WORKSHOPS
We are currently offering the following workshops:
AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER:
PERSONAL STORYTELLING IN A DIGITAL WORLD (3-4 days)
This workshop offers participants a rich opportunity to: listen deeply to themselves and to their fellow storytellers; and create a 2-5 minute first person story with digital editing software that adds animated images and music to a recorded narration. While the process does make use of digital software, it is more closely linked to the oral storytelling tradition and to socially engaged art than to digital communication....
HELPING CHILDREN THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS (2 days)
When children and youth experience grief and loss, parents/caregivers can feel helpless. “I don’t know what to say or do” is a common response. In this workshop participants learn about the ways that children at different stages of development understand and express grief and about how to adjust their support accordingly.
DEEP ROOTS, STRONG WINGS: RAISING RESILIENT CHILDREN (2 days)
How can we best support children and youth as they navigate the challenges of growing up in today’s complex and troubling world? In this workshop participants examine two aspects of resilience: Deep Roots and Strong Wings. With deep roots, children know that they belong and are valued for who they are. With strong wings, children know that they have the skills they need to successfully navigate their world.
PATHWAYS TO PARTNERSHIPS: SUPPORTING AT-RISK PARENTS (2days)
When parents are unable to adequately meet their children’s needs, professional helpers may be called in to intervene. While children can and do benefit, too often they are left feeling abandoned or caught between divided loyalties. In this workshop participants explore approaches to working with parents/caregivers that go beyond shame and blame, that allow helpers to let go of the unrealistic role of ‘problem fixer’, and that create the conditions needed for genuine parent-helper partnerships.
BUILDING BRIDGES, TEARING DOWN WALLS:
STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY RECOVERY (2 days)
In this workshop participants examine the principles of a community recovery model that supports a unified community-based approach to addressing social problems. The emphasis is on using storytelling, art-based exercises and group reflection to explore practical approaches to mobilizing communities for positive change.
CIRCLES OF CARE: SUPPORTING SUBSTANCE-INVOLVED MOTHERS (2 days)
Women’s experience of addiction often involves intense feelings of shame and guilt about how their use of substances has affected their children. These feelings can prevent women from seeking support during pregnancy and when they are struggling with parenting challenges. In this workshop, participants explore ways of working with substance-involved mothers that help them set aside some of their shame and guilt and reclaim their mothering identities.
INTERGENERATIONAL CREATIVITY GATHERINGS:
CELEBRATING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT (1-7 days)
Community Works began incorporating creativity-based initiatives into our development work over a decade ago. Since that time, we have witnessed on many occasions art’s capacity to support collective healing and well-being and engage communities in the process of exploring critical social concerns.
Community Works is particularly supportive of intergenerational creativity gatherings. We believe that the health of our communities and the world in general depends on our ability to bridge the distance that separates the young and the old in today’s world. Collective art-making forms a good steady bridge for us all to cross.
