LAUNCHING THE SERIES

His choreography is rooted in social justice, and he spoke about the power of dance as an expressive medium. He offered things to keep in mind when working with students and shared the language he uses to engage, respect, motivate, and build trust with his students.

After lunch, Alysia Souder, arts educator and Executive Director of the Institute of Music for Children, presented a workshop that offered participants theater and acting tools to help children identify and express their feelings. Central to a healing-centered approach, her questions prompted participants to say both “how do I feel” and “how do I want to feel”. The ability to voice one’s emotions is at the core of acting, and a key aspect of being human. The simple “feelings wheel” she shared helps put words to emotions and reinforces empathy and self-worth.

Malcolm Rolling, a multi-disciplinary visual artist shared insights about the work he has done as Production Manager at Yendor Arts. A series of public art and murals give voice to youth, allowing self-expression in non-traditional spaces and building a sense of communal responsibility. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of

American hardship and the triumphant resistance of oppressed people, his work showcases the spirit of healingcentered artwork.

In the final wrap-up and the debriefing discussion, the AEN planning team expressed the hopes that participants were inspired to learn more about trauma and trauma-informed practices, had gained new insights and appreciation for the role of arts and arts education in building resilience, had created their safety and personal care plans, and were confident that individually and collectively “we can influence attitudes and behaviors towards trauma in ourselves, our colleagues, and our children and students”. In turn, participants commented that the training sessions had been “well-paced and balanced with clinical- and arts-led workshops [that] were different and valuable”, and that it was “really important” that they “got all four art forms”. Another remarked on the “safe space – arrival, food, iPads to get in a different zone, be here be present and everything is taken care of”, and “[I am] leaving here happier than when I walked in”. Lastly, for the future, participants wanted a better speaker system and more time for processing and networking/ socializing.