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# Step Up On Second Hosts 'Art Heals' Fundraiser at LA Farm on Sept. 22
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/090805-story-20050908/
- Published: 2005-09-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:56:27.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Daily Press staff*

Step Up On Second is celebrating 21 years of providing assistance to individuals suffering from mental illness with the charity fund raising event “Art Heals -- Home is Where the Art Is,” a group display of client art-work. The event will be held at LA Farm restaurant in Santa Monica, 3000 Olympic Blvd., on Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening also will celebrate the recent acquisition of a new property that will add additional facilities and housing for Step Up On Second members.

National Public Radio commentator BeBe Moore Campbell, a mental health advocate and the author of seven novels, will sign her second book about mental illness, “72 Hour Hold,” at the event.

“The Art Show will highlight some of the gifted talents of our participants, all of whom are living with a diagnosed mental illness,” said Tod Lipka, CEO of Step Up On Second. More than 60 pieces of art will be on display, created by members through the “Art Heals” program at the Second Street facility. Several of the artists will be at the reception, and there is a prosecco bar, sponsored by Martini and Rossi, gourmet cuisine from LA Farm and live Jazz. Step Up on Second is a nonprofit corporation that assists individuals with severe and persistent mental illness reintegrate into the community. The agency provides long-term support to people in recovery and their families, offering educational, social and work programs, quality housing, shower and laundry facilities, and a daily meal program.

“This past year we worked with over 1,200 individuals and prepared nearly 40,000 meals for members,” Lipka said. “We have housing for only 34, so most of our members live off site or are homeless. Because of the lack of affordable housing for the mentally ill we are building a 46-unit apartment complex just blocks from our Second Street location to provide additional housing opportunities for our participants.”

Tickets are $100\. For further information on “Art Heals” call Kimm Baersch at (310) 394-6889, ext. 46, or

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/090805-08_01.jpg)

health advocate and National Public Radio commentator Bebe Moore Campbell will sign ‘72 Hour Hold,’ her second book on mental illness, at an upcoming event. (Photo: Photo Courtesy Mental)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 8, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/090805.pdf?ref=smdp.com)