The Welcome Project: Melissa @ MECI
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The Welcome Project: Melissa @ MECI
When I heard Lena Alfi speak at the "Making a Difference in a Complex World: Reimagining the Social Change Toolkit" at Northeastern University in March, I was inspired as a Playback Theatre artist, healer, and social activist. What she was doing totally resonated with "The Welcome Project" I was creating as an ExpressingBoston Public Art Fellow. I immediately offered what I have in my "toolkit" to Lena.
Lena Alfi is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Middle East Children's Institute (MECI). MECI works with Syrian refugees and youth and families in Jordan
as well as in Palestine. UNICEF and UNESCO have recognized MECI for its outstanding work in education and has asked MECI to expand its work.
After the conference, Lena and I corresponded and left the possibility of my collaboration open for the future when funding might be available.
As the world is witnessing, things for Syrian refugees have only gotten worse. I feel so strongly that it is time for anyone who can, whole countries and individuals, to step up. My "Welcome Project" grew from a "Welcome Door" in Boston neighborhoods to refugees on the other side of the world. Who is in more need of welcoming? I got back in touch with Lena Alfi and she introduced me to Lina Farouqi, Regional Director of MECI, in Jordan. We skyped and explored possibilities that could be of benefit to their organization.
I am honored to be welcomed to share my work with MECI, Nov 3-6, 2016.
What I will be doing in Amman, Jordan at MECI:
A 25 hour basic training in Zero Balancing (ZB) for MECI staff and Life Skills learners. Thurs, Fri and Sunday. A one-day Playback Theatre training that may culminate in a community performance. One Saturday.
I am asking for your financial support to help fund this project, specifically for: immersion Arabic classes (workshops will be in English) airfare, some housing and food, a masage table to facilitate ongoing practice, anatomical charts and an anatomically correct miniature skeleton; some small musical instruments, printed materials.
I leave for Beirut in three weeks and will be attending a Conductor's Class with Jo Salas, co-founder of Playback Theatre, in Lebanon, from Oct 23-26, just before I go on to Jordan. Newly honed skills will be put into direct service. I have already paid for this class and have arranged housing with friends. I am asking for assistance for the Jordanian part of this trip. But, you might want to know, I have bought my ticket and will do this trip with or without outside funding. I am guided by my sense of doing the next right thing. I know it will take a very large village to do this work and this is one way to be part of the village. I hope you will join me.
More details on the work I will be sharing:
Why Zero Balancing?
ZB is a hands-on body technique that can be learned without previous experience. A session involves the receiver to lie down face-up, clothes on (preferably on a massage type table or floor mats), and the practitioner applies gentle pressure called fulcrums. These pressure points, or fulcrums, carry ZB's signature - a non-invasive, respectful "essential touch" that allows the body to gently reorganize itself and permits the recipient to release held physical and energetic patterns that prohibit healing.
ZB is particularly well suited for dealing with the physical and emotional traumas caused by crisis situations. I am confident that ZB will be a useful tool for people at MECI.
As an acupuncturist, I first trained directly with Dr.Fritz Smith, founder of Zero Balancing, in 1980. I have been an instructor in this field since 1989. I later added my skills as a midwife to develop special classes related to ZB and Womens' Cycles. I have taught and certified hundreds of ZB practitioners in the USA, South America, Canada, UK and especially throughout Mexico, where I lived from 1985-2009.
Why Playback Theatre?
Playback Theatre was created in the 70s and since then there are troupes that teach and perform in over 60 countries including the Freedom Theatre in Palestine.
Playback Theatre is a form of improvisation used to tell stories, and strengthen communities. While an audience member volunteers a personal true story, actors apply deep listening and then dramatize the essence of the story with improvised music, dance, words and gestures. The teller of the story may ask for a re-do if the actors do not land on the essence of the story. But, usually, tellers and audience members alike, report the deeply satisfying experience of seeing and hearing their stories in a new light, often publicly shared for the first time - which in itself, has the potential for healing.
I draw on my skills as an actress, playwright, director, teaching artist, performance artist and Playback Theatre conductor and actor to offer this workshop.
