FROM GRAPHIC DESIGN TO TRAUMA HEALING

Liza Chitwood, originally from Louisville, Kentucky, has always felt strongly about serving refugee communities. So when an opportunity came up to serve Syrian refugees living in Lebanon through art, she knew it was the perfect fit for her passion and graphic design background. 

For two years, Liza used art therapy as a way to help the Syrian community cope with war trauma. However, over time, she began to wonder if there was a better approach to best help the community–one that would give women the ability to provide for their own emotional and physical needs. Soon after, her business Art of Hoping was born. 

Art of Hoping provides a space for Syrian and Lebanese women to attend trauma healing sessions and create macrame products that are sold across Lebanon and the US, with proceeds providing above market wages and access to trauma counseling. At the time of launching Art of Hoping, Lebanon was in a severe financial crisis, so this approach provided economic empowerment to women when it was needed most.

ART OF HOPING AND THE BECAUSE ACCELERATOR 

To learn more about maintaining a sustainable business, Liza applied for the Because Accelerator and was accepted into the fall 2021 cohort alongside 15 other entrepreneurs from around the world. 

“The accelerator held me accountable to build a solid foundation that would enable Art of Hoping to grow in a healthy way,” said Liza. “It helped me think like an entrepreneur, zero in on the mission and develop a financially sustainable model.” 

After completing the program, Liza took part in the post-cohort pitch competition, where entrepreneurs have the opportunity to present the pitches they polished throughout the accelerator to an audience of Because Advisor Network members, donors and more–and Liza won second place. With the funds she was awarded from the event, Liza’s team purchased supplies that they put towards a second cohort of artists–allowing her to expand the team from 14 to 19 employees.

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship incubator program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.