A new initiative that uses
performers to reach victims of disasters with what we call Emotional First Aid.
Helping survivors cope and regain perspective … offering a shoulder to lean on.
Helping survivors cope and regain perspective … offering a shoulder to lean on.
USE OF THE PERFORMANCE COMMUNITY
When disaster strikes; the first duty is to save lives. But what does the individual who is facing the unknown feel? How do we treat the souls of those who have seen the worst and now face the aftermath?
Performers experience emotion in everything they do. These emotions come from within through reacting to all of the stimuli presented both externally and internally. They face the differences in personas on a daily basis.
Emotions/talents of the performing arts community should be catalyzed during times of crisis to assist disaster survivors. The focus of this program, however, is not on performing. It is on the use of performance skills to help survivors face their individual crises.
The Second Wave concept is based on the USO organization and the effectiveness it has had since WWII. The difference here, however, is that we are recommending using the skills of directors/performers to help people effected by crisis open up, express their worries, verbalize their needs and thereby start to heal.
This concept will also help organizations responsible for recovery base their response on the real, rather than perceived, needs/desires of the people who have been effected by these life threatening situations.
Watch video: https://vimeo.com/100913124
THE PLAN
We are mapping the Second Wave concept to align with emergency response/recovery regions across the country. The intent is to use east coast, west coast professional artist teams to develop regional artist teams that, once trained, will work on an event by event basis. The idea is to pass the baton to those who are at the heart of the event, the locals.
Regional teams will be a second wave of First Responders who are called up once the directive to evacuate is issued by the Governor.
The teams will then go to where ever survivors are based or, on an as needed basis, they will go door to door. The main destination, however, is locations where survivors are grouped until their homes are safe to return to or an alternative means has been provided.
Region I: Boston
Region II: New York
Region III: Philadelphia
Region IV: Atlanta
Region V: Chicago
Region VI: Denton
Region VII: Kansas City
Region VIII: Denver
Region IX: Oakland
Region X: Seattle
WHAT WILL THE TEAMS DO?
A. Interviews.
Performers will use their training to do non-invasive interviews with victims as well as service providers. The goal is to help the interviewee relax enough to let his or her feelings be expressed. The bi-product of this process is that people engaged in the recovery process will have a real picture of what the people most effected by the event need as well as want.
B. Engage survivors/service providers in the Recovery Process.
1) The performers will help educate the community on the recovery process and what different nonprofits, agencies and organizations do to educate the community. This, in turn, will enable survivors and service providers to act as a voice amplifier within their own communities, providing for realistic expectations and allowing communities to have a connection to both the emergency process and the responding organizations.
2) In this instance, survivors and service providers will become the interviewers interviewing their fellow survivors and service providers. Individuals will be diverted from their own fears by helping others in need. These individuals will play a significant part in the overall recovery process.
C. Role Playing.
Role playing with survivors and service providers will enable both groups to express their inner feelings. Role playing also enables one person to understand what the other is experiencing.
D. Relationship Groups.
Trained communicators will lead groups of survivors enabling them to express their feelings/needs. Team leaders will not be from agencies but will be able to feed back to agencies. The groups will provide up-to-date meaningful information about the prioritization of efforts as they correspond to needs expressed by survivors.
E. Performances.
1) Regional teams will perform on an as needed basis based on individual talents.
2) Celebrity appearances will be encouraged during major events.
F. National/Regional/Local Television Appearances.
Regional team members, survivors, and service providers are candidates for talk show/news appearances. Initially, appearances will feature the USO roll out. During events, coverage will be welcomed on news channels where the good that is happening has a welcome place in the course of recovery.
G. A Shoulder to Lean On.
The teams provide individuals who care in times of dire need when sufferers are dealing with unthinkable options.
H. Exercises to Ensure Preparedness.
Table tops, programs for the disabled, simulations, community relations campaigns.
To learn more, contact Alice Dysart, Program Director, at (917) 913-9348 or email her at [email protected].
When disaster strikes; the first duty is to save lives. But what does the individual who is facing the unknown feel? How do we treat the souls of those who have seen the worst and now face the aftermath?
Performers experience emotion in everything they do. These emotions come from within through reacting to all of the stimuli presented both externally and internally. They face the differences in personas on a daily basis.
Emotions/talents of the performing arts community should be catalyzed during times of crisis to assist disaster survivors. The focus of this program, however, is not on performing. It is on the use of performance skills to help survivors face their individual crises.
The Second Wave concept is based on the USO organization and the effectiveness it has had since WWII. The difference here, however, is that we are recommending using the skills of directors/performers to help people effected by crisis open up, express their worries, verbalize their needs and thereby start to heal.
This concept will also help organizations responsible for recovery base their response on the real, rather than perceived, needs/desires of the people who have been effected by these life threatening situations.
Watch video: https://vimeo.com/100913124
THE PLAN
We are mapping the Second Wave concept to align with emergency response/recovery regions across the country. The intent is to use east coast, west coast professional artist teams to develop regional artist teams that, once trained, will work on an event by event basis. The idea is to pass the baton to those who are at the heart of the event, the locals.
Regional teams will be a second wave of First Responders who are called up once the directive to evacuate is issued by the Governor.
The teams will then go to where ever survivors are based or, on an as needed basis, they will go door to door. The main destination, however, is locations where survivors are grouped until their homes are safe to return to or an alternative means has been provided.
Region I: Boston
Region II: New York
Region III: Philadelphia
Region IV: Atlanta
Region V: Chicago
Region VI: Denton
Region VII: Kansas City
Region VIII: Denver
Region IX: Oakland
Region X: Seattle
WHAT WILL THE TEAMS DO?
A. Interviews.
Performers will use their training to do non-invasive interviews with victims as well as service providers. The goal is to help the interviewee relax enough to let his or her feelings be expressed. The bi-product of this process is that people engaged in the recovery process will have a real picture of what the people most effected by the event need as well as want.
B. Engage survivors/service providers in the Recovery Process.
1) The performers will help educate the community on the recovery process and what different nonprofits, agencies and organizations do to educate the community. This, in turn, will enable survivors and service providers to act as a voice amplifier within their own communities, providing for realistic expectations and allowing communities to have a connection to both the emergency process and the responding organizations.
2) In this instance, survivors and service providers will become the interviewers interviewing their fellow survivors and service providers. Individuals will be diverted from their own fears by helping others in need. These individuals will play a significant part in the overall recovery process.
C. Role Playing.
Role playing with survivors and service providers will enable both groups to express their inner feelings. Role playing also enables one person to understand what the other is experiencing.
D. Relationship Groups.
Trained communicators will lead groups of survivors enabling them to express their feelings/needs. Team leaders will not be from agencies but will be able to feed back to agencies. The groups will provide up-to-date meaningful information about the prioritization of efforts as they correspond to needs expressed by survivors.
E. Performances.
1) Regional teams will perform on an as needed basis based on individual talents.
2) Celebrity appearances will be encouraged during major events.
F. National/Regional/Local Television Appearances.
Regional team members, survivors, and service providers are candidates for talk show/news appearances. Initially, appearances will feature the USO roll out. During events, coverage will be welcomed on news channels where the good that is happening has a welcome place in the course of recovery.
G. A Shoulder to Lean On.
The teams provide individuals who care in times of dire need when sufferers are dealing with unthinkable options.
H. Exercises to Ensure Preparedness.
Table tops, programs for the disabled, simulations, community relations campaigns.
To learn more, contact Alice Dysart, Program Director, at (917) 913-9348 or email her at [email protected].