Past Events

Announcing the following winners for the 2010 Essay Contest. Many Thanks to all the participants for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. It was a privilege and pleasure to read your essays and quite a difficult task to select the winners from all of the great essays/poems/cartoons submitted.

3rd Annual SEMAH-SBIA Essay Competition 2010

Domestic Violence Prevention Training for DV providers and faith leaders in Sacramento

January and February Offerings

Dedicated to promoting the training, practice and development of Psychodrama, its offspring action methods and related fields & philosophies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Proudly Presents:

January and February Offerings

CEUs and Training Hours available (see end of notice)

MCEP CEUs pending for January Trauma Workshops

Saturday, February 6, 2010 – Oakland, CA

Living Arts Counseling Center – 4000 Broadway

The Magic of Action Methods in School Settings

With Amna Jaffer and Gina B. Moreno

This workshop will offer a ‘taster’ selection of specific action methods that teachers can easily incorporate into their presentation style to help more students experience success in learning. Role-playing is a natural vehicle for learning; an elaborate form of simulation and rehearsal for life. It is what young children naturally do in early play activities: being mother, father, doctor, negotiator, the storm etc. Making history, science, current events and literature come alive by acting out the components and roles provides participants with a more dynamic and holistic learning experience. These tools make learning fun and accessible to all types of learners so that they take on a ‘magical’ quality.

Join us to experience and discover the power of action methods in classroom education as we demonstrate the following:

• Warm-up activities to build group trust and safety

• Role -playing techniques,

• Sociodramatic vignettes that explore the roles and conflicts of characters in literature and history as well as the issues of inclusion and exclusion.

This will be an opportunity to practice skills and for sharing personal experiences and needs.

• 12:45pm for a 1pm start – 4pm (3 hours of training.)

Venue: Living Arts Counselling Center – 4000 Broadway – Oakland, CA. (at 40th St., walking distance from the MacArthur BART Station)

Cost & Registration: $25 per person. Payment will be at the door but prior registration is required as space is limited. Please contact Gina at (510) 528-4057 or ginabmoreno@gmail.com

February 20 & 21, 2010

Psychodrama w/ Individuals, Couples & Families

With Mario Cossa and Eva Leveton

2390 Mission St. – San Francisco, CA

This two-day training explores a range of psychodramatic and sociometric techniques suitable for working with individuals, couples and families including: psychodrama a deux, double bond role reversal, and working in miniature on the Rosenthal Stage (pictured).

In a safe, confidential, and structured manner this workshop will use both didactic teaching and action methods to explore techniques that will enrich your practice as a psychologist, therapist, counselor, or coach working with a range of client populations. Come prepared to be stimulated, have fun and learn. Previous experience in psychodrama is not required.

o Saturday – 9:15 for a 9:30am start to 5:30pm. (7 hours of training)

o Sunday - 9:45 for a 10am start to 4pm. (5 hours of training)

Venue: Bu Tong Acupuncture Center – Suite 301 – 2390 Mission Street (corner of 20th, 4 blocks from BART 16thor 24th St.) – San Francisco, CA.

Cost & Registration: $220 (Student - $150) Partial scholarships may be available. Please enquire. Register and pay in Full by Feb. 1, and deduct $20 from the cost of a full-fee workshop. To register contact Mario at (510) 234-0827 or cossa@attglobal.net

Continuing Education: Workshops approved for CEUs for MFT, LCSW (BBS947) & CA Board of Registered Nurses (CEP 11733), Sylvia Israel, MFT, RDT/BCT, TEP, Provider. Hours may also be applied toward Drama Therapy and Psychodrama certification. Additional Charge of $25 per 2-day workshop or $5 for afternoon or evening workshop for CEUs. MCEP CEUs for Jan. 15/16/17 trainings pending. Please enquire.

