Social Change

Archive for the ‘Social Change’ Category

Revived by Meeting You

July 29th, 2010 | Author: Callid

TLA Member Sherry Reiter shares this reflection on her recent travel and work in South Korea:

“My life was revived by meeting you and

inspired to send out a joyful fragrance”

_______________________________________________________________

These words from Korean poet Lee Hae-In are still reverberating for me. I have just returned from South Korea, where John Fox, myself and nine other speakers from around the world were invited to The 2nd International Conference on Humanities Therapies at Kangwon University. How clever for the team of professors at Kangwon National University to discover a term that Korean people can accept more readily than “therapy,” a term that still carries stigma for many Asians. As Yong Jung Kwon, President of Kangwon National University said, “The goals of our university lie in the pursuit of dignifying all human beings, seeking knowledge, creating truth for new generations, and promoting creative and productive human resources for happier life.”

“Humanities therapy” is an umbrella term inclusive of all the creative arts therapies and related topics such as psycholinguistics, Rogerian therapy and philosophical counseling. As Dae-Beom Lee, Director of the Humanities Institute stated, “We want to investigate the ontological status that happiness takes a role in our life and to unite various viewpoints and theories… to develop original theories and methods of humanities therapy.” On July 9th and 10, 2010, I had the immense pleasure of presenting “In the Orchard of Contentment; Planting the Seeds of Poetry Therapy.” John Fox, who has presented at previous Power of Words conferences, spoke about “Poetry, Community and the Flourishing Heart; Poetry Therapy As a Catalyst for Resilience and Connection.” Proceedings were translated in a publication so that the audience could read in their own language as the speeches were given.

From there, John Fox and I were hosted by the gracious So-Young Choi, Director of the Korean Poetry Therapy Institute. So-Young directed the Second International Poetry Therapy Workshop on 7/12 and 7/13 in Seoul. About fifty writers, therapists, professors and students gathered for two days of workshops. The group was loving, expressive and very open. To say that we were warmly received would be an understatement. We left with hugs, gifts and an appreciation of new ideas and great personalities.

Although something is lost in translation, the struggle for survival and coping with a multitude of emotions through writing is universal.

______________________________________________________________________

“I am just a flower

rising from the dead.”

________________________________________________________________________

Although bibliotherapy in the form of short stories and books, is not a new concept, the use of poetry is relatively new to South Korea. The Korean Poetry Therapy Institute directed by So-Young Choi and The Korea Center of Journal/Poetry Therapy, directed by Bhongee-Lee, have sprung up in the last few years. It is inspiring and heartening to see that on the other side of the world, transformative language is blossoming.

________________________________________________________________________

When my faith floats upwards

like a victorious fragrance,

angels in their white garments blow on trumpets.

________________________________________________________________________

The lines of poetry quoted are from Sister Lee Hae In, from her poem “A Few Words From A White Lily” in From the Sea of Dandelions; A Collection of Love Letters to Myself, My Neighbors and to God. Sister Lee Hae In is a cancer survivor who is a beloved poet in South Korea.

Posted in Health, News, Social Change | No Comments »

Poetry Therapy International

June 22nd, 2010 | Author: Callid

In an exciting piece of news from the poetry therapy front, TLA Network Council Member Sherry Reiter shares that she has been invited to the 2010 "Conference on Humanities Therapy," sponsored by Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do province, South Korea.

The conference organizers there are affiliated with The Humanities Therapy Research Institute, which "aims to study wide-ranging theories, methods, and practices to prevent and cure manetal and emotional problems, seeking to improve the quality of life by integrating the curative contents of humanities and its related fields. The goals of Humanities Therapy are to keep one's life happy, recover peace of mind by preventing and curing mental and emotional problems, and help with quality of life."

Congratulations to Sherry and past Power of Words presenter John Fox, who will also be part of this fascinating gathering. We hope to hear more when you return!

Posted in Academics, Health, Social Change, Writing | No Comments »

Cascadia Arts and Healing Center

May 6th, 2010 | Author: Callid

We recently heard from Brian Moore, who shared about the Cascadia Arts and Healing Center which he is developing to explore the connections between the expressive arts and deep ecology. Brian also facilitates Poetic Pathways and Journal to Wholeness at the Pathways Learning Center, in Eugene, OR, and leads developmental writing groups at the University District, Johnson Unit, of Eugene's Sacred Heart Medical Center.

For folks looking to learn more about the possibilities between TLA and ecological movements, be sure to check out his website.

Posted in Social Change, Writing | No Comments »

Justice, Language, and Social Work

April 26th, 2010 | Author: Callid

I recently came across this fascinating article by Colleen Vojak about how the language social workers use has clear impact on "helper and recepient" relationships, particularly on how marginalized folks develop their own sense of self. From the article's abstract is this key line:

Social service providers who care about social justice, but do not understand the relationship between language and the larger social vision they want to help create, may unwittingly undermine their own project by reinforcing the language of hegemony.

Right on. This is already evident to many TLA practitioners, and may be of use for those of us interested in other disciplines and academic connections. Take a look if you're interested.

Posted in Academics, Social Change | No Comments »

Funding for Art-based Social Change

March 29th, 2010 | Author: caryn

Looking for funding an art-based social change project? Check out NowArtGrants, a site devoted to matching up artists with funders. To qualify as Now Art the artist/art must:

Take place outside of a gallery or limited-access space.
Engage a wide audience in a dialogue about a current social issue.
Have a component that delivers an aspect of the art directly to those who have funded it.

If any TLA folk get in touch with these funders, let us know how it turns out!

Posted in Social Change | No Comments »