ART AS CHANGE AGENT
HEALING FROM TRAUMA
On November 15th, the Art as Change Agent: Healing From Trauma panel, discussed the horrors and damage the internal conflict of Uganda had on its people, specifically child soldiers, and how their trauma, in ways, is reflected in the lives of children of Milwaukee today. In both scenarios, we learn the healing effects the arts can have.
MEET THE PANELISTS
About Jane Ekayu
Jane Ekayu has extensive experience as a child trauma therapist. While working at the Rachele Rehabilitation Centre in Uganda from 2004 to 2006, her role was to receive child soldiers returning from captivity from the civil war with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), assist them in their physical, emotional, and psychological healing, and facilitate their reintegration back into the community.
About Ferne Caulker
Caulker is the founder and Artistic/Executive Director of the Ko-Thi Dance Company, Wisconsin’s oldest African American arts organization. Ko-Thi, founded in 1969, is dedicated to the preservation and expression of the performing arts from the African Continent, Caribbean and United States. She taught at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee since 1971, where she was a Full Professor in the Peck School of the Arts – Dance Department until she retired as Professor Emerita in 2016.
About True Skool
Led by Co-Executive Directors, Shalina Ali and Fidel Verdin, TRUE Skool's mission is to engage, educate and empower youth and communities through the Creative Arts and Hip Hop Culture! True Skool hires local artists to teach eight-week-long after-school programs on the subjects of DJing, emceeing, breakdancing, visual arts, music production, live band and video production. Students from ages 14 to 19 learn how to use art as a means of creative thinking and problem solving—whether or not they choose to pursue a career in the arts.