PROVIDERS:

Mario Cossa, MA, RDT/MT, TEP is a psychodramatist, drama therapist, and theatre educator who has conducted workshops and has presented at conferences in the U.S.A., Canada, England, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia andNew Zealand. Mario is a certified trainer in the Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM) for the safe use of psychodrama with survivors of trauma.

Sylvia Israel, MFT (MFC 31245), is a nationally Certified Psychodrama Trainer (TEP), Registered Drama Therapist/Trainer (RDT/BCT) and Founder//Director of IMAGINE! Center for Creativity & Healing and Bay Area Playback Theater. She on the faculty of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and has presented at SpiritRock Meditation Center. Sylvia is a Fellow of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP). She maintains a private practice in Marin and San Francisco.

Amna Jaffer, MA, TEP, has been on the faculty of the Moreno Institute West since 2004, training teachers in action methods. She established a Conflict Resolution Project in which psychodramatic techniques are used to tackle conflict, prejudice and intolerance. She is a faculty member of the Dept. of Counselor Education at San Jose StateUniversity.

Eva Leveton has been teaching psychodrama and family therapy both in the Bay Area and internationally for the past 50 years. She has written two widely used texts: A Clinician's Guide to Psychodrama, now in its 3rd edition, andAdolescent Crisis: Approaches in Family Therapy, both published by Springer Publishing Company. She is the editor of a new book, Healing Collective Trauma with Sociodrama and Drama Therapy, which covers work with tribal conflict, social oppression and natural disasters all over the world and will be published in March, 2010. She is a former actress and published poet and is currently teaching psychodrama in the Drama Therapy Program at CIIS, as well as Family Therapy in the Somatics Program at CIIS.

Gina Moreno, MA, has taught for 42 years in Colorado, Canada, New York and California. She has been using sociodrama, role training and sociometric choice techniques with elementary, middle school and college level students. She also works as an independent consultant in training teachers and administrators in the use of role play in resolving student conflicts.

Speech on Resolving differences – Amicably by Amany Nasser, Social Activist, Arab Cultural and Community Center

SEMAH presented Wellness Awareness event Videos of Broken Vows: Religious Perspectives on Domestic Violence

Venue:
Mehran Restaurant
5774 Mowry School Road
Newark, CA 94560

Date & Time: November 16, 2008 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Speaker: Amany Nasser, the East Bay Representative of the Arab Cultural and Community Center

Get Involved! Save Families, Save Lives

Venue:
Santa Clara Marriott
2700 Mission College Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Date & Time: June 7, 2008 between 6pm to 10pm

Speakers: SDr. Muzammil Siddiqui, Imam Zaid Shakir and Saba Ghori

A Workshop for Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence Prevention Advocates.

• Developing mutual understanding of cause, influences, and dynamics of domestic violence. Determine how to appropriately access people.
• Preventing abuse through awareness and education.
• Exploring how faith/spiritual perspectives can perpetuate or challenge view points regarding abusive relationships.
• Sharing and learn strategies for collaborating as well as the pro and cons.
• Developing a concrete action plan for next steps.

Venue:
Northern California Cancer Center
2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, CA 94538

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 between 8:45am to 4:30pm

Presented By: SEMAH and TC/TAT

I know my mother/father loves me because…

Essays were recieved till May 15th, 2008

Sponsored By: SEMAH and SBIA Women's Committee

At this meeting we had a presentation regarding the DV Prevention Education Efforts that were occurring at San Jose State University by Professor Elena Klaw and we discussed how to strengthen the City's partnership with University around this issue.

Venue: San Jose City Hall Room 120

Date & Time: Wednesday, Sept 26, 2007; 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

A Workshop for Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence Prevention Advocates.

This workshop focussed on fostering working relationships between faith leaders and domestic violence prevention advocates while discussing strategies for combining efforts and expertise to better serve the community.