For even more info:
www.mecinstitute.or
www.playbacktheatre.org
www.zerobalancing.com
When I heard Lena Alfi speak at the "Making a Difference in a Complex World: Reimagining the Social Change Toolkit" at Northeastern University in March, I was inspired as a Playback Theatre artist, healer, and social activist. What she was doing totally resonated with "The Welcome Project" I was creating as an ExpressingBoston Public Art Fellow. I immediately offered what I have in my "toolkit" to Lena.
Lena Alfi is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Middle East Children's Institute (MECI). MECI works with Syrian refugees and youth and families in Jordan
as well as in Palestine. UNICEF and UNESCO have recognized MECI for its outstanding work in education and has asked MECI to expand its work.
After the conference, Lena and I corresponded and left the possibility of my collaboration open for the future when funding might be available.
As the world is witnessing, things for Syrian refugees have only gotten worse. I feel so strongly that it is time for anyone who can, whole countries and individuals, to step up. My "Welcome Project" grew from a "Welcome Door" in Boston neighborhoods to refugees on the other side of the world. Who is in more need of welcoming? I got back in touch with Lena Alfi and she introduced me to Lina Farouqi, Regional Director of MECI, in Jordan. We skyped and explored possibilities that could be of benefit to their organization.
I am honored to be welcomed to share my work with MECI, Nov 3-6, 2016.
What I will be doing in Amman, Jordan at MECI:
A 25 hour basic training in Zero Balancing (ZB) for MECI staff and Life Skills learners. Thurs, Fri and Sunday. A one-day Playback Theatre training that may culminate in a community performance. One Saturday.
I am asking for your financial support to help fund this project, specifically for: immersion Arabic classes (workshops will be in English) airfare, some housing and food, a masage table to facilitate ongoing practice, anatomical charts and an anatomically correct miniature skeleton; some small musical instruments, printed materials.
I leave for Beirut in three weeks and will be attending a Conductor's Class with Jo Salas, co-founder of Playback Theatre, in Lebanon, from Oct 23-26, just before I go on to Jordan. Newly honed skills will be put into direct service. I have already paid for this class and have arranged housing with friends. I am asking for assistance for the Jordanian part of this trip. But, you might want to know, I have bought my ticket and will do this trip with or without outside funding. I am guided by my sense of doing the next right thing. I know it will take a very large village to do this work and this is one way to be part of the village. I hope you will join me.
More details on the work I will be sharing:
Why Zero Balancing?
ZB is a hands-on body technique that can be learned without previous experience. A session involves the receiver to lie down face-up, clothes on (preferably on a massage type table or floor mats), and the practitioner applies gentle pressure called fulcrums. These pressure points, or fulcrums, carry ZB's signature - a non-invasive, respectful "essential touch" that allows the body to gently reorganize itself and permits the recipient to release held physical and energetic patterns that prohibit healing.
ZB is particularly well suited for dealing with the physical and emotional traumas caused by crisis situations. I am confident that ZB will be a useful tool for people at MECI.
As an acupuncturist, I first trained directly with Dr.Fritz Smith, founder of Zero Balancing, in 1980. I have been an instructor in this field since 1989. I later added my skills as a midwife to develop special classes related to ZB and Womens' Cycles. I have taught and certified hundreds of ZB practitioners in the USA, South America, Canada, UK and especially throughout Mexico, where I lived from 1985-2009.
Why Playback Theatre?
Playback Theatre was created in the 70s and since then there are troupes that teach and perform in over 60 countries including the Freedom Theatre in Palestine.
Playback Theatre is a form of improvisation used to tell stories, and strengthen communities. While an audience member volunteers a personal true story, actors apply deep listening and then dramatize the essence of the story with improvised music, dance, words and gestures. The teller of the story may ask for a re-do if the actors do not land on the essence of the story. But, usually, tellers and audience members alike, report the deeply satisfying experience of seeing and hearing their stories in a new light, often publicly shared for the first time - which in itself, has the potential for healing.
I draw on my skills as an actress, playwright, director, teaching artist, performance artist and Playback Theatre conductor and actor to offer this workshop.
For even more info:
www.mecinstitute.or
www.playbacktheatre.org
www.zerobalancing.com
Organizer
Melissa Nussbaum Freeman
Organizer
Boston, MA