SolturaWorkshops...a heroic journey to personal freedom

Our Community is Our Strength

"One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing."
~ Jean Vanier, Community and Growth

Participants often tell us that a side benefit of Soltura workshops is the people they meet and the relationships they develop. Soltura is more than our workshops or a place or facilitators--it is a community of creative, caring people that live the lessons taught, support workshop operations and each other. We simply could not do what we do without your help and support ... and we know our strength and uniqueness lies in our community of participants and donors!

Here are some ways you can help Soltura continue to grow and strengthen our community:

Participate in the private groups for your workshops on our website, stay in touch with the other participants;
Help others learn about Soltura, tell the story of your experience and submit it to info@soltura.net;
Follow us on our social media sites and share our posts with others;
Donate one or more items to our summer fundraiser auction and participate in the auction. Learn more here;
Submit an entry to our Break the Silence project, learn how here;
Share it forward by contributing to our Scholarship Fund;
Refer friends and family members who you feel will benefit from our workshops;
Write an article or create art work we can feature on our Facebook, Tumblr, or Google Plus pages.

We may not say it enough, but we want you to know we appreciate and love each and every one of you!

Live Fearlessly,
Carole

Break the Silence Project

Cover painted by Caitlin Bovard

We're trying something new! The Break the Silence art project is designed to engage the Soltura community and help spread the word about Soltura. Several art sketch books are being passed among previous Soltura participants in different geographical regions of the United States and Canada ... five books total.

Recipients of these books are asked to express themselves in response to the challenge: Break the Silence! Expose the Battle Within. This can be a photograph, drawing, poem, painting, song, video, written words, collage--whatever medium is preferred. Participants are asked to photograph their entries and submit the photos to Soltura. These photos are then posted on our Break the Silence! Tumblr blog. Check it out to learn more about the project and hopefully you will be inspired to submit your own entry!

Shelby Duckworth Joins Soltura's Board

We are thrilled to announce that Shelby Duckworth has joined Soltura's Board of Directors. Shelby is the President and Chief Inspiration Officer (CIO) of AHz Learning Technologies Inc., a very successful training design company focused on passionately stretching the limits of learning to self-discovery, change and growth. Since the company's inception in 1996, it has helped numerous organizations develop their leaders, employees and internal facilitators in numerous knowledge, skill, inter-personal and behavior competencies.

Shelby attended her first Soltura workshop in August 2006. Since that time she has completed all of the workshops, was a member of a Soltura Foundation Steering committee, and is a volunteer facilitator of the women's workshop trilogy. Her first workshop had such a huge impact on her life that she wanted everyone to attend (especially her family). In October, 2013 Shelby's granddaughter completed her first workshop making her family the first family to have 3-generations attend a Soltura workshop. Shelby is very proud to have played an important role in expanding the Soltura community to Canada.

Shelby shares, "I am honored and thrilled to be a member of the Soltura Foundation Board of Directors. This is my opportunity to share my gifts and give back to the organization that helped me open my heart, find my true self and gave me the tools I use on a daily basis to live my life from a place of love rather than one of fear, resentment and judgment."

Carole Gets Some Help

Soltura has hired Nicholas "Nick" Schwarzenberger to assist Carole with marketing, logistics and facilitation of the men's workshops. Nick brings a new perspective to our marketing efforts and has taken the lead on expanding Soltura's online presence and participation in social media. He is extremely creative and comfortable with the use of technology. We welcome Nick to our team!

Asked to describe himself, Nick says, "I'm a writer and poet living in Seattle. I was born in Denver, Colorado, and moved to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Puget Sound to study Philosophy and Classical History. My interests span yoga, hip hop, running, cooking, Chinese philosophy, puns, linguistics, board games, hiking, formal logic, travel, and adventures of any sort. I'm at home performing poetry on stage and have been writing since I was twelve. I jumped at the opportunity to work for Soltura and after facilitating my first Part 1 workshop in March, I'm ready for more! "

Feedback Corner

I found myself at Soltura during a time of transition, when I was just wrapping up a long and hurtful divorce. I had been married for nearly 20 years and was frozen with the fears of not being smart enough to be on my own, not being good enough for anyone else to love, afraid to trust and be hurt again, and not even knowing how to be alone with myself. I felt abandoned, alone, and unlovable. In spite of the many counselors and counseling sessions I had over the years, I was still trying to fill a void and my self-worth was dependent on how others treated me.

