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Megan Howell, founder and executive director of Second Heart Homes—the local nonprofit providing permanent housing, support and community—has partnered with Frank “Bubba” Henson, Cedric Hameed and Colin Reid to produce The Healing Mirror, a documentary following formerly homeless residents as they take part in immersive poetry workshops led by Sarasota poet Cedric Hameed. During the six-week workshops, participants explore self-image, self-esteem, fear and triumph through original work, sharing deeply personal stories shaped by trauma, mental illness and homelessness. The film offers an unfiltered look at these experiences—and the possibility of transformation through creative expression.

"One of the things that makes our permanent housing model so unique is our openness to explore different modalities of healing. At first, I thought it sounded a little silly, but we quickly saw there was something powerful in writing poetry. We watched our residents begin to transform and truly blossom," shares Howell. "Sometimes, it's a good thing to be wrong."

Filmed at the Sarasota Art Museum, The Healing Mirror connects local arts, culture and beauty with the harsh reality of men and women experiencing homelessness in the community. The film will premiere at the Sarasota Film Festival on Friday, April 17 at 2pm. Following the screening, attendees are invited to a panel discussion with participants and Cedric Hameed.

The film was made possible through generous support from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, with co-production support from The Sammy Fund. Additionally, during the month of April, Arts & Central will be featuring the poetry from Second Heart Homes residents on their lunch menus.

For more information about Second Heart Homes and its supportive housing, visit SecondHeartHomes.org. 

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