‘A way to heal’: UCF offering art classes to veterans at Lake Baldwin VA

ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of Central Florida is offering art classes to veterans through the Lake Baldwin VA.

It helps veterans working through addiction, homelessness and PTSD.

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The veterans participating are now using art as an outlet for their pain.

Army veteran Brian Zarajczyk is one of those veterans. He said it’s giving him a way to express himself.

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“Just a way to heal without a, you know, there’s no words necessary,” Zarajczyk said.

Kevin Haran, a professor at UCF’s school of visual arts and design, teaches the weekly virtual art class to veterans who are staying at the VA as they work to get back on their feet.

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“It takes effort and patience,” Haran said. “And I think they’ve, for that hour, hour and a half, have been able to focus and come up with some good results.”

The program is made possible through a grant at UCF.