Creative Resilience

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Ibrahim Songne, who migrated from Burkina Faso to Italy and overcame cultural and language barriers to pursue his passion for food, connection, and community well-being. Ibrahim founded Ibris Pizza, now recognized among Italy’s top 50 pizzerias, and uses his culinary platform to foster community, social initiatives, and promote cultural...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Nicole Sessions, a writer, reproductive justice advocate, and full-spectrum doula who is currently serving as a peer provider on I-HOPE, a multisite comparative effectiveness trial examining culturally responsive Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) versus brief screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PT...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana speaks with Dr. Jessie Borelli, a clinical psychologist and professor at UC Irvine, about relational savoring, a brief, strength-based intervention designed to foster emotional well-being and resilience by helping individuals focus on and immerse themselves in moments of secure, loving connection within close relationships. Dr. Borelli explains th...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana sits down with Dawn and Derrick “DT” Townsend, leaders of Hopeful Change, LLC and the Hopeful Change Project. They share how their personal experiences with childhood trauma and community violence have shaped their lifelong commitment to mental health, mentorship, and systemic change in underserved communities. Dawn and DT discuss the importance o...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana speaks with Dr. Ernestine Briggs King, a licensed psychologist and leading expert in child traumatic stress with more than 25 years of experience. Dr. Briggs King shares insights from her work in the Department of Family and Community Interventions at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, including her involvement with the Center for Child and Family Tra...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Dr. Danielle Littman, an assistant professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work, whose research combines arts-based, participatory methods to promote healing, belonging, and community among marginalized youth. Dr. Littman discusses her journey from theater artist to scholar, her focus on “third places” like parks and libra...

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Christopher Moses, the Jenning Hertz Artistic Director at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, about the theater’s mission to foster creative expression, youth development, and community resilience through the arts. Moses highlights the Alliance’s unique approach to producing professional theater for all ages —from infants to adults —and its com...