Wan-li
I am Wanyi, a second-year graduate student studying Art Therapy at Lesley University. Having grown up in Taiwan, I had the chance to learn fine art for my bachelor’s degree and was fortunate to have lived and taught in three different countries. During those time periods, I found the therapeutic power of art through leading art-making sessions in my communities. To further my knowledge in using art as a therapeutic medium, I came to the US to learn from the best.
As an intern at Emmanuel Church in the City of Boston this academic year, I have already gained precious hands-on experience leading groups on Wednesdays at Common Art and Thursdays at Boston Elderly LGBT+ Cafe. A recent life event recently reminded me not to take everything for granted. So during my first Common Art session I drew love symbols surrounding a candle to honor the relationship we had and to cherish every relationship we have/had. The next day, with the LGBT+ elderly, I made a collage to celebrate the happiness of joining this community, sharing laughter and warm food together. It was a blessed meeting with each handsome, beautiful, and unique soul.
Meeting new friends (participants, volunteers, and staff) and leading sessions in the first week at Emmanuel Church made me anticipate playing with various artistic media in the future. I want to share more and more memorable moments with everyone. I have prepared my heart and an open mind to exchange diverse perspectives with them all, whether they identify as an artist or not.
Emilie Alex
Hi, everyone! I’m Emilie Alex (they/them), a Drama Therapy master’s student at Lesley University, and one of this year’s expressive therapies interns here at Emmanuel Church and Central Reform Temple. I’m so excited to be joining the team! I hope to be of service to the community as best I can and look forward to meeting everyone here.
A bit about me: I’m non-binary, French-American, and also speak Spanish. I’m passionate about the intersections of psychosomatic healing work, spirituality, and social justice. Religiously, I identify as Jewish of patrilineal descent, but I was raised mostly a-religiously as my parents are of differing religions and have often been in conflict around this. While this left gaping holes in my understanding of Judaism in particular, which I am now working to fill, I also believe that I was fortunate to come into spirituality on my own terms. I have fewer hangups around faith than many of my queer, feminist, or abolitionist peers who did grow up in strict religious settings. Today, my relationship to G*d and Higher Self are a central facet of my life and have deeply nourished me on my healing journey and personal path.
As a drama therapy student and avid dancer, I am particularly interested in somatic, body-based approaches to trauma healing and liberation. I believe play, dance, song, tears, laughter, and community are direct avenues to healing. Here at Emmanuel Church/Central Reform Temple, I hope to help facilitate games, spaces of community dialogue, and opportunities for folks to joyfully engage with their bodies, whether through dance, stretching, or song. I will let the community guide me towards creating something together. I look forward to getting to know everyone over the year! Thank you so much for welcoming me.
