Profile: Drama for conflict transformation

An educator, creative facilitator and theatre artist, CR graduate student Anya Hankin is committed to experiential learning and critical pedagogy. Using interactive social justice theatre as her medium, Hankin works with people to build skills around conversation, authentic listening, self-reflection and communal witnessing.

During the 2008-09 academic year, Hankin completed practicum work with Portland Community College's Illumination Project, a peer education program using interactive theatre as a venue for student educators and audience members to rehearse ways of addressing problems related to racism, sexism, heterosexism and other forms of oppression.

Hankin also recently developed and facilitated the pilot program "What Do You See?" offered by the Educational Theatre Program in conjunction with Kaiser Permanente, Oregon Children's Theatre, and Portland's Roosevelt High School. "What Do You See?" explores issues of identity, self-confidence and body image through theatre media, visual art, writing, movement and music.

"I believe that these forms of interactive theatre provide a creative outlet for people to tell their stories as well as listen to the stories of others," Hankin says. "This theatrical process enhances empathy and encourages people to step out of their polarized positions and into the experiences of the 'other.'"

In tandem with her CR graduate studies, Hankin is pursuing a Masters in Drama Therapy at the National Association of Drama Therapy.