Hate doesn't solve anything. Peace does!” This was a feeling expressed by one ten-year-old boy participating in The Living Tree Workshop, sponsored by the Arts Therapy Department at Whittier Street Health Center (formerly the Boston Institute for Arts Therapy). The arts are used to help people connect, build bridges between groups and cultures, and resolve conflict.

The Living Tree Workshop was developed in response to the events of September 11, and it has been particularly meaningful to Boston area residents. Two of the planes that crashed came from Boston's Logan Airport, and many area residents were directly affected by the tragedy. The workshop has given children and their families an opportunity to share their feelings, express difficult emotions, and support one another in a safe, caring and creative setting.

Arts therapists and volunteers, along with classroom teachers, lead the workshop. Participants write words and draw images that express their feelings and concerns around events following September 11. After sharing their expressions with each other, participants paste them onto the trunk of a six-foot paper tree. Common responses include: anger, sadness, fear, confusion and frustration.

Next, the group is asked to write words and draw images on sliced leaves, expressing hope, inspiration and/or what they need in order to move on. After sharing these thoughts, the participants paste the leaves onto the branches of the tree. Positive responses frequently shared are: friends; family; united we stand; love and prayers; have fun and forget everything; world peace; somebody to lean on; think about how grateful I am to still be living…

The Living Tree has been offered at: homeless shelters for mothers and children, middle and high schools, and family gatherings, serving over 300 children and adults. Through working together on an art experience, the tree is, in the words of one ten-year-old participant, "filled with life." Participants show they care for one another, express difficult emotions and support one another as they go on with life.

Dr. Phillip Speiser, Director of Arts Therapy at Whittier, explains, "The arts draw out the best in us. They have always kept me in touch with my own humanity and allow me the gift of connecting and touching others as well. In these trying times, we all need to keep finding connecting points to our collective."

Dr. Speiser, Darrick Jackson and Melissa Madzel Contributed to this article.