From Iraq Advocacy to Jubilee Arts

In 2003, i started the Jubilee Troupe with a desire to take my peacemaking work beyond politics. I had been working in a human rights nonprofit organization and the invasion of Iraq began despite enormous evidence of its impending doom. Sick of politics and policy-making, i returned to the world of the arts that i'd nurtured only part-time for years. The Jubilee Troupe was begun.

The faith-based improvisational theatre project certainly took me beyond politics, so much so that many colleagues didn't even recognize it as peacemaking. Still, i've met hundreds of folks who've gained an interest in this edgy work, and out of that interest, launched the Jubilee Arts community.

I recall an intense email exchange around 2003 with an angry American man regarding my Iraq trip website and advocacy. He directed a withering venom toward me, though eventually calmed down after hearing my view and my stories. During that time, i also received an email from Zaid, an Iraqi i'd met while visiting who had hoped for the U.S. invasion. He showed nothing but respect and appreciation for the work i was doing, even though it was against his own judgement. I saw a huge disconnect between this Iraq easily able to forgive me for my advocacy work involving his own country and an American thousands of miles away from the battlefield with nothing but anger and resentment toward the work i was doing. I realized that opinions for and against peace had very little to do with the actual issues, but instead came from deep-seated prejudices and political-cultural orientations that we carry. Talking about issues would get us nowhere. I wanted to connect with people in the heart, the gut and the deep, eternal spirit within them.

The Jubilee Arts are about that. About bridging to the commonalities we all share and going beyond the cognitive fantasies we create and usually mistake for reality.

I am a facilitator, trainer, theatre artist and nonprofit administrator. In Playback Theatre i have found a way to combine dramatic gifts with my facilitation skills. In Contact Improvisation, i have found a practice to get deeply into my body and connect others in their fully embodied selves... in a safe, blissful and revealing experience of sharing weight, trust and moment. These two disciplines have provided both new avenues for community outreach as well as rich fields for personal growth.

In September 2007, i am launching the first Playback Theatre workshop ever in York, PA as part of the "Healing York" initiative. Stay tuned for details. And contact me if you want to be added to my mailing list!