Join Swain for their second virtual town hall series, Let's Talk, as they continue to have difficult conversations together as a community.
On Wednesday, November 18th at 7:00pm we will learn from Indigenous Rights Activist, Arla Patch as we discuss our shared history with Native Americans and the path to healing from our past.
Arla Patch, BFA, Ed., MFA, is an artist, writer and “creativity midwife.” Using art as a tool for healing and personal transformation, she has facilitated many groups and individuals over her 40 plus year career.
Her interest in healing has also led to her involvement with the first truth and reconciliation commission in the United States for what happened to Indigenous children in the child welfare system, the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She served as Community Engagement Coordinator for Maine Wabanaki REACH (reconciliation, engagement, advocacy, change and healing). Her work educating the non-Native community has continued in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area through partnership with Kidsbridge Tolerance Center and two grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Through collaboration with the three tribal communities in New Jersey, an educational program was created: “Building Greater Understanding About Native American History” which has been shared numerous times over the past several years and is available to schedule.
More recently she is part of an organization CNA Coalition of Natives and Allies
She is a member of Doylestown Friends Meeting and serves on their Peace and Social Justice Committee.