BUILDABRIDGE INSTITUTE REPORT
BuildaBridge Institute Report
June 2012 TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE CREATIVE ARTS
BuildaBridge Institute Arcadia University, Glenside, PA BuildaBridge Institute is a training applied research academy that byand [Article Author] prepares artists, community and congregational leaders, social service professionals, and nonprofit organization personnel to integrate the arts effectively in education and community development. The 11th Annual Open Institute commenced on the morning of Wednesday June 6 with a room full of eager students. Taking place on the scenic campus of Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, twenty-three (23) participants from around the country and around the world gathered together to take part in a week of intense learning about the transformative power of the creative arts. Besides many coming from Philadelphia, participants came from states including Florida, Maryland, California, Louisiana and
Georgia and some came from as far as Canada, Haiti, Israel and Singapore. With a faculty of twenty-five (25) professional artists, therapists and professors, students took part in five days of classes which included Skills Development Workshops in the evening and two days of Methods Labs. Special one day courses were offered on Monday June 11. An additional fifteen (15) people arrived to take part in the Arts Relief course and the recently added Introduction to Restorative Discipline Practices course. Lectures were joined by people from the around the world and around the US who tuned in to watch live broadcasts of sessions. Eastern University’s Master of Arts in Urban Studies students continued with their residency at the BuildaBridge House until June 14. 1
Open Institute June 6-11 The Open Institute offers courses for participants in Track I (first year participants) and Track II (second year returning participants).
Graduate Residency June 6-14 BuildaBridge partners with Eastern University as a community instructional partner for The Master of Arts Degree in Urban Studies: Arts in Transformation Concentration (AITC).
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Track 1 Courses Foundation for Arts in Transformation Dr. Nathan Corbitt, co-founder and President of BuildaBridge International, began Track I students off by laying a solid theoretical foundation in the Foundations for Arts in Transformation course. The three classes in this course, Envisioning Transformation: A process Model, The Good Life, and Ritual and Guided
Construction of Meaning, touched on the basic terms of the arts in transformation model as well as concepts, models and practices related to the creative arts for work with populations living in contexts of poverty and crisis. Dr. Corbitt discussed the power of the arts and the basic principles for effective arts engagement. Ideas about creating visions and missions, goal setting, assessment and impact documentation in regards to an organization were also discussed. The ideas presented in this course helped set the stage for
the fields of arts-based community development, cultural community development, development communication, arts-integrated teaching and therapeutic arts. “The institute incorporated lots of hands on experiences, these experiences were an extremely effective way to learn (first hand) and understand the concepts applied by BuildaBridge”
Arts in Education Dr. Vivian Nix-Early, co-founder and COO of BuildaBridge International, presented a lesson model to participants in their first session, integrating the four goals of the BuildaBridge Classroom Modelsm as an illustration of a child-centred and hope-infused artsintegrated education. Sessions two and three focused on giving participants the basic mechanics of creating arts-integrated and art-as-metaphor curricula and lesson plans that can be used to teach humanities, science and other academic subjects. These sessions also modelled the elements of the trauma-informed BuildaBridge Classroom. “I like the Arts in Education component, learning how to write lesson plans that integrate art as an essential component of the lesson…”
Dr. Nix-Early had students up on their feet, singing and dancing as she led them in songs and games that are frequently used the BuildaBridge classrooms. BuildaBridge teaching artists Magi Ross and Jamaine Smith led a typical BuildaBridge class on the first evening of the Institute so students could see first-hand the principles they were learning put into action. This helped set the stage for the methods classes that participants were apart of later in the week. 2
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Arts, Creativity and Human Development Dr. Lili Levinowitz, professor of Music Education at Rowan University, taught the first session, How Children Develop Musically. In this interactive class, participants explored how children grow musically and how the adult can foster that music development through music experiences. Dr. Levinowitz talked about the role of parents and caregivers as essential to the music development of young children and showed students music and movement activities that are helpful to use with children for music learning. The visual arts session on Development Milestones for Children was taught by artist and art therapist Rachel Braun. The art therapy section of the presentation presented students with a comprehensive overview of the normal stages of development through the visual arts. Attendees learned how to identify the various stages, indicators of emotional and social growth, media appropriate for each stage, how to engage children in discussions about their artwork, and when to refer a child to an art therapist. Focusing on the movement aspect of development in children and youth, Dr. Gayle Gates, professional counselor and professor at Drexel University, introduced students to an overview of developmental body movement. Dr. Gates explained to students how the body and movement are essential to and interconnected with expression, interaction and communication and all phases of development. Students participated in movement experiences which helped to put into practice the ideas they learned.
