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The Healing Power of Sharing Victims' Stories
Friday, May 2, 2025
Episode Description
What is the healing power of victims of genocide sharing their stories, and what challenges do victims face in sharing? How do victim testimonies affect understandings of genocide and pathways to reconciliation and forgiveness? In this episode, Bhaswati is joined by Professor Drew Kahn to discuss his experience collecting victim testimonies and transforming them into performances, as well as his work with the the Anne Frank Project, a multilayered program at Buffalo State University that utilizes the wisdom of Anne Frank as a springboard for the examination of conflict education and social justice through the lens of story and performance.
Drew Kahn is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Theater at Buffalo State University where he has taught acting, devised theater (President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching/SUNY) and directed stage productions (Kennedy Center Award) for over 30 years. Professor Kahn taught K-12 populations for 10 years prior to his work in higher education. He is the Founding Director of The Anne Frank Project, a multi-layered program at Buffalo State University that utilizes the wisdom of Anne Frank as a springboard for the examination of conflict, education, and social justice through the lens of story and performance. He speaks, presents, and teaches internationally on the intersection of story, conflict management, identity exploration and community building—most recently at the United Nations, Rwanda Embassy, U.S. Capitol and in Rwanda, Kenya, Switzerland, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Toby Ticktin Back Award for Holocaust Education, Community Leader Award, National Federation for Just Communities). Professor Kahn has extensive acting experience in professional theater (Andre’ DeShields’ original cast of Saint Tous), feature film (Paramount Pictures’ Necessary Roughness) as well as multiple television and commercial credits. Professor Kahn’s book Story Building: A Practical Guide for Bringing the Power of Stories into Classrooms and Communities is used by teachers and community leaders all over the world. Professor Kahn’s most prized roles are husband to his wife Maria, and father to his children Sam and Nate.
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Mental Health Resources
The content featured in this podcast may be emotionally disturbing and intense. Listener discretion is advised. Please consult this document for mental health resources if needed.U.S.-Based Resources: • SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 • Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/ • BIPOC Mental Health Resources: https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BIPOC-Mental-Health-Resources.pdf Global Resources: • Befrienders: https://befrienders.org/ • Find a Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/ • I Call Helpline: https://icallhelpline.org/ • 13 Yarn: https://www.13yarn.org.au/ • Help Guide: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm
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