Stories matter. Voices matter. Experiences matter. Autonomy matters. In a time where our stories and our voices can be so quickly shared, widely accessed, and just as easily distorted, the See Me Project, is a platform for individuals who have been oppressed, marginalized, or exploited and gives them the reins on how they want to be seen, heard, understood, and supported. The See Me Project is a creative, collaborative piece with the intention of shining a light on the stories and experiences that are often ignored, forgotten, or altered and amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced by society or among their community. This presentation highlights the results collected and lessons learned from implementing the See Me Project with various populations. By exploring the intersection of theatre and therapy, this presentation shares tools on how to create spaces to amplify the voices of others, instead of telling the stories of others. Audience members will learn the personal and societal barriers that prevent us from truly seeing one another, while also exploring the concept of storytelling through a digital era, and will obtain a deeper level of understanding and connection across communities and populations. Participants will walk away with a greater ability to support clients, friends, peers, and strangers, through the process of claiming and sharing their stories. At a time when disenfranchisement is rife, the important elements of this program, such as informed consent, participants rights over their story, and egoless mentorship will be addressed.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rosie Best combines her 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.
Meg Kraner has utilized art-based therapy methods with clients for 6 years, with a specific focus on Narrative Therapy (NT) techniques. Meg has used NT with various client populations, as well as within her own therapeutic journey, and highly values the art of healing through therapeutic storytelling and community connection.