Jeneen Conley-Berry is an worker of Wayne State College, Ph.D. scholar, alumna with a number of college levels and at present lively in the neighborhood as an artwork therapist.

He wears many hats, and he does all of it with pleasure and fervour.

“Wayne State has really been an enormous a part of my life; I actually grew up right here,” stated the native Detroiter. “Wayne State has formed me personally, professionally and educationally for over 25 years. I stayed at WSU due to the relationships I constructed, making the most of the academic alternatives and new developments that inform me.”

Conley-Berry has labored at Wayne State for 14 years because the acquisition card coordinator. She earned a bachelor’s diploma, two grasp’s levels and a bachelor’s diploma — all from Wayne State — and is at present pursuing a Ph.D. program.

Throughout her research, Conley-Berry developed a ardour for artwork remedy and labored at a number of native nonprofits, sharing her love of artwork remedy with others.

She has achieved a lot at Wayne State, however stays humble and excited to proceed studying and main artwork remedy periods in the neighborhood.

Artwork is for everybody

Conley-Berry believes that artwork remedy is for everybody, no matter their background or talent degree.

“Artwork remedy is completely for everybody as a result of it is much less intimidating,” Conley-Berry stated. “It may be free-form. The aim is to make use of artwork as a voice to inform a narrative. It’s led by an artwork therapist, who serves as a information by the journey.

“The explanation the method of creating artwork will be therapeutic in itself is that it offers individuals a way of accomplishment, despite the fact that it isn’t essentially excellent. It is not about perfection. It’s about your personal artistic expression. And that is what’s vital, as a result of lots of people say, ‘Oh, I can not draw as a result of I am not an artist.’ However artwork remedy is just not centered on you being an artist.”

Conley-Berry stated artwork remedy can be utilized for a wide range of causes, together with stress discount.

“The great thing about artwork remedy is that there isn’t any proper or flawed reply,” Conley-Berry stated. “I like to recommend individuals to strive it. If you’re all for artwork, if you’re all for psychology, I’d undoubtedly say that artwork remedy is for you. If you’re feeling burdened or anxious and want a mission to scale back these emotions, there are rest artwork remedy initiatives.

“There is a little bit of a stigma in terms of remedy,” Conley-Berry added. “Many occasions individuals assume that remedy means ‘you will have a psychological downside.’ Not essential. Artwork remedy is for everybody and helps channel feelings in a wholesome approach. Your means would not matter; it is about being as artistic as attainable. I’ve had members say, ‘I’ve by no means achieved something in my life. I really feel like I by no means end something.’ After finishing that piece of artwork, it was liberating for them and so they felt fulfilled. And that is what brings me nice pleasure — to share that have with them.”

Conley-Berry lately carried out on the Rotary Membership of Detroit and hosted an artwork remedy occasion at Wayne State.

“The occasion right here was nice. We did a mission known as Playing cards of Power,” Conley-Berry stated. “Individuals have been paired with somebody to speak about their strengths and optimistic traits. They might then make one another a card that displays these attributes and provides one another the cardboard they made as a memento. The concept was to scale back emotions of worthlessness, worry or nervousness. Everybody freely expressed himself in a optimistic mild, and the opposite individual acknowledged his character and created one thing particular for him. It was actually good train.”

At all times studying

Conley-Berry graduated from Wayne State with a BA in Artwork Historical past in 2002.

She later earned a Grasp of Training in Social Sciences in 2010 and a Grasp of Training in Artwork Training with a deal with artwork remedy in 2016. In 2021, she obtained a graduate diploma within the administration of non-profit organizations.

She is at present enrolled in doctoral research. program of instructional research with a serious in curriculum and demanding social analysis.

“What I get pleasure from concerning the PhD program is that the professors are completely fantastic. I can not stress that sufficient,” Conley-Berry stated. “They’ve been an enormous help in my journey. They’ve given me concepts and supported my analysis. I like my classmates and the truth that we help one another each likelihood we get. The courses are nice. ; I’ve by no means learn a lot in my life.”

Conley-Berry started a Ph.D. program in 2019, however stated she is a bit behind as a result of she took time without work to get her diploma. He hopes to complete subsequent 12 months.

“My analysis is about integrating the humanities into the social research curriculum, utilizing the humanities as a solution to serve the entire little one, and the way the humanities help studying within the classroom,” she stated. “I will use the Harlem Renaissance for instance. Artwork was used to inform the story of artists who confronted a number of inequalities and many alternative challenges. My advisor additionally launched the idea of autoethnography and the way it pertains to my private experiences with artwork, so I plan to discover that as nicely.”

Since 2009, Conley-Berry has been capable of proceed her schooling whereas additionally working full-time within the Wayne State Procurement Card program.

“It is principally a Wayne State bank card used for low-value items and providers,” Conley-Berry stated. “Lecturers and workers members use it. I’ve actually loved working right here and assembly individuals from everywhere in the college. I like interacting with the individuals I’ve helped over time. It was an excellent expertise.”

Ardour for non-profit organizations

Conley-Berry has labored for a number of non-profit organizations throughout her time at Wayne State and feels they’re a great match for her artwork remedy.

She first volunteered on the Heidelberg mission, and later interned at Dwelling Arts, Neighborhood Providers Group, Creating KIDS group and Mack Alive. She has additionally labored with Good Detroit and Capuchin Soup Kitchen – Rosa Parks Youth Middle.

“I cherished the experiences I had interning at a number of totally different nonprofits in Detroit,” Conley-Berry stated. “I may see the satisfaction on the youngsters’s faces whereas they have been doing artwork work. Certainly one of my biggest joys is seeing people who find themselves impressed by the artwork they’ve created and the way their temper is a bit totally different afterwards. Artwork remedy focuses on the method, not the product. So it isn’t essential to create a murals that’s excellent or like Michelangelo. It is about course of and utilizing artwork as a voice or device for therapeutic.”

Conley-Berry continues to work with a number of non-profit organizations every time she will get the possibility.

“I am an artwork therapist/facilitator,” Conley-Berry stated. “I work with Detroit nonprofits on an as-needed foundation once they name me to facilitate an artwork mission with youngsters or adults. There’s nothing higher than being face-to-face, working with youngsters and seeing their response and speaking to them concerning the artwork they’re creating.”

Conley-Berry is not precisely positive what the long run holds and admitted she has a number of totally different targets, together with beginning her personal nonprofit.

“I’d like to get extra expertise in arts and schooling centered nonprofits,” Conley-Berry stated. “I nonetheless prefer to proceed working with younger individuals and adults doing artwork remedy initiatives. I am trying ahead to ending my diploma and actually need to see the place it takes me. There are numerous issues I need to do, and Wayne State has ready me nicely. I am having a good time with all of it.”