In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Ibrahim Songne, who migrated from Burkina Faso to Italy and overcame cultural and language barriers to pursue his passion for food, connection, and community well-being. Ibrahim founded Ibris Pizza, now recognized among Italy’s top 50 pizzerias, and uses his culinary platform to foster community, social initiatives, and promote cultural exchange. His work includes social impact initiatives through his GIVE association like Pizza Sospesa that creates the opportunity for customers of his restaurant to leave prepaid slices of pizza and essential goods for those in need; Ponti Meticci a cultural exchange initiative to promote dialogue, understanding, and connection between Italy and Africa; and Offerta Libera that provides community meals where anyone can eat and pay what they can. Ibrahim is collaborating with Dr. Briana on the Building Bridges film project, aiming to reduce social isolation, inspire inclusive behavior, and advance multicultural understanding in Trento and beyond. Songne hopes his story encourages resilience, compassion, and equal opportunities for all.

https://www.ibrispizzeria.com/

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/30/1075558056/an-african-immigrants-pizza-wins-global-raves-and-overcomes-italian-prejudices

https://www.instagram.com/ibris.official/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Nicole Sessions, a writer, reproductive justice advocate, and full-spectrum doula who is currently serving as a peer provider on I-HOPE, a multisite comparative effectiveness trial examining culturally responsive Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) versus brief screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in reducing PTSD symptoms during and after pregnancy. Nicole shares her journey into birth work, inspired by her empowering childbirth experience, and her path to joining the I-HOPE Study as a peer provider supporting Black birthing patients with trauma-informed care. Throughout the discussion, Nicole reflects on the challenges and rewards of facilitating culturally responsive PTSD interventions during the perinatal period, emphasizing the importance of empathy, validation, and authentic human connection. She highlights the role of storytelling, peer support, and creative approaches in advancing reproductive justice and improving Black maternal mental health.

https://www.nicolesessions.com/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana speaks with Dr. Jessie Borelli, a clinical psychologist and professor at UC Irvine, about relational savoring, a brief, strength-based intervention designed to foster emotional well-being and resilience by helping individuals focus on and immerse themselves in moments of secure, loving connection within close relationships. Dr. Borelli explains that relational savoring draws on the concept of savoring, an emotion-regulation strategy, and applies it specifically to attachment-based interactions. Through guided reflections, participants revisit positive relational experiences to strengthen the emotional impact of those memories, which can be particularly beneficial for parents, trauma survivors, and communities experiencing stress. Dr. Briana and Dr. Borelli discuss the origins and key components of Relational Savoring and how, through partnership and creativity, it has been adapted for various communities to promote thriving relationships and communities.

https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/borelli/

https://www.drjessicaborelli.com/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Christopher Moses, the Jenning Hertz Artistic Director at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, about the theater’s mission to foster creative expression, youth development, and community resilience through the arts. Moses highlights the Alliance’s unique approach of producing professional theater for all ages, from infants to adults, and highlights the Alliance’s commitment to community engagement beyond the stage. He discusses how theater nurtures social-emotional skills, reduces isolation, and builds resilience in young people, often serving as a tool for healing and social change. The conversation also explores research partnerships that explore the impact of theater on youth mental health, teacher retention, and community empowerment, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in shaping empathy, hope, and collective action.

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Dr. Danielle Littman, an assistant professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work, whose research combines arts-based, participatory methods to promote healing, belonging, and community among marginalized youth. Dr. Littman discusses her journey from theater artist to scholar, her focus on “third places” like parks and libraries as vital spaces for youth resilience, and her evaluations of prison arts programs that foster hope, identity, and empathy even in carceral settings. She also explores innovative methods, such as game-based inquiry, which engage youth in reimagining supportive spaces through creativity, fun, and agency. This approach emphasizes that arts-based, participatory research can be both trauma-informed and transformative for individuals and communities.

https://www.daniellelittman.com/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana speaks with Dr. Ernestine Briggs King, a licensed psychologist and leading expert in child traumatic stress with more than 25 years of experience. Dr. Briggs King shares insights from her work in the Department of Family and Community Interventions at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, including her involvement with the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress and a therapeutic foster care program serving trauma-exposed children across Maryland. She highlights the importance of community partnerships, workforce development, and creative strategies, including telehealth, technology, AI tools, and faith-based collaborations, to expand access to mental health services, reduce stigma, and strengthen trauma-informed care. At the heart of her approach are collaboration, innovation, and the belief that building authentic relationships among providers, families, and communities is essential to fostering healing and resilience.

https://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/faculty-staff/ernestine-briggs-king

https://www.kennedykrieger.org/departments-medical-specialties/department-of-family-and-community-interventions

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana sits down with Dawn and Derrick “DT” Townsend, leaders of Hopeful Change, LLC and the Hopeful Change Project. They share how their personal experiences with childhood trauma and community violence have shaped their lifelong commitment to mental health, mentorship, and systemic change in underserved communities. Dawn and DT discuss the importance of culturally responsive, community-driven interventions, the power of partnerships built on trust, and the need for holistic, intergenerational approaches to healing. Their work centers on transforming trauma into resilience, educating communities about mental wellness, and driving sustainable change through training, advocacy, and policy engagement. They also discuss the importance of the THRIVE Lab’s HEART trainings, which build resilience by developing core skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, effective communication, and problem-solving.

https://www.hope2change.com/

@thehope2change