The Healing Power of 'Bello'
An intentional community in Italy uses craftsmanship—and a sense of family—to successfully rehabilitate people who are suffering from addiction disorder.
Dear Friends,
The topic of drug addiction and treatment is not usually a hopeful one. Despite the proliferation of programs now available in the U.S., long-term success is still all too rare. Yet on the Northeastern coast of Italy, a unique, intentional community called San Patrignano has been wildly successful in rehabilitating people with substance abuse disorders — for more than 40 years. Their methodology? Teach people high-level, in-demand artisanal skills; make them a vital part of an interdependent community; and slowly but surely, confidence and pride fill what was once a desperate void.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading, “The Healing Power of ‘Bello’”, written by Laura Fraser. You can also listen to the audio version of the story on our site, as well as on popular streaming services like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. (And don’t miss the short video of San Patrignano, found in the story’s sidebar.)
Our Summer issue on “The Craft of Resilience” will continue through mid-July. Each Friday, we release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, or podcast related to some aspect of our theme. We also try to offer a few stories on other topics each quarter so that there's something for everyone — currently free of charge, and always free of ads. So please, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read — or watch, or listen to — within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Summer 2022: The Craft of Resilience
Given our mounting travails these days (climate chaos, ongoing pandemic, worsening summer wildfires, among others), we're focusing this summer on pioneers who are rising to these challenges. From indigenous people in Mexico who reclaimed their ancestral lands from eco-terrorists, to a highly developed community in Italy that holistically treats addiction, you will meet artisans and innovators who are creating unique paths to help people thrive in our fast-changing world. By mixing ingenuity, tenacity, and hope, these brave souls highlight what might be called the craft of resilience.