From 2019-2022, artist Olga Koumoundouros served as Creative Strategist for the Los Angeles County Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), within the Department of Public Health. During her residency, Olga developed and implemented Violence, Hope, and Healing in Los Angeles County: The Storytelling Project, in collaboration with staff from the Office of Violence Prevention and Departments of Public Health and Arts and Culture. The project used arts-based, trauma-informed techniques to record the stories of people who have experienced violence at the individual or systemic level. For more than a year, a total of 100 stories were recorded and 55 photographs of storytellers were taken, a selection of which have been incorporated into a book.

The stories on this page are not in the book and have been published here with permission from the storytellers. Please check back as more stories will be added

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