Join us at NoBo Public Library on May 22 for an interactive discussion on Active Hope and Resiliency: Art, Mental Health, and Climate Equity. We will gather from 4:00 - 5:30 to discuss what it could look like to cultivate equity and belonging in Boulder right now, given the national climate. The event will feature presentations from Julie Byle (Natures Navigation), Dai Kato (SMART Therapy Center), and Sally King (Independent Artist), as well as breakout discussions. Featuring music from lil piñon.
This event is free, and light refreshments will be provided. For any questions, email Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov.
More Information:
Dr. Julie Byle
Dr. Julie Byle is a systems ecologist and cultural ethnographer based out of Boulder, Colorado. Her research focuses on the power of place-based environmental service-learning programs where she studies the impact and value that contribute to ecological literacy, honoring cultural funds of knowledge, and challenging deficit theory. She specializes in conducting ethnographic research through leading participatory action projects and focus groups with novel observational protocols such as photo-voice and journey mapping as a way to give voice to lived experiences and share stories through visual narratives. Dr. Byle will present a city-wide collaborative initiative she designed, which utilized journey mapping to inform culturally responsive approaches to greenspace planning.
Breakout Group: In this breakout group, participants will craft journey maps that illuminate their personal stories of belonging, resilience, and transformation—deepening their understanding of self while weaving connections to the collective experiences within their communities.
Dai Kato, MA, MFT
Dai is a mental health family therapist and the founder of SMART Therapy Center in Colorado. In the past 20 years, he has been integrating Japanese Samurai Wisdom into Western Medicine to create the Five Rings Whole Brain Reintegration Program. After he moved to the U.S., he was first hired to manage Vice President Al Gore’s Live Earth project in 2007. Live Earth reached two billion people using arts, music, and all media to raise awareness for climate change. Dai was solely in charge of branding and strategic activations of the venues in Japan. Live Earth is confirmed as one of the largest events in human history for climate change. After the Live Earth project, he became a research fellow at CU-Boulder, the Center for the Study of Conflict, Collaboration, and Creative Governance. He initiated and hosted the first Colorado Resilience Initiative at CU Boulder in 2013. Dai will present on trauma-informed approaches for arts and community resiliency. Rapid budget cuts and increased rent and daily life cost challenge us to sustain our current lifestyle and activities. It is not only for the arts community but for all of us, including minorities and refugees. He will present a quick technique of self regulation when we get triggered and empower people to continue moving forward under uncertainties, and will introduce the Five Rings model to strengthen our resiliency in this short presentation.
Breakout Group: My breakout group will be talking about the arts and our daily mental health in a non-clinical manner. I introduce the experiential exercise of the Five Rings program, followed by a discussion at the end. All participants experience a Trauma-informed approach during the breakout group. This group uses the Five Rings exercise to address their current issues.
Sally King
Sally King is an accomplished artist with over 30 years of experience as a professional working artist. She holds a degree in art education and has taught art at various levels, sharing her passion and expertise with people of all ages. Throughout her career, Sally has developed a diverse body of work and earned recognition for her creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to the arts. Her dual background in education and studio practice allows her to approach art with both technical skill and a deep understanding of artistic expression. Sally King will speak about the deep, transformative nature of the creative process, exploring how "in making art, we meet the Self." She believes that when we create, the human and the soul arrive together—ready to collaborate, as long as we don’t scare them off. Through her decades of experience as an artist and educator, Sally offers insight into how authenticity, openness, and trust in the process allow for profound artistic and personal discovery.
Breakout Group: Join artist and educator Sally King for an inspiring session where creativity becomes a path to self-discovery. As Sally says, “No preconceived limitations, please.” In this space, we’ll let go of rigid expectations and roam free—returning to a place where we truly belong to ourselves. Through the act of making art, we invite both the human and the soul to show up, ready to collaborate. This is an opportunity to be surprised by what emerges when we trust the process and allow authenticity to lead the way.