Arts and Spiritual Development Ceramic pots, hammers, paint, markers, collage and live music were all incorporated into David Melby-Gibbons’ session on the Foundations of Spirituality. Melby-Gibbons, teacher and musician from California, shared with Track I students a story titled “The Cracked Pot: A Story for Anyone Who’s Not Quite Perfect”. After reading this story, Check out some students received their own pots to hit, crack, smash and change in whatever way they chose. As of David MelbyMelby-Gibbons played guitar, students worked away on their creations until each person had a piece Gibbons’ songs of art all their own. Dr. Anna Giesenberg joined the class via Skype to discuss her Ph.D. dissertation, here. “The Phenomenon of Preschool Children’s Spirituality”, Watch a song which was required reading for the class. created by Track I students here.
Dr. Joe Modica, Eastern University chaplain and professor, continued the discussion of arts and spirituality in his session “Faith is a Verb”: A Brief Overview of Faith Development and Theories. Dr. Modica explained to students how faith is a verb, making it a dynamic and active concept as opposed to the inactive and object view of faith as a noun. Faith development theories were discussed as well as examples of how faith development can be studied qualitatively and quantitatively. Special guest Dr. Geri Lynn Peak concluded Arts and Spiritual Development with a presentation on Virtues and Values for Children and Youth. Peak taught the session using the world renowned The Virtues Project ™. Students discussed the definitions of virtues and values, explored how the concept of virtues is seen as universal and positive qualities of character support and participated in interactive exercises. 3
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Methods Labs Methods Labs act as a hands-on and fully interactive experience for participants to observe and assist a master teacher in the classroom. Track I students participated in Methods Labs at two separate BuildaBridge community partner sites.
BuildaBridge teaching artist Jamaine Smith taught a visual arts class to a room full of four energetic kids and eight equally as energetic Institute students. Prior to the week of the Institute, Jamaine taught four classes, using the idea of a traditional Hope Quilt, handcrafted quilts with hidden meanings used during the Underground Railroad, as his inspiration. With the help of the visiting students, the children were able to stitch their drawings of hope together and create their own Hope Quilt. It was hung with pride by overjoyed kids thrilled to show off their creation to friends and family.
Weaving with Seniors Track II students visited Caring Heart Manor retirement center for their Methods Labs. Students observed teacher Kathryn Pannepacker as she explained the project to the seniors and demonstrated how to use yarn to attach to a plastic chain link fence. Each class started by establishing their “studio� (the table everyone sat around), saying the BuildaBridge
Motto, and repeating messages of hope that the seniors and students created together. In this experience, students were able to individually help seniors, observe the teaching methods that Pannepacker used, and create a sense of community by getting to know each person and listen and share personal stories. By the end of the third day, a beautiful weaving of yarn and personal messages was finished and ready for display (shown at bottom right). The textile project was enjoyed by all and will be kept at Caring Heart so others may enjoy it as well. 4
Master teacher Magira Ross taught a fun filled and high energy African dance class to a group of enthusiastic kids and Institute students. Like Mr. Smith, Mama Magi spent the four weeks prior to the Institute teaching this class. Because of this, participants experienced first-hand the BuildaBridge Classroom Modelsm.
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Track II Courses Arts in Healing In the Arts in Healing course, Dr. Jim Borling touched on the importance of music as a healing agent. Not only is music very therapeutic, but it can also help be a reflection of our inner self. The Art of Music was discussed from a variety of human domains which included social, emotional, physiological, cognitive and spiritual. Art psychotherapist Dr. Mindy Jacobson-Levy presented on the use of the art psychotherapy process as an instrument for healing. Using visual arts as her focus, JacobsonLevy explained the value of art making in therapy and in the community. For those who have experienced trauma, using art and imagery may be a better form of expression rather than the use of words. Students also participated in an experiential exercise where they created their own individual piece of art. Students did many movement exercises with dance therapist Dr. Ellen Schelly-Hill in her session. Schelly-Hill presented on the therapeutic relationship and creative movement process that make contributions to cultivating resilience in at-risk youth. Students learned about the healing relationship which is child centered, culturally sensitive and meets the child where he or she is. Dr. Gene Ann Behrens discussed neurodevelopment with students in her session Neurobiology of Trauma in the Arts. In this session, participants learned about the relationship between individuals with unresolved trauma and their
IN THE CLASSROOM
emotions. Talking therapy can cause individuals to relive their trauma experience; therefore, art can be an effective form of therapy to assist them in reintegrating their physiological and emotional responses connected to the traumatic experience.
