This year, Emmanuel is pleased to welcome Amanda Ludeking. Here’s what she has to say by way of introduction.

My first experience with theater and the arts was in the fifth grade, when a theater company came to my school to help us put on a play about recycling. I don’t remember the show’s title or even my role, but I plainly remember the excitement that came with rehearsing, the friendly cooperation when painting the set, and the exhilaration of performing alongside my friends. Nearly twenty years later, upon realizing that all of the aspects I loved so much about such performances could be utilized as a form of therapy, I was nothing short of thrilled: here was a concrete way in which my animated demeanor and flair for the dramatics could actually help others. I decided to pursue my M.A. in mental health counseling (more specifically, drama therapy—a form of art therapy) at Lesley University, a program which gave me the opportunity to intern with the BostonWarm and common art programs at Emmanuel Church.

I was initially drawn to this internship because of the common art program and the focus on the healing aspects of art and community; it appeared that the Emmanuel Church and I shared similar views on compassion toward and acceptance of others regardless of their faith, gender, race, or position in life. During my interview, I learned that Emmanuel Church has a long history of setting aside dominant societal norms and public opinion in order to help others. That is, in times where the parish may have faced controversy and contempt for trying to help or even simply accepting certain individuals, the parish did so anyway. This concept of “radical acceptance,” as well as the community resulting from such acceptance, solidified my choice to work with the Emmanuel Church. BostonWarm and common art are great opportunities to heal through creating art and connecting to others. Whether that healing comes from pouring one’s soul onto canvas with oil paint, writing and performing a monologue of one’s experience, or simply sharing stories while collaborating on a crossword puzzle on a Monday morning, I am excited and honored to be a part of the process of collaborative learning and healing.

9-19-2019, Amanda Ludeking