Venue:
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
234 E. Gish Road,
Suite 200 San Jose,
CA 95112

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 23, 2007; 8:30AM to 4:30PM

Presented By: Transforming Communities: Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center (TC-TAT) In Partnership with SEMAH Inc and Co-Sponsored by Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence

This workshop focuses on fostering working relationships between faith leaders and domestic violence prevention advocates while discussing strategies for combining efforts and expertise to better serve the community.

Venue:
Livermore Police Department Community Room
1110 South Livermore Ave in Livermore,
39155 Liberty St.,
CA 94550

Date & Time: 8:00AM to 4:00PM, March 28, 2007

Presented By: Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center (TC-TAT), In Partnership with SEMAH Inc and Tri-Valley Haven

A free 12-week job training program for immigrant Afghan, South Asian and Arabic speaking women.

To help in improving your English, to develop computer skills, how to prepare for job interviews, how to conduct a job search, write a resume and guidelines on how to make a budget and manage your money.

Venue: Meets on Saturdays at the Fremont Adult School

Date & Time: January 27, 2007

Sponsored By: The LifeSkills Education Consortium Fondation for Self Reliance, SEMAH and Narika

Community Vigil for Victims of Violence and Press Conference.

To elaborate on the underlying issues present in all cases of domestic violence and call for community support in addressing the need for education and other prevention activities to stop domestic violence before it starts.

Venue:
The Fremont Family Resource Center
Millennium Room
39155 Liberty St.,
Fremont, Ca. 94538

Date & Time: 6PM Thursday, December 7, 2006

Sponsored By: SAVE, Narika, SEMAH the Afghan Coalition and the City of Fremont’s Family Resource Center

Co-sponsored By: FOSA (Friends of South Asia), ASATA, Foundation for Self Reliance (www.e-fsr.org), Global Peace Partners, Progressive Muslim Union, United Muslims of America

SEMAH / Afghan Coalition joint collaborative initiative.

An initiative to include more men in the efforts to address and eradicate domestic violence.

Venue:
The Fremont Family Resource Center
Millennium Room
39155 Liberty St.,
Fremont, Ca. 94538

Date & Time: November 30, 2006

International Moment of Silence for Victims of Violence.

To build a culture of understanding, peace, acceptance, mutual respect, and harmony in our communities.

Venue:
Lake Elizabeth at Central Park, Area B
40000 Paseo Padre Parkway,
Fremont, CA 94536

Date & Time: November 13, 2006; 12:00 Noon PST

Silent Voices of the Afghan Diaspora Fremont, CA

To raise funds for Afghan war widows in Fremont, CA and Kabul, Afghanistan

Venue:
The home of Carl and Melanie Gadener
116 Morrison Canyon Road
Fremont, CA 94536

Date & Time: Saturday, 12th August, 2006; 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Presented By: Life Skills Education Consortium: Foundation for Self-Reliance (FSR), SEMAH, and Narika

A Two-Part Workshop Series. Part One: Faith Leaders Role in Addressing Domestic Violence. Part Two: Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence Prevention Advocates Collaborating to Prevent Domestic Violence.

Part One:
To enhance faith leaders' involvement with domestic violence prevention and intervention, as well as domestic violence prevention advocates and others working to help stop domestic violence in the local community.

Part Two:
To foster working relationships between faith leaders and domestic violence prevention as well as to Walk out with a concrete plan for you and your community partner(s) to maximize each other's experience in assisting those in need more effectively, as well as develop strategies for stopping the violence before it occurs.

Date & Time:
Part One: June 1, 2006; Part Two: June 3, 2006

Presented By: Transforming Communities: Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center (TC-TAT) in partnership with SEMAH Inc.

Co-sponsored By: SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments)

A Special Interfaith Workshop for Religious Leaders: Partners in Preventing Domestic Violence.

To support the continuing efforts of faith communities to prevent domestic violence and to respond effectively to families experiencing domestic violence.

Date & Time: May 12, 2005

Presented By: Faith Leaders & Domestic Violence Project of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and Semah.org, with funding from the California Department of Health Services.