Nadia Chaney

Nadia Chaney

 

Nadia Chaney emceed the Tacoma World Affairs Summit April 18-21 2007, in Tacoma WA.  Listen to Tammy Lea Meyer interview Nadia about her time there.

Play mp3 (length 7min)


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See a clip of Nadia Performing in Vancouver

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Nadia Chaney attended the Pioneers of Change Learning Journey in South Africa. A conference on Art and Social Change

Pioneers of Change fosters understanding, capacities and relationships needed by younger practitioners committed to stepping forward and creating the change they want to see in the world.

Pioneers of Change is a global learning network supporting practitioners in their mid-20s to mid-30s.  Founded in 1999, by a group of people from 16 countries and now includes participants from around the world. When you join Pioneers of Change you explicitly commit to the following principles: Be yourself, Do what Matters, Start now, Engage with others, Never stop asking questions.

Visit Nadia's Blog here.

 

I feel very grateful for the many faces of support and learning that grace my life. Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to explore the world of group process, youth empowerment, and mentorship. I have found that I have a strong talent for creating safe creative space, where incredible things happen.

As a freelance editor and writing coach, I am honored to have worked on some incredible projects, one of which is a collection of poetry by Candice Larschied called, "Rainbow Mountain Peaks." Working with Candice has helped me to develop a strong set of listening skills, including really reaching out across the lines of difference for understanding.

I bring a spirit of learning, listening and unimpaired delight to my facilitation work. Some of the communities I've worked with include detention centers, elementary schools, high schools, universities, martial arts classes, neighbourhood gatherings, community centers and festivals. More than anything, I love to hear the diverse voices of the members of these communities, and to help those voices develop powerful personal esteem. I wholeheartedly believe that active, confident individuals build healthy communities. And that healthy communities will undoubtedly help us foster a healthier planet.

My poetry and lyrics explore my relationship to spirit, and develop a personal working model of grassroots politics. My chapbook is called, "Predatory Grace." I'm also part of an acapella trio with Maya Suess and Sara Kendall called In.stead. Our music is positive, intelligent, and moves the crowd. I've had lots of experience on stage as an entertainer and musician, and bring the spirit of hip hop and spoken word performance to all of my work. I also love to help others find their own passions in the world of performance. Being on stage at an event is a great way to develop the confidence to make change at any level.

There are a number of groups that I facilitate with, whose programs I have either learned (like Peer Perspectives' anti-oppression workshops, or Safeteen's powerful alternatives to violence) or co-created (like the Diversity through Hip Hop program, or The Momentum Project's arts empowerment modules).

An artist has love for self which emanates, and materializes as love for other.  Being an artist means that the primary work is to maintain contact with Source, and to hone skills at translating that contact into inspiration and vision.  I hope that over the course of my life as poet, novelist, and artist, I will learn to open my heart and help the world walk joyfully into a state of unity and peace. 

I facilitate workshops in the following areas: 

  • Unity and compassion/ Anti-oppression
  • Self care
  • Goals and Dreams
  • Guided Short stories
  • Written Poetry
  • Freestyle Verbal Poetry
  • Stage Comfort and Presence
  • Improvisational music
  • Waking Dream interpretation 
  • Visual Collage

Word Emancipation is a fun and interactive way of looking at the ways that language creates culture and organizes environment and perception.

Two Handed Simultaneous Automatic Drawing is a hilarious and challenging look at the many artistic voices we all have, and particularly looks at the difference in the voices of our dominant and non dominant hands.

Alone in a Crowded Universe is a guided short story workshop and discussion about how we all can see different parts of the same experience.

I am a firm believer in the value of experiential learning and of supportive non judgmental environments. I am committed to working hard in developing these capacities in my life and to empowering people in the process.

You can contact Nadia at nadia@beatboard.org