ABOUT

Our Vision:
We dream of a world where all people can be seen, heard and celebrated exactly as they are, and can feel safe enough to walk unafraid.

Our Mission:
Walk Unafraid is committed to building a culture of compassion and unity that uplifts and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We support underrepresented artists (women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and folks living with disabilities) who are working to build bridges, create community and connect humanity in innovative uplifting ways.

What We’re About:
Walk Unafraid fosters creativity, connection and change by inspiring creative individuals and community organizations to create social, racial, environmental and economic change through innovative collaborations.

We offer empowering interactive art programs, workshops, tools and resources for schools, businesses, community groups and social service agencies around the country.

Through our grant and mentorship programs, we offer direct support to underrepresented artists who strive to build safer, more inclusive communities where everyone can walk unafraid.

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DONATE

Walk Unafraid supports creative activists and the communities they serve in order to build a safer, just, and more equitable world.

Walk Unafraid Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed under IRS regulations. EIN: 84-4123611

If making a contribution by check, please send to:
Walk Unafraid Foundation, Inc.
11 Railroad Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230

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Gabrielle Senza, Founder & Artistic Director
Gabrielle Senza is an artist, musician, and educator deeply committed to building healthier, more inclusive communities that uplift and amplify the voices of marginalized people. Her civically-engaged art practice addresses social and environmental injustice. Partnering with museums, galleries, schools and organizations, Gabrielle has presented artwork, lectures, classes, and performances at events and venues around the world. Some of these include Vagina Monologue/VDay events, Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA-NY, Cooper Union, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, the Puffin Foundation, and ZK/U-Berlin – the Center for Art & Urbanistics.

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Origins of Walk Unafraid:

Walk Unafraid originated as a collaborative public art installation created by Gabrielle Senza in 2003 and exhibited at the New Marlborough Meeting House in Western Massachusetts. It was one of several creative initiatives she developed under The Red Collaborative, a nonprofit arts organization she started in 2001 aimed to raise awareness and empower survivors of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Drawing on her personal journey of survival, growth, and healing from sexual trauma, Gabrielle’s creative initiatives on tough issues have served thousands of women, teens, immigrants and refugees, amplifying the voices of the unheard ~ and often unseen ~ victims of abuse.

Senza went on to offer Walk Unafraid collaborative art installations and kits for schools, libraries, community groups and social service agencies around the country, working together to raise awareness, empower victims of abuse, and build healthier communities.

In 2018 Senza changed the organization’s name from Red Collaborative to Walk Unafraid, and in 2019 formally incorporated as Walk Unafraid Foundation, Inc., successfully securing IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2021. Fiscal Agents for these projects prior to incorporating as a stand-alone nonprofit, included Railroad Street Youth Project, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and Fractured Atlas. Most projects were funded by private donors, corporate sponsors, and with what little resources the artist had herself.