Arts in Social Services Students learned about Arts in Social Services in sessions with Dr. David Bronkema, chair of the School of Leadership and Development at Eastern University and Trapeta Mayson, social worker and poet. Bronkema identified different types of organizations (grassroots, government, bilateral, etc.) and their motivations, systems they have created and the issues they address. Mayson discussed with students the diverse profiles of children in social service. She stressed the importance of working with children from a strength based perspective.
Track II students hard at work creating their own visual art project in Dr. Jacobson-Levy’s session for Arts in Healing.
A Track II student works on a visual art exercise during one of the sessions.
Leadership Practicum Track II students finished off their courses with a series of Leadership Practicum sessions. Faculty members Dr. Nathan Corbitt, Barbara Price-Davis and Tracie Blummer provided the participants with the opportunity to learn different tools for program planning, program funding and assessment. Students also were presented with ideas on how to select and manage personnel, how to envision a program and the creating of objectives. 5
Dr. Joe Modica discusses with students the idea of “faithing “in his session for Arts and Spiritual Development.
“The best part of the Institute was seeing the participants and faculty open to child-like joy, attention, and playfulness.”
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Special One Day Courses Arts Relief On Monday June 11, the BuildaBridge Institute offered two courses for people to come for one day and attend. An additional fifteen people from the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland areas joined Track I and II participants to take part in these specialized courses. The Arts Relief course offered three separate sessions to its participants. The first session, Psychological First Aid, was taught by Dr. Ruth Hoskins on behalf of the American Red Cross. Participants learned how to respond to local and national disasters and how to provide basic care, comfort, and support to people who are experiencing disaster related stress. Knowing how to use Psychological First Aid can help you to assess what a person may need at a particular time, provide immediate support to those in stressful situations and create a compassionate environment for disaster survivors and workers. Upon completing this session, each participant received a Certificate in Psychological First Aid from the Red Cross. Session two, taught by art therapist Dr. Christine Wineberg, introduced the creative arts therapy student, therapist or artist to a protocol for personal and professional preparation. To conclude the class, Wineberg had the participants stand in a circle and sing together a calming song with a message of healing and hope. “When I breathe in, I breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I breather out love”
Dr. Gene Ann Behrens returned to teach the last session for Arts Relief. Dr. Behrens shared with participants a special presentation about her music therapy work with children in Palestine who had been traumatized by the on-going conflict in the region. Students learned in great detail about the work and research that went in to planning such a trip and about the outcome data that resulted from the experience. By watching videos and hearing stories of the music therapy sessions with the children, participants were able to gain an understanding of just how important music can be as a healing method to those in areas of conflict.
Introduction to Restorative Discipline Practices This year, Introduction to Restorative Discipline Practices, taught by Dr. Vivian NixEarly, was added to the one day sessions. Taking its beginnings from the restorative justice movement, restorative practices is a practical approach to interacting with students, and is a set of techniques and philosophies that can be applied in any “Learning alongside of other context. This course provided students with committed artists creates the most incredible sort of community.” a solid introduction to restorative practices. Dr. Nix-Early showed participants how the use of restorative practices as an alternative to punishment focused discipline is helpful in reducing misbehavior, bullying, violence and crime among students. 6
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Skills Development Workshops Drumming Taught by master drummer Dr. Jim Borling, this workshop allowed participants to learn basic drumming techniques and also how drumming can be used to allow for personal and cultural growth. Participants learned about conscious drumming, a model of group drumming that is used to facilitate individual expression while in a group setting. Drumming circles were offered each day giving all participants the chance to let their emotions out, experience the spirituality of the moment and feel at one with the rhythm of the group.
Storytelling The storytelling workshop was incredibly interactive. Participants in this workshop spent the first day simply talking with one another, telling stories, and answering the inquisitive questions of teacher Mark Lyons. The next few days were spent developing individual stories, and recording them live. Lyons showed participants the technology that can be used to morph everyday stories into an artistic masterpiece. Students added their own music and edited feverishly. Their final project was presented to the entire Institute group during the Skills Development Celebration.
