Chandra Alexandria Williams

This workshop offers a highly effective and gentle method of diversity training that feels more like an adventure in drawing and consciousness than a lecture on “issues” of diversity. A series of seeing/drawing exercises bring participants into a right-brain experience: a non-judgmental state of mind! From this place of awareness, participants can observe their own interpretations of the world, as just that…mere interpretations!  Instead of jumping into judgment, we sit in observation: of ourselves and others.  Without judgment, participants also do not experience the guilt which often discourages people from exploring topics like racism, prejudice and discrimination. Become aware of your own prejudices so that you can begin to dismantle them!

When we are non-judgmental, not only do we spare ourselves and others from discrimination, we also open ourselves to a true appreciation of the power of difference!

Use your eyes for this powerful and productive form of meditation. Participants will sit mostly in silence and experience close visual observation while recording in form of drawing. There is no pressure regarding the drawing, close looking is what natters for the meditation. Seeing meditation brings one into the present moment and silences the mind. Coincidentally, participants in this meditation often acquire keen drawing skills.

This course is a revolutionary application of observational drawing practices to the field of Autism Research. Follow the Edge is a drawing course which activates the right hemisphere of the brain. Through a series of seeing/drawing exercises, participants will shift focus from their left hemisphere to their right hemisphere. Participants witness firsthand the overlap between their own right hemisphere experience and the spectrum of characteristics of Autism. The experience results in a practical understanding of the characteristics of Autism in an extremely direct way. 

            This is a transformative experience. Participants will use an often unused part of the brain, learning more about their own minds. Through the lens of this experience we will consider things that we know or do not know about Autism. Even more importantly than considering information, we will have an opportunity to consider the experience of Autism in a deeper way.