This workshop will educate attendees about The Belonging Project, an intervention with the unhoused community. Collaborators, playwright, Rachel Daley, theatre artist, Rosie Best, and community connector, Nora Riggs, will explore the fusion of social work strategies, foundational professional ethics, and healing through arts interventions to inspire self-advocacy and ignite inner actorvism. Specifically, the presenters will examine building a coalition of collaborators, intentional planning, rehearsal procedures, and performance strategies to understand the guiding principles which were used in this project and have great portability for the arts as a modality for healing and hope. The Belonging Project invited those with unhoused experience to focus groups which included an open door to becoming a cast or crew member for the play, “Infinity”, by Rachel Daley. Though the play was written in 2008, the focus groups generated current information which informed the play’s updates and a new concept of “lived experience interludes”. Ethical considerations were necessary around factors presented by those with lived experience, for example, snacks and rides to rehearsal, removing barriers that would prevent those who would not otherwise be able to participate. Recommendations for those considering arts interventions will be presented to inform those that might want to explore this very necessary and effective modality. There will also be acknowledgement of grant support that facilitated making payments to those with lived experience to compensate for their invaluable and unique contribution. Evaluations strategies and instruments will also be presented. This is a timely project given the growth in the unhoused population.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rosie Best combines diverse training and knowledge of theatre, therapy, and social justice, to create spaces for marginalized individuals to reclaim authority and autonomy over their stories and their experiences. Through her organization, Issue Box Theatre, Rosie provides community education on topics related to mental health and social justice.
Nora Riggs is passionate about social justice, trauma-informed care, and developing a welcoming community for all. She’s worked in the community providing direct services to survivors of human trafficking and individuals experiencing homelessness for 10 years. She now serves as Vice President of Programs & Services at Cherry Street Mission.
Rachel Daley has a bachelor’s in theatre arts and works as a therapist. She is passionate about healing trauma and systemic oppression through person-centered avenues of expression. She wrote “Infinity” in college and is thrilled to have the opportunity to revive the show as part of The Belonging Project.