“There is a significant and growing body of evidence that supports the benefits of art and creative outlets to overall mental and physical well-being,” said Casey Ryan, Reed Smith’s Global Head of Legal Personnel and a member of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession. “A number of the firm’s professional staff and attorneys have artistic abilities and experience the benefits of artistic expression through these endeavors. Our hope is that we can spread that experience across the firm so that all of our employees can enjoy those benefits.”
Reed Smith is among the inaugural group of 13 law firms in the nation to sign and commit support for the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Well-Being Pledge, a seven-point framework to reduce substance use disorders and mental health distress in the legal profession. The ABA Campaign identifies seven core areas on which the signatories have agreed to focus. It also details concrete activities that law firms can take to achieve the Campaign’s goals.
Prior to that, Reed Smith launched its Wellness Works initiative in January 2018. The firmwide program comprises stress management, work-life balance, healthy habits, health mindfulness and substance use awareness. In addition to promoting wellness, the program addresses mental health and substance abuse issues by providing training and information on these topics and helping the firm develop and maintain a supportive culture focused on these and other challenges its global employees encounter.
“Arts for Wellness” month is the brain-child of Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith Associate Sasha Phillips, who was a professional artist before her legal career. Phillips proposed the wellness theme to firm leadership based on her own experiences with the benefits of art in relieving and reducing stress. Phillips turned to drawing as a means to deal with her own personal stress and sadness following the tragic mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue last October.
A highlight of “Arts for Wellness” events includes a presentation by Dr. Donna Betts, associate professor and research director in the graduate Art Therapy Program at George Washington University and president of the Board of the American Art Therapy Association. Betts will discuss the mental and physical health benefits of art in the firm’s Washington, DC, office. The program will be broadcast live to all Reed Smith U.S. offices.
Each U.S. office will host an art show during the month to display drawings, paintings, craft and handmade projects by the firm’s attorneys and professional staff. In addition, each office also has a designated area for an ARTiZEN Pop-up Art Studio, where various art and craft materials will be available allowing firm employees to take a break during the day to draw, doodle, paint or work on a craft project.
Other planned activities in various Reed Smith offices include:
- Pittsburgh – Art & Lunch sessions will be offered at both the Global Customer Centre (GCC) and Reed Smith Centre (RSC) on February 15. Phillips will teach the class at RSC, instructing participants on how to recreate the Andy Warhol Uncle Sam painting on display there. At the GCC, Pittsburgh artist Yelena Lamm will teach participants how to paint Poppies, a painting that is on display there.
- Tysons Corner – Brittani Wilson, Legal Recruiting Manager, will instruct a painting class on how to recreate an original painting by Hilda Thorpe on display in the reception area.
- Richmond – Art class offerings will include two sessions on the watercolor resist technique by a local artist on February 12 and 21, and two pen and paint sessions on the Richmond skyline by Reed Smith records clerk Becky McCravy on February 19 and 26.
- New York – Two Art & Lunch sessions will be taught by Reed Smith professional staff Chelsea Buranich, Mary Collado, Jennifer Fried, Roseann Lentin, Liz Perez, and Kristen Snyderman. The classes will allow employees to create mosaic projects, alcohol ink painting, watercolor painting, a group art project on a single canvas, and paper flower art.
- San Francisco – Reed Smith professional staff members Jessica Sisco and Amy Hathaway will teach a craft class on February 1 on homemade Valentine’s Day cards.
- Chicago – Legal secretary Paula Mhoon will lead a class on floral lapel pins on February 14, as well as teaching line dancing during three sessions throughout the month.
- Houston – Local artisans will teach a mandala coloring class on February 26 and a book binding class on February 13.
- Philadelphia – Professional staff presented a class on the art of rustic farmhouse sign design.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm, dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Its long-standing relationships, international outlook and collaborative structure make it a go-to partner for speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For further information, please visit www.reedsmith.com.
