Palidofsky Merits Experienced Leader Fellowship via CCT

The Chicago Community Trust (CCT), metropolitan Chicago's community foundation, named Meade Palidofsky, Storycatchers Theatre Founder and Artistic Director, a 2010 Experienced Leader Trust Fellow. Eight other nonprofit leaders - six emerging leaders and two experienced leaders - were also named. All Fellows were selected for their demonstrated leadership and commitment to their field. Each of the new class of Fellows leads organizations spanning the nonprofit sector, including housing, policy, science and theater.

"The Trust selected Ms. Palidofsky and eight others because of their enthusiasm and exuberant energy toward their career and field," says Maria Bechily, chair of the fellowship selection committee and an executive committee member for the Trust. "They all exude extraordinary passion for their job and inspire their communities to strive for greatness."

The Trust Fellowship will provide Palidofsky with the opportunity and resources to engage in a year of professional development activities. In February, she attended the Arts in Prison Conference at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. At the conference, Palidofsky presented Storycatchers' work on a panel with Sara Lee, Director of Music in Prisons in England, and Professor Katie Overy of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr Overy studies the effects of music on the brain.

Palidofsky will return to the UK to observe Scotland's new Inspiring Change prison arts program as well as other prison arts programs and Theater of Witness programs in Ireland and England.

"One of the most exciting things I am able to do this year is collaborate and train with Dr. Brad Stolbach, the Supervisor of Trauma Related Psychological Services at La Rabida Children's Trauma Center," Palidofsky explained. "Brad works with children who suffer from complex trauma, very similar to the population we work with in our programs in juvenile prisons. Together, we are exploring the parallels between Storycatchers' process and more traditional trauma-focused-interventions.

"I am grateful to the Trust," says Palidofsky, "for this opportunity to increase my knowledge of trauma theory by working with experts and to be inspired by the work of others. I hope not only to increase my own knowledge but to set up a network of specialists that can continue to share their expertise with one another and the community."