Transformational Drama Professional theater teacher Amy Scheer led the Transformational Drama workshop offered at this year’s Institute. Inspired by the great Augusto Boal, Scheer taught participants about Boal’s globally recognized Theatre of the Oppressed. By playing several games each session, participants acquired an extensive knowledge of games to use when working with children and adults. In this workshop, participants were actively learning how to use theater as an effective healing method when working with people who have experienced trauma.
Mask Making Mask Making offered a chance for Institute participants to make a unique and personal mask of their own from start to finish. Dr. Maria Carlini, co-founder and director of Creative Therapies Enterprises, taught students the process in making masks as well as ideas on transcendent formation theory. In three days, participants casted a plaster mold of their faces and decorated it in great detail. The finished products were presented along with an individually written haiku about the mask at the Skills Development Celebration. 7
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Institute Goes Live This year, the Annual Institute tried something completely new—broadcasting live. With the help of Google staff and the use of Google+ Hangouts On Air, BuildaBridge was able to technologically expand the Institute to reach a global audience. Fifteen sessions were broadcasted live over the internet with participants actively engaging through use of Google+ Hangouts and watching the live streaming of the sessions on our website. Each live broadcast was then recorded and instantly uploaded to YouTube so it could be accessed and viewed by anyone in the world. As of late June 2012, a total of 225 individuals have viewed our Institute videos on YouTube. People from the Philippines, Kenya and across the United States tuned in to watch our lecturers and drum along with us during our drumming circle. Due to this new and ever growing technology, the Annual Institute has been able to reach the widest audience ever in its history. With the success of live broadcasting using Google+ Hangouts On Air, BuildaBridge plans to use this technology for expanded training in the future.
Sponsors and Collaborators Arcadia University is Philadelphia's global university and a pioneer in international education. Arcadia is a topranked private university offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. More than 4,000 students choose from among 80 fields of study. U.S. News & World Report ranks Arcadia University among the top tier of regional universities in the North. Eastern University is a co-educational Christian university of the arts that includes undergraduate, graduate, Seminary and accelerated adult programs. Eastern’s School for Social Change offers a master’s degree in Urban Studies, in which students learn to be effective Christian leaders in urban settings and can choose a concentration in either Arts in Transformation, Community Development or Youth Leadership. View the Institute Viewbook.
2013 Institute Dates: June 5-10, 2013 8
BUILDABRIDGE INSTITUTE REPORT
BuildaBridge Institute Report
June 2012 BuildaBridge Buildabridge.org 205 West Tulpehocken St. Philadelphia, PA 19144 215.842.0428 Institute@buildabridge.org
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Selected BuildaBridge Institute Faculty Barbara Price Davis, worked for ten years as the Executive Director of YouthCAN!, a non-profit community arts organization that provided empowering art education programs for all. Barbara’s background as a social psychologist and artist led the organization to being nationally recognized. At the 2006 Breaking Down the Walls Conference at Rutgers University, Barbara was awarded the “Arts in Prevention Achievement Award” and in 2007, YouthCAN! was named a “Model Arts as Prevention” organization by the National Initiative for Arts as Prevention. In March 2009, Delta Kappa Gamma, an international association for women in education recognized Barbara Price Davis as the 2009 Outstanding Arts Educator for Arkansas. Today, Barbara works leading transformational arts programs with youth in a substance abuse treatment facility and with adults suffering from severe mental illness. Course: Foundations for Arts in Transformation – Organizational for Community Arts Mark Lyons is director of the Philadelphia Storytelling Project, which uses digital storytelling to give participants the opportunity to tell their stories, to reflect on their experiences and honor their lives, and give them a voice which will be heard by the larger world. Participants write stories or interview others about their experiences as immigrants or teens, and record, edit and mix their stories to create an audio piece that can be shared in their communities and played on podcasts, websites and the radio. Mark also leads workshops with teachers on doing community oral histories. He is co- editor of Espejos y Ventanas / Mirrors and Windows, Oral Histories of Mexican Farmworkers and Their Families, which is published in Spanish and English.He writes fiction which has been published in several literary journals, and is the recipient of Pennyslvania Council of the Arts Fellowships for 2003 and 2009. Skills Development Workshop-Storytelling Ellen Schelly Hill, MMT, ADTR, LP, is Director of Dance/Movement Therapy Graduate Education in the Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She teaches dance/movement therapy group skills, supervision, and ethics