Esat Side Institute Alumni Perform the World

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East Side Institute в Нью-Йорке организовала и возглавляет наша коллега проф. Лоис Хольцман, работающая в русле культурно-исторической теории Л.С.Выготского.

What's new, what they're building, and how they're advancing a performatory or social therapeutic orientation to community building

April 2010

The Institute has welcomed 57 students to its International Class since 2004. They come from five US States and 16 countries. Among them are psychologists from India, Pakistan and Brazil, applied theatre practitioners from Kenya and Canada, community organizers from Uganda and Taiwan, psychotherapists from South Africa and Argentina, youth workers from Nicaragua and Mexico, and educators and social workers from the Philippines and the United States. Coming from different places and professions, they share a desire to change the world -- and an eagerness to take advantage of the unique platform the International Class offers them to create a global support network, to engage the philosophical, political and psychological issues of their practice, and to study and train as developmentalists with creators of social therapeutic methodology under the direction of Lois Holzman.

Enjoy these snapshots from our colleagues' performance stages.

In this issue.

Mexico

Canada

Nicaragua

Uganda

Kenya

And More.

Mexico

Our last newsletter included updates from Miguel Cortes, class of 2008, a youth development worker and psychologist at CASA in Juarez, Mexico. Since our last report, 16 high school youth were tragically massacred at a party -- the most recent tragedy in a city that has drawn worldwide attention for its drug-cartel fueled violence. Miguel reports that the community was overwhelmed and shocked, then later outraged by the response of military authorities who dismissed the killings as "gang-related." Miguel immediately organized a community-education class where the young people were encouraged to give their pain in letters, poems and therapeutic conversation that might transform the community's loss. He continues working with the young people and is active in the varied committees and coalitions that have formed in the wake of the violence.

Canada

Simon DeAbreu, class of 2009, is a community organizer with the Theatre of Liberation Community (TLC) in Hamilton, Ontario. He works with families, seniors, the unemployed and underemployed in this struggling industrial city of 500,000. Simon has recently introduced a community-building approach inspired by the All Stars Project, Inc. and its "Theatre for the Whole City," which Simon encountered as part of his International Class studies in NYC. In June, TLC is planning an open-air performance event and street festival called, Open Streets Hamilton, which is expected to draw thousands of residents. Reaching out to local cultural organizations (such as the Many Hands Art Group) TLC artists work to create new stages for the community to dance, sing and perform (See:http://solusfestival.wordpress.com/)

Nicaragua

Ruben Reyes, class of 2005, is part of the leadership team at Puntos de Encuentro which develops leadership training activities for young people across Central America. A centerpiece of Encuentro's young leaders training program is an annual camp where young people learn to "build alliances" that can help challenge all forms of discrimination. For example, young women are encouraged to talk to young men about what they can expect from them as "allies against sexism." The young men learn to become better allies to the women. Gay teens talk to their straight peers about what they expect from them as allies against homophobia and heterosexism. The camp also addresses issues of the disabled and people with HIV. Since 1997, there have been 170 participants from every country in Central America. Most recently, Ruben and his team organized a political carnival -- "Building Alliances Across Diversity" -- so that young people could express their support for one another in a more public manner. The carnival included a parade of diversity pride.

Ruben is also active in RELAJO -- a Latin American Network for Group Playing. The organization helps participants create performatory ways of dealing with psychosocial and political issues. Their biennial conference in 2008 -- "Doing and Undoing Identities" -- explored understandings of identity through the use of group games, dance, theater, capoeira and indigenous rituals.

Uganda

Jane Connor, class of 2008, is an expert and trainer in nonviolent communication. She recently was invited by the Psychology Department at Uganda's Makerere University to submit a proposal for a program in conflict resolution to address worsening ethnic tensions in the Bunyoro region of Western Uganda. Her proposal -- which introduces a Restorative Circle system -- was recently accepted by Uganda's President, Yoweri Museveni. The Bunyoro region has experienced worsening conflict between the indigenous Bunyoro people and recent migrants to the area. This has resulted in violence and arson that many fear could further escalate with upcoming elections in 2011. For more background on the project see: www.rcuganda.org. Jane's blog (www.Janeandfriends.blogspot.com) describes new legislation against gay people and her support of a grouping of Ugandan lesbians.

Kenya

Pamela Ateka, class of 2007, works with the Community Focus Group (CFG) in Nairobi, Kenya. Her organization uses the performing arts to educate, connect and mobilize the community in fighting for basic human rights and to promote sustainable livelihoods for families. Support of young people is central to CFG's work. Ateka with CFG raises funds to pay tuition for orphans who would not otherwise be able to attend school. CFG provides support to the community in four areas: Human Rights, Women & Children, HIV/AIDS and Arts & Culture.

Serbia

Vera Erac, class of 2005, is an associate with ApsArt Center for Theatre Research and with film and theatre director, Aleksandra Jelic, has developed a community-based applied theatre practice that involves participants from the Roma community, prisoners and young people (some of whom have been hospitalized with drug addictions).

Vera has led performance training for international and local aid groups such as CARE, the Institute of Medicine, the UN Refugee Agency, Labris and Zene na delu. Much of this work is directed to the Roma and LGBT communities. Two plays grew out of this work and are currently touring Serbia. One play, called "School for Everybody" is financed by CARE and explores the obstacles in the education of Roma children. The second play "Say Stop to Violence" was produced with a group of Roma women and explores the issues of human trafficking and violence against women.

Photos show a project created by ApsArt dealing with heroin addiction, entitled "Game as Breathing, Theatre as Life."

Sweden

Kerstin Gauffin, class of 2005, a faculty member at MДlardalen University , one of Sweden's leading research universities, has introduced improvisation to her teaching practice. The picture below is a multicultural improvisation group that she led in the Fall semester 2009.

United States

Rebecca Widom, class of 2007, brings a playful (yet rigorous) approach to her work in data analysis and training for the New York City Human Resources Administration. The Data Warehouse Project she contributed to recently received the 2009 "Professionalism, Accountability, and Integrity Award." The Project is the backbone for a streamlined data management system designed to dramatically improve basic services for New York City's poorest communities. (See: http://www.govtech.com/gt/717764.)

Reports from the Field is published by the East Side Institute for Group and Short Term Psychotherapy in New York, NY. Readers are welcome to submit reports, announcements and story ideas to Esther Farmer, estherfarmer@hotmail.com.