Sheila K. Collins is the director of InterPlay Pittsburgh and the Wing & A Prayer Pittsburgh Players, an InterPlay-based performance troupe she founded in 2006 to assist human service agencies and art organizations in accomplishing their noble purposes. A former professional dancer, Sheila has described herself as a “dancing social worker” for over 40 years, throughout her careers as a therapist, social work professor, and writer.

She is the author of Stillpoint: A Playbook for Caregivers to Find Ease, Time to Breathe, and Reclaim Joy, which since its second edition, co-authored by Christine Gautreaux, has become a popular weekly online class, and Warrior Mother: Fierce Love, Unbearable Loss and the Rituals That Heal.

She’s been known to travel the country enlisting InterPlayers to help her Perform her Books, demonstrating how InterPlay tools help us get through life’s ordinary and extraordinary, “tough challenges”

Her latest book, The Art of Grieving: How Art and Artmaking Help Us Grieve, and Live Our Best Lives explores how the arts of storytelling, dance, music, and visual arts help mourners navigate episodes of grief, process loss, and extract meaning and wisdom for their future lives.

sheilakcollins@gmail.com 817 706-4967 120 Chapel Harbor Dr Pittsburgh Pa 15238

Lissa is a certified meditation, yoga, and qigong facilitator as well as a somatic integrative mental health nurse practitioner. Lissa guides practices that are compassionate, trauma-responsive, and racial and social justice oriented for the wellness and liberation of all beings. Lissa is particularly moved to work with populations less likely to have exposure or access to contemplative practices.

Christine (she/her) is dedicated to the pursuit of play, joy, art & social justice. Christine’s superpowers include connecting people, helping folks manifest their dreams, standing up against injustice and using art to make a difference in the world.

She currently uses performance art, movement, poetry, storytelling and InterPlay to address issues of oppression with women who are incarcerated, people living with severe and persistent mental illness and homelessness. She also works with activists and artists to maintain balance and self-care during these intense times we find ourselves living.

Pivoting with the times Christine has been called an expert on Zoom and utilizes this online platform to facilitate connection and ease in an online, interactive learning environment.

Christine Gautreaux holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work. She has professional experience with successful grant writing, community organizing and social media marketing. Christine is a life coach for caregivers who are burnt out and ready to take back their own life and make it delightful again. She is the co-author of Stillpoint: A Caregivers Playbook to find ease and to take a deep breath and reclaim joy and Women Connected in Wisdom: Stories and Resources Rooted in the 8 Dimensions of Wellnes V. I and V. II