EPISODE 17: CREATIVITY + ACCESSIBILITY
JOIN US FOR A ROUND TABLE WITH with guests KELLY JOHNSON and CAROLINE MROWIEC AS WE DISCUSS THE POWER OF ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CREATIVE SPACE AND THEIR 100CAMERAS PROGRAM LED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE THERAPY CENTER.
THE ROUND TABLE EXPLORES
Join us with guests, Kelly Johnson, visual storyteller, and Caroline Mrowiec, occupational therapist. Together we explore the importance of prioritizing accessibility within creative technology programs, seeing the world through the eyes of youth, and how the two combined help to grow confidence and self-expression. Specifically, as seen during the 100cameras program that they co-led in Da Nang, Vietnam, in partnership with Hope Therapy Center. Conversation hosted by Angela Popplewell, CEO of nonprofit 100cameras, and Lydia Billings, COO of 100cameras.
“When we would go through some of the ‘Part of Me’ worksheets, or our ‘Mind Map’ activities, we would go one-on-one with students and usually have a support person with each. And I sat next to him a few times going through some of the questions, and we often would only make it through one or two because he just had so much to say. Which is also fascinating because it is common across this community to grow up not ever being asked personal, emotionally related questions, even as simple as what’s something you're thankful for. So it's just really hard to answer it because you're like, ‘I don't even really know how to wrap my mind around that’. So, it's not even always just a shyness, but it's just like, ‘Whoa, that's I don't know how to process that’. He's clearly thinking about these things already and just didn't have a safe space to talk about it,” reflects Johnson.
“I think there is power in being handed a tool like a camera and saying, go use it. And then each week coming back and they get that validation of, “we care about the story that you wanted to tell, and we see the value in it that you saw.” And then be empowered and encouraged to go out and do it again. I think that piece of it was important, but also in the curriculum, I think a very special part of what 100cameras does is that the focus is on storytelling.”
MEET THE GUESTS
KELLY JOHNSON. A visual storyteller based in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. She aims to use photography and words to educate, express value, and connect individuals and communities by drawing attention to our shared humanity. She’s worked alongside communities across Africa, South America and Southeast Asia and has facilitated three 100cameras Programs in Vietnam.
CAROLINE MROWIEC. An occupational therapist and current fellow at Memorial Hermann with a specialty in neurological conditions. Caroline's first involvement with 100cameras was to assist a group of students with special needs in accessing the 100cameras program. She notes that the program intersects perfectly with the field of occupational therapy and she is excited for continued opportunities to use the 100cameras program in therapeutic ways.