Blending Art and Science to Promote Resilience

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/