Art’s Life-Changing Impact on Recovery: the Alchemy of Artistry (c)Written by Lorraine Ferro, Artistic Director of Life Center Stage and award-winning artist.

Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” We at Life Center Stage experience the evidence of this every day. Vicky Mulligan, the powerful visionary founder of our organization and Executive Director of Life Center Stage spends each day focused “wherever the need is…” and the need is everywhere she looks in her home state of NJ. With a background in addiction services, alternative medicine, the creative arts, and a commitment to a higher calling, Vicky has dedicated her life to being present and to “hold space,” as she calls it, for the dreams and needs of others. This journey has led her to the recovery community, to those affected by mental disorders, to seniors, caregivers, youth, and so many other groups to support their healing through the arts. She is fiercely dedicated to the power of the expressive arts in health and wellness, and there is magic that happens when she interacts with anyone she meets. She’s one of those rare individuals who actually puts her care into action for the well-being of others. I’m Lorraine Ferro, the Artistic Director of Life Center Stage, and I have had the privilege (and sometimes the challenge!) of not only getting a front row seat to the day to day action inside our HQ in Boonton, NJ and out in the communities we serve, but I get to dream with Vicky and put into motion the programs that have given people hope, brought back their self-confidence and self-worth, and helped them become thriving members in society, making a difference in the world around them…all through what we call “the alchemy of artistry ©.”

We don’t do this in a vacuum, however. As they say, it truly does take a village, and our partnership with organizations like Prevention is Key and Partnership for a Drug Free NJ exemplifies this. By leveraging our collective commitment, we've made significant strides in improving community health and well-being, reducing substance misuse, and breaking down the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.

We see this work we do as a journey…and it has been an eventful one so far! For instance, in our collaboration with PIK, we’ve seen the success of our Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day initiatives since 2016. We've poured our hearts into creating impactful programs and events each year, and it's incredibly fulfilling to see how our vision has grown. More importantly, it's been deeply moving to witness the personal impact these events have had on the brave individuals who have courageously shared their stories to make a difference.

From the early days of anthem songwriting contests (including watching the winners of our first contest win a prestigious first place award in the NJ Ad Club Jersey Awards in 2017, for their original song “Invisible”), to our impossible vision made manifest of "T.I.M.E. (Things I Must Express)," an original play with music created by us and our artists in recovery, with its message of the healing power of art to navigate the complexities of addiction, I have been the partner that has always been game to take on the larger and larger visions of Vicky’s limitless capacity to dream, to help bring those impossible dreams to fruition. In 2020, the pandemic threatened to stop us from our work for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day, but Vicky wouldn’t let Covid get in the way of the cause. Since we couldn’t put on a show in person, she announced that we would become documentary filmmakers! The creation of "Healing a Beautiful Broken Mind" was a monumental task, especially given the tight timeframe we faced. Yet, somehow, we achieved it. This film became a lifeline for artists in recovery within our community, highlighting the importance of social connection and creative expression.

The experience of bringing this project to life was nothing less than miraculous. Witnessing every necessary element fall into place reaffirmed for us the presence of a higher power at work. The film came together brilliantly, offering crucial support to those who composed it, particularly during these challenging times. Amidst the isolation that can be so devastating for individuals with substance use disorders, it was vital to send a message of hope and healing. This film does just that – and it's powerful.

We are grateful for the opportunity to include and draw upon the wisdom of Kathy Murphy, Program Director, Music Therapy Graduate Studies at State University of New York at New Paltz; Keren Bachi, Ph.D., LCSW, Assistant Director of Clinical Research, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Susan Magsamen, author of “Your Brain on Art” and Executive Director, International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University, who’s data was instrumental in demonstrating the connection between opioids and music in the brain.

Our film's exploration of the shared neuropathways between opioids and music and the arts, interwoven with powerful real-life stories, has deeply resonated with audiences. It illustrates the profound impact that artistic expression can have on the brain. It also underscores the critical need to continue developing recovery ecosystems that embrace creative prescribing and prioritize partnerships, healthcare providers, community organizations, and recovery centers, as it is a testament to the transformative power of art. Recently in late 2024-early 2025, we updated the film with the newest details in the lives of these artists in recovery. Huge milestones had occurred in some of their lives that warranted re-editing and presenting even more proof that creative self-expression is an important pathway to health and well-being.

And now, we are excited to announce that on April 1st, 2025, a remarkable collaboration will unfold as Life Center Stage and Rutgers University film Professor, John Hulme and his students, will work with us to engage in a vital conversation about the opioid crisis and the essential role the arts play in recovery and substance use prevention with the artists in our film! There’s something profound about what happens when the next generation takes up the torch and uses their artistic talents as a tool for activism. We are looking forward to the interviews these students will have with our artists and community leaders with the goal of bringing awareness, understanding and empathy to a topic that has been so terribly stigmatized. The students will be conducting interviews with participants from our documentary film. They will ask questions from their own unique perspectives and create short films ("reels") that support our initiative to combat substance use disorder.

Through this collaboration, we aim to shed new light on the opioid crisis. Our hope is to move beyond headlines and statistics, and portray the lived reality of this issue through the fresh perspectives of these young filmmakers. The powerful narrative of "Healing a Beautiful Broken Mind" beautifully illustrates how shared experiences can break down stigma and inspire social change. Through storytelling and the arts, we are committed to fostering recovery. Our goal is to help those impacted by substance use disorder feel seen, heard, and understood.

You can see why we believe this collaboration with John Hulme and his Rutgers film students is monumental to the cause. As they continue the work we started, introducing this important topic to new demographics and audiences, it’s amazing to me to see the chain reaction that began years ago by one single-minded visionary who believed in the Alchemy of Artistry to heal the world. The next time you think, “I’m just one person, what can I do?” remember an image that Vicky returns to over and over again - of a pebble being thrown in the water, and the ripple effect that it makes - to demonstrate when your passion meets your purpose, you CAN be the change you wish to see in the world, just like Gandhi said