Date & Time
Monday, April 20, 2026, 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM
Time
2:40 PM - 3:00 PM
Name
(C2-3) Lightning Talk | Reclaiming the Pieces: Retell, Reconnect, and Restore — Using Expressive Arts to Heal and Empower Black Youth
Description

Reclaiming the Pieces: Retell, Reconnect, and Restore is an expressive arts and mental wellness program developed through the Piece of Mind initiative-a theatrical and therapeutic exploration of Black mental health. This pilot project uses creative expression, storytelling, and performance as trauma-informed tools to help youth process loss, identity, and emotional pain in culturally relevant ways. By blending art, psychology, and community engagement, this approach gives participants permission to retell their stories, reconnect to self and community, and restore resilience. Grounded in lived experience and supported by partnerships with Peel CAS, ROOTS Community Services, and local Black mental health practitioners, this program reimagines what culturally safe, creative healing spaces can look like for young people navigating trauma and systemic barriers.

Colleen Taffe