Soltura was a miraculous life-giving gift that has given me the tools that I desperately needed in order to have the life that I've always wished for. I am now pursuing my dreams, living in-sync with my values and no longer feel like there is a void inside of me. There really isn't any way to describe the joy that Soltura has brought me, but I have been so touched by my experience and from all of the wonderful people involved, that I now try to volunteer there any chance I get. My hope is that all my friends and family..(and the rest of the world), will be able to overcome their fears or other excuses in order to take the opportunity to attend the workshops. Nothing but good comes from this. Thank You Soltura!

Crystal Mazac, Washington - March 26, 2014

Living Our Dreams - Robin Davis Bray

This column features members of our community who are living their passions and making dreams come true.

Robin Davis Bray in front of her new store

I am living my dream! I just opened my own gallery and screen printing shop in a beautiful old mining town in the Mule mountains of southeastern Arizona, just a short walk from my new home.

Painting is my passion, it brings balance and healing to my life. I believe that life is a canvas with endless possibilities to paint what you want it to be; and hey, if you don't like how it's turning out, you can always paint over it.

My experiences with Soltura have let me be able to step out and make the life I have always wanted, become a reality. I am so grateful to Carole, and the Soltura facilitators for encouraging me to get back in touch with the real me, let go of fear, and step out to make my dreams come true!

Soltura Foundation

P.O. Box 445

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Phone: (253) 857-3444

Fax: (866) 399-1861

info@soltura.net

MEN'S WORKSHOPS

Part 1: The Knight's Dilemma
May 14 - 18, 2014

Part 2: Castles of Silence

and Knowledge

June 03 - 08, 2014

Part 3: Summit of Truth
July 29 - August 3, 2014

Men's Spirit Wave
To be announced

WOMEN'S WORKSHOPS

Part 1: Caught In A Twister

Apr 09 - 13, 2014

Part 2: Yellow Brick Road
June 17 - 22, 2014

Part 3: Returning Home

To be announced

Women's Spirit Wave

May 01 - 05, 2014

Please help spread the word about Soltura workshops

Workshop Gallery

Below are photos of each workshop held in 2014. Click on each photo to visit the photo gallery for that workshop posted on Soltura's Facebook page.

The Knight's Dilemma

March 12 - 16, 2014

Caught in a Twister

April 9 - 13, 2014

Returning Home April 22 - 27, 2014

We are gearing up for the fourth annual Summer Fundraising Auction and will be accepting donation items beginning May 1, 2014. We are seeking all kinds of items for the auction: paintings, photography, jewelry, books, vacation lodging, personal services, children's toys, apparel and accessories, home decor and more.

The Summer Fundraiser Auction is the biggest fundraising event of the year and we are counting on our entire community getting involved by donating items and bidding in the auction. One hundred percent (100%) of the funds collected through the online auction will go to supporting Soltura Workshops, through either the Share It Forward Scholarship Fund or the Keep the Dream Alive Fund that helps with operating needs and developing new services.

Stay tuned for more information!!

Social Media Content

Are you a writer, artist, photographer? Would you be interested in having your work featured on our social media sites? We are seeking original articles, artwork or photos from workshop participants that can be posted to our social media sites. Content must be original and must relate to the weekly theme. If interested, contact Nick Schwarzenberger at nicholas@soltura.net.

Share it Forward!

Are you a frequent flyer who has accumulated a bunch of miles? Why not support our Soltura facilitators by donating miles to help with their transportation. All of our support facilitators are volunteers and several even purchase their own airline tickets to fly in for the workshop. Not surprisingly, many cannot afford to both take off work to volunteer and purchase their own airline ticket. Whenever possible we obtain their airline reservation with frequent flyer miles. To date these efforts have been supported by a handful of donors ... and their miles are quickly being exhausted. So we are looking for new donors able and willing to help.

Here is how it works: Notify us if you want to be added to our list of frequent flyer miles donors. When we need a facilitator ticket, we'll contact you with the information needed to obtain a ticket (facilitator name and contact information, departure location and date, return date, etc.). You obtain the ticket and email the e-ticket to the facilitator and Soltura office. If there is a small booking fee required, Soltura will gladly reimburse you.

This is an easy and wonderful way to support Soltura. And, if you have more miles than you need, it doesn't cost you a thing! We rotate our requests between donors, so no individual is asked to help too frequently.

Join Us

Thank you to all our over loyal social media followers for helping us spread the word through social media.

We have expanded our online presence to additional social networks to make it easier to keep you up to date on Soltura news. Many of our posts on different networks will overlap, so it's not necessary to follow us on all of them...just pick your favorites!

Soltura Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Soltura Foundation is also approved to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the IRC.