Craig and I met with the director, case workers, and staff at Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma in Baltimore. Representatives from the Advocacy attended the Immigration Summit Craig and I spoke at last month. (I followed up with several organizations I discovered at the summit, and a few now are starting to reply favorably.)

Basically, I e-mailed those organizations I felt were appropriate for Freedom Dance and asked if there was a way we could work together to help acheive one another’s goals.

The people at ASTT are really nice and seem very supportive of our project. Karen Hanscom, Executive Director for ASTT, even said they would advertise our gallery reception in their newsletter! (I sent her ad copy as soon as I returned to my office.)

ASTT has a terrific program for recent émigrés. They provide them with a camera and let them, essentially, photograph their feelings. The pictures are then exhibited with text at a special gathering. Sounds very healing, I think, and something I hope we can be involved in. (I was interested in knowing if they’d do the same with a video camera. I’m sure the resulting documentaries and personal expression pieces would be heart warming, if not heart breaking.)

Special thanks to Karen, Joachim, and everyone at ASTT. We look forward to spending more time with you!

~Steven