This episode is all about expression and finding your voice through a language that makes sense to you. Now we aren’t talking about spoken language, we are talking about ART.

The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation, host Miriam Starobin is joined by Shanina Dionna – a visual and performing artist, mental health advocate and non-profit youth arts educator based in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 2011, her Embryo art exhibition series has helped raise awareness for mental health; chronicling the life of one millennial’s growth journey. Her art for social change practice is rooted in the exposure of her own personal battle and history with mental illnesses, diagnoses, hospitalization and therapy treatments. Life-sized acrylic portraits, improv performances, dance/movement, film, photography, botanical therapy and "safe space” installations all help convey her intent for communal wellness and healing. In 2016, Shanina Dionna helped found the youth art program, @artbudsphilly (on Instagram), currently housed at the Urban Art Gallery in West Philadelphia. In 2018, she became one of twenty artists worldwide to receive the first-ever TDC20 Grant (The Dean Collection 20) presented by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. In a 2020 interview, Philadelphia Magazine recognized her as the “Philly artist creating a positive space for mental health conversations.” Shanina Dionna is a certified PCEAT facilitator (Person Centered Expressive Arts Therapy) and in May 2021 she launched her Expressive Arts Healing independent practice for teenagers and adults.

This episode covers many topics but throughout the episode there is discussion of mental health issues specifically suicidal thoughts and ideations. If this topic is triggering please fast forward or turn off the episode in its entirety. 

Regardless of your choice to fast forward over those particular segments or the episode, we encourage anyone who needs it to utilize the below resources. 

Please use the list below for resources or call 911 to request crisis intervention,

or other appropriate personnel, for immediate support.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255)

Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741

The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public, but to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community. If you enjoy the podcast please go to the link in our bio to donate.

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