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# ‘One Step Closer’ to healing
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/one-step-closer-to-healing/
- Published: 2006-09-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:57:01.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Real Estate & Housing, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Step Up on Second is celebrating 22 years of support with an evening of food, wine, music and original art work created by people living with a diagnosed mental illness.

Step Up on Second provides assistance to individuals suffering from mental illness to help them reintegrate into the community. The charity fundraising event “Art Heals,” will be held at the Akwa restaurant in Santa Monica, 1415 Fifth St. on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s theme, “One Step Closer,” will celebrate the recent acquisition of a new property that adds additional facilities and housing for Step Up on Second members. The mayor of Santa Monica will attend, along with celebrities and more than 400 guests.

“The 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 and several of the artists will be at the reception.

Following the fundraiser, the artwork will be on display for one month at the Focus Community Gallery in Santa Monica Place. All the paintings are for sale by the artists.

Tickets are $100 a piece. For further information on Art Heals call Kimm Baersch at (310) 394-6889, ext. 46 or Waking up on the right side

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 8, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/090806.pdf?ref=smdp.com)