Exploring Empathy Through Gender Role Reversal, Walking in the Shoes of Others, and the Arts!

In Movement holds four residential art camps a year, based on the Creative Community Model developed by Ashoka Fellow Charlie Murphy. These 5-day camps bring together 45 students and 20 adults, and are designed to promote intensive, lasting learning. When the students arrive at the camp to a creative and enthusiastic greeting, an atmosphere of joy is created, which sets the stage for open interaction between all camp participants. The camp begins with the creation of community agreements in which all camp participants give input. Learning activities at the camp include interactive art workshops, group discussions about topics such as empathy and relationship-building, small group sharing and counseling sessions known as “family group meetings” and evening activities such as theatre improvisation and a camp fire. The culminating event is an open microphone night which allows the students to perform and exhibit what has been learned during the course of the camp. Our camps, as well as all of the activities at our facility and in the community, are designed to strengthen bonds between people, promote diversity, build positive communication skills, encourage gratitude, support the idea of purpose-driven living, and celebrate life - all of which are essential elements of empathy.