Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

Founded in 1996, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts offers a variety of educational and creative resources and programs to enhance health and wholeness, with a special focus on serving those affected by cancer. Programs focus on cultivating each person’s innate ability to heal, helping participants explore meaning and maintain hope—even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.

Now in its 15th year of service, Smith Center (formerly known as Smith Farm) has expanded its program offerings to serve more than 10,000 people each year in the DC community.

Programs are priced to be accessible and affordable to anyone who needs them, regardless of socio- or economic status. Scholarship assistance is also available when needed.

Resources for Cancer Patients, Their Families & Medical Professionals

Smith Center’s integrative cancer programs care for the whole person by providing emotional support, options for enhanced healthy living, and the guidance and wisdom of a renowned collection of medical professionals and health experts, cancer survivors, nutrition counselors, certified yoga and meditation instructors, artists, and more.

Programs Include:

Residential Cancer Retreats – Smith Center’s weeklong retreats are designed to provide empowering tools and knowledge in the context of community with others facing a cancer diagnosis and offer health-supportive activities such as gentle yoga, meditation, and small group discussions with experienced staff focusing on both practical and profound choices in healing, pain management, death and dying, expressive writing, and nutrition.

Cancer Supportive Classes and Workshops on U Street - Each week, Smith Center presents a variety of programs, classes, and events designed specifically for people living with cancer and their caregivers at its U Street Center. With a newly expanded center, programs have grown significantly in 2011-- and include:  

• Cancer-specific diet, nutrition, and cooking classes
• Arts and creativity workshops
• Therapeutic yoga and stress reduction
• Living Well with Cancer One-Day Retreats
• Informative talks and workshops geared towards dealing with specific aspects of illness

Young Adult Cancer Survivor (YACS) Support Group – YACS bring together people in their 20s, 30s and early 40s that are living with cancer, as well as the caregivers and friends that support them.

Cancer Work in the Local DC Community

Integrative Patient Navigation Services & Training - Smith Center offers counseling and education services to improve access to care and enhance the treatment experience for people living with cancer - providing resources, information, and support to thousands of people each year in underserved communities. Since 2006, Smith Center’s Patient Navigation Program has reached over 10,000 people in DC’s most vulnerable communities, and has improved the quality of life for hundreds of patients – helping many to successfully complete cancer treatment.

Building on the traditional approach to patient navigation, Smith Center’s groundbreaking integrative model offers adults facing cancer (and their loved ones) comprehensive, holistic psychosocial support throughout the entire cancer experience, from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. This unique approach is shared in an Annual National Navigation Training in Integrative Cancer Care.

Hospital-Based Artist in Residence Programs - Smith Center’s artist-in-residence programs engage patients  in creative activities to help promote the healing process - working daily to reduce stress and bring hope, humor and inspiration to thousands of patients at area hospitals.

Programs for the Whole Community - While supporting the cancer community will always be at the heart of Smith Center’s work, Smith Center now offers similar life-enhancing tools and techniques in programs for the whole community including healthy cooking and nutrition, lectures on wholeness and wellness, and more.

Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery- The entrance to Smith Center’s U Street Community Center is the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, a nonprofit space that supports the mission of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and utilization of the arts for healing.

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