courses. Ellen has practiced as a dance/movem ent therapist for more than 20 years with a wide range of clinical populations. She has presented workshops regionally and nationally with regard to both clinical work and program design. Her initial entry into the field of dance/movement therapy many years ago was through her work in improvisational theater (Karma Pie) and teaching creative dramatics for children. Course: Arts in Healing Panel, Dance/Movement Therapy Section: Cultivating resilience resources through the therapeutic relationship and creative movement process. Gene Ann Behrens, PhD, MT-BC, is Professor of Music and directs the music therapy program at Elizabethtown College, PA. She has over 13 years of teaching experience and over 36 years of clinical experience. She has published in several journals and proceedings and is active in presenting at regional, national, and international conferences. In 2010, she was invited to present at a NATO Security Workshop on trauma and music therapy in Ankara, Turkey. Gene will be taking over the Global Crisis Commissioner position on the World Federation of Music Therapy executive board in July and is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Region of Music Therapy research committee. Her research area is music to develop emotional skills and stress trauma along with a strong interest in research design and statistics. Besides other international travel, Gene spent two-months working in Bethlehem as a music therapist to develop the emotional coping skills of the children traumatized by war. Her passion for photography has resulted in two showings of her digital pictures from Bethlehem. Courses: Application of Recent Research and Theory on Trauma Stress to the Arts; Arts Relief: The Unique Needs of Children in On-going Conflicts Jim Borling (M M, MT-BC, FAMI), Professor of Music, Director of Music Therapy at Radford University, Board Certified Music Therapist and a Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from DePauw University in Greencastle,
Indiana and his Master of Music degree in Music Therapy from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Currently, Jim provides music therapy services for 'Avenues to Recovery', an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for both adults and adolescents recovering from addictions. His professional involvement with the field of music therapy includes positions within the American Music Therapy Association as well as extensive work with the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Along with his wife Nannette, Jim is co-founder of MusicVisions, LLC, where he maintains a clinical private practice in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. . Course: Skills Development Workshop (conscious drumming), Arts in Healing (moderator & panelist) Trapeta B. Mayson is a poet, workshop leader and educator. She has worked extensively with young people and adults in educational, artistic and institutional settings conducting creative writing and selfexpressive workshops. She has received numerous literary awards and fellowships including a 2002 Pew Fellowship, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Grants and a 2007 Leeway Transformation Award. Trapeta is a Cave Canem and Callaloo Fellow and has completed residencies at schools, community agencies and artistic institutions. Her new poetry chapbook, She Was Once Herself, was released in 2012 to rave reviews and is available at www.trapetamayson.com. Trapeta’s other publications include submissions in The American Poetry Review and Lavanderia, Anthology of Women Writing, to name a few. She is a native of Liberia and grew up in Philadelphia. Trapeta is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice and has worked for years in the human services field and with artistic and cultural institutions. of AMERICAN CRAFT. Course: Arts in Social Services Kathryn Pannepacker is a textile/visual artist living in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Penn State University with a major in English and a minor in art. Afterwards, back in the late 80's, for 4 years in Berkeley, CA., she apprenticed with 3rd generation French tapestry weaver, Jean Pierre Larochette and his partner, Yael Lurie, a painter and designer for tapestry. Kathryn then went to Aubusson, France to continue weaving as an artist-in-resident. She also had the opportunity to be an artist-in-resident in Hachioji, Japan, through the Japan Foundation. She is the former director of the DaVinci Art Alliance, and a rostered teaching artist for the PA Council On the Arts/ Artists and Education, Young Audiences of PA., and BuildaBridge. Through the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, Kathryn painted a 7' x 500ft wide mural called Wall of Rugs: the global language of textiles at Girard and Belmont Avenues featuring the textiles of 42 countries. Part 2 (another 18 panels) was completed at Broad and Lehigh Streets. She was the lead artist with Josh Sarantitis, orchestrating weaving workshops at homeless shelters around Philadelphia for FINDING HOME, a textile mural project via the Mural Arts Program, that is at 13th & Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia. Along with colleagues, she’s continued the weaving studio that grew out of this project, now called Arts Street Textile Studio: handmade with the homeless. Course: Skills Worshop & Methods Lab Instructor - Finding Home: a woven journey of hope Lynne Farrow, MFT, is an artist, spiritual director and marriage and