From Reliving to Remembering: David’s Journey Through Art and Healing 

In the stairwell of PRC’s Integrated Services Center, David Bunnell’s artwork stops people in their tracks. Each piece—a vivid burst of color and emotion—tells a story of pain, but also of profound transformation. On the heels of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re honored to share David’s journey of healing through his art.

From childhood trauma and time in the foster care system to years of battling addiction, David’s journey has not been an easy one. He’s endured hardships that have shaped his worldview and his art. “Each of my pieces is tied to a part of my past,” he explains. “It’s how I forgive. It’s how I remember rather than relive.” 

When David first came to PRC, it was to brush up on his computer skills and find employment. But what he found was much more than training—he found community. While attending PRC’s Workforce Development classes, David formed lasting bonds with his classmates and instructors. In that safe and welcoming space, he opened up about his art, and how it had become a powerful outlet for healing and self-expression. 

We were thrilled when David offered to showcase his work on our walls, complete with personal descriptions and a deeply moving artist statement. His pieces—layered, colorful, and raw—invite viewers into his journey from darkness to light. At PRC’s recent Open House, David gave remarks about what this opportunity has meant to him and how meaningful it is to have his work displayed in a building that has played such a pivotal role in his life. 

“I’m finding that I have something important to say, and PRC has helped me say it.” 

David describes his creative process as a kind of zen. It starts with a single mark on the page, then becomes a puzzle: pieces of his story coming together. And in that process, there’s joy. 

Through his art, David isn’t just finding release—he’s finding clarity. He’s turning past pain into something he can look at, piece together, accept the outcome, and ultimately remember, without being overwhelmed. That shift—from reliving to remembering—has become the heart of his healing.

“Before, I was just reliving everything, somehow expecting a different outcome,” he says. “But now I understand why. And I’ve figured out what I need to do to stop reliving it. I need to accept it.” 

Seeing others relate to his art brings David deep joy. Whether it’s a quiet chuckle or a moment of recognition, those reactions remind him he’s not alone, that others have felt what he’s felt. His pieces often carry serious themes with a touch of humor, inviting a shared understanding. Through his work, David offers that same sense of connection and release to others. 

“I finally feel heard,” David says. “Not just seen—but truly heard. That’s what PRC has done for me.” 

Though David initially came to PRC for computer training, he was encouraged to join LiftUp as well—and it changed the course of his journey. Through LiftUp, PRC’s peer-to-peer training for jobs in community health settings, David discovered a new sense of connection and purpose. The program showed him how to turn his lived experience with mental health and substance use challenges into valuable, transferable skills to support others. 

By sharing his story and listening to others with similar journeys, David was able to re-evaluate his past, break down stigma, and recognize strengths in the very experiences that once held him back. LiftUp helped him see those qualities as assets he can confidently bring into his career path. 

“PRC gave me the ability to see my own worth and gain confidence through it.” David shared.  

Since completing Next Step, PRC’s four-week intensive computer skills certification program, and Step Up, the ten-class continuation administrative and clerical skills training, David has returned as a classroom assistant, helping guide the next cohort of students. His passion for giving back is clear—and growing. He’s now pursuing peer-to-peer-focused roles throughout the city and looking for new ways to continue supporting others on their journeys. 

“I really want to work in peer support because I can help people in ways that others just can’t. Sometimes, what folks need most is someone who’s actually been there, and I want to be that person. I like that I feel purposeful here.” David shared. 

PRC helped David find his passion in paying it forward. He’s using his lived experiences and peer-to-peer training to help others gain skills, find their footing, and transform trauma into constructive pathways forward.  

You can be a part of this important work. Your contribution helps ensure that more people like David can access the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to reclaim their lives. 

Announcing Paying it Forward, our dollar-for-dollar $1,500 board match for every donation made between now and when our fiscal year ends on June 30. Help us reach our $5,000 fundraising goal. Donate today and you’ll have twice the impact in helping others like David.

P.S. Interested in giving via donor advised fund or stock? Amazing! Email us at [email protected], and we’ll send you all the details you need.