WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS: Please make your choice in the next section.
Cambodian Dance & Expressive Movement
This workshop seeks to introduce participants to a few basic elements of Cambodian traditional dance, and to illustrate the ways in Angkor Dance Troupe has used dance to provide positive cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities for inner-city youth. Since 1986, Angkor Dance Troupe’s Cambodian dance classes have helped underserved youth by providing positive creative outlets, instilling discipline and responsibility, promoting self-efficacy in youth.
Challenges of Resettlement for Bhutanese Refugees in the U.S.: Implications for Health
More than 75,000 Bhutanese refugees have resettled in the U.S. since 2007. The aim of this presentation will be to introduce this new refugee population and to discuss their resettlement history, culture and adaptation processes to understand their health status. There is a known relationship between physical and mental health status. The literature suggests there is a high risk of suicide among Bhutanese refugees. Themes from a qualitative study “Quality of life of older Bhutanese refugees” will be discussed. This session will include recommendations for future directions on health research of Bhutanese population. Concerns and challenges in understanding the mental health of Bhutanese population after resettlement in the U.S. will be shared. A faith-based approach in healing the traumatic experiences and mental health of Bhutanese refugees will be discussed.
Telling Our Stories to Heal Ourselves and Others
Everyone, whether identified as a mental health consumer or not, has a healing journey. In this workshop we will explore the healing benefits, barriers, and risks of sharing one’s recovery/healing story. A majority of the workshop will be experiential and participants will have the chance to identify and tell their own stories though writing, as well as through video and/or audio recording which is optional. There will be an opportunity to share in the workshop community if participants choose to do so.
The Journey to Healing
This workshop focuses on the intergenerational trauma of the Cambodian people who have experienced or suffered genocide under the Khmer Rouge regime. Presenters will discuss culture, beliefs and perceptions between the Cambodian elders and the younger generation. The work being done at Lowell Community Health Center with elders, teens in programming and educational outreach with adult population will be shared along with stories and experiences of second generation teens in connecting with adults in their community. The workshop will also explore how utilizing art has helped teens connect to the Cambodian culture and how it helps in the healing process of those affected by trauma.