family therapist. While her favorite art forms are mixed media acrylics, watercolors, bookmaking, quilting and wearable arts, Lynne specializes in developing arts-integrated experiences and curriculum for a variety of settings. She travels both nationally and internationally presenting workshops and retreats. Lynne is the former creative director of Reckoning, a social initiative headquartered in Amsterdam that develops arts-integrated workshops teaching character education and everyday leadership. She currently leads weekly therapeutic art classes and open studio opportunities at The Lighthouse, a year-long residential treatment program for women recovering from substance abuse. Lynne is the author/compiler of two arts-integrated resource books: Art & Soul and Art-Making & Metaphor. Course: Arts and Spiritual Development Magi Ross originally of Denver, Colorado, graduated with honors from the University of Maryland with a degree in dance and she recently earned a Master of Dance Education from Temple University. She taught extensively in Baltimore in schools, studios and community-building venues for nearly thirty years. She studies, performs and choreographs with an eclectic mix of styles informed by African
Diasporic dance, modern, funk, Capoeira and black vernacular dances. She has studied with the late Dr. Pearl Primus, Dr. Sherrill Johnson of Howard University, The Phoenix Repertory Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and Vincent Mansoe of South Africa. Her current work engages the minds and bodies of populations who would otherwise not dance—senior citizens and students living with disabilities. Course: Methods Lab Instructor Maria T. Carlini, MSOL, MT-BC, FAMI Co-Founder and Director of Creative Therapies Enterprises in Pittsburgh, PA; Adjunct professor, Seton Hill University, music therapy program; Workshop instructor, BuildaBridge Institute. Clinician specializing in provision of music therapy and guided imagery and music (GIM) services, regional and national workshops and presentations with a focus on music and recovery from addictions. Served on the CBMT Board of Directors; Past-president of the Pittsburgh Association for the Arts in Education and Therapy. Course: Skills Development: Music and Masks as Metaphors of Transcendence Michele Rattigan is an artist, art therapist, guest lecturer, national presenter, student supervisor, ATR and LPC supervisor, and clinical instructor of art therapy. She received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Painting & Drawing and Certificate of Concentration in Art Therapy from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA in 1994. In 1996 she graduated from MCP-Hahnemann University (now Drexel University) with her Master's of Art in Art Therapy. Michele has over a decade of experience providing individual and group psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. In 2002, Michele Rattigan co-founded The Center: Art, Play, and Traditional Therapy, an outpatient mental health cooperative where creative arts therapists and psychology professionals provide creative, individual and group psychotherapy. She currently practices in Woodstown, New Jersey and teaches at Drexel/Hahnemann’s Creative Arts in Therapy Program. Course: Arts, Creativity and Human Development (panelist) Mindy Jacobson-Levy, MCAT, ATR-BC, LPC, DVATA-HLM is a board certified, registered art psychotherapist, and licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma, body image, and eating disorders. In private practice since 1980, she has numerous audiotape and written publications including The Art Therapy Workbook for Disordered Eating: Finding Your Voice through Creativity (Gϋrze Books, 2010). She was also invited to author the experiential therapies section of the 2005 & 2011 “Guidelines for Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder in Adults,” both published in the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. Mindy is a clinical supervisor for the graduate art therapy program at Drexel University, and supervises professional art therapists for their credentials/licensure. Professional memberships include: American Art Therapy Association, International Society for the Study of Trauma/Dissociation, Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association (Honorary Life Member since 1996), National Eating Disorder Association, and International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals. Mindy’s creative passions include painting, knitting, music, and especially tribal belly dancing! Course: Arts in Healing ARTB4WORDS™ : Healing Trauma and Body Shame through Art Ruth Hoskins, Ph.D., H.H.S., LCSW, is the Director of Relaxation International, licensed psychotherapist, grief counselor, stress management and disaster mental health consultant. She has been teaching stress management for over thirty years. Ruth is an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College teaching Health Psychology, Mind-Body Connection. She is a certified relationships counselor, approved critical incident stress trainer for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and Co-captain and trainer for the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team and VOAD. She is a national speaker presenting information on the integration of body, mind, and spirit, end of life care, and disaster mental health response. She is the author of several books and products to enhance one's mood. Ruth is available to speak nationwide. Course: Arts Relief: Psychological First Aid