Location: Lowcountry

  • Thurayya UmBayemake

    Thurayya UmBayemake

    “Your path in life won’t look like anyone else’s.” 

    Thurayya UmBayemake is the Spark Lead Actor-Teacher in support of the Arts Grow SC program at SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. She delivers literacy-based drama programming to public schools to encourage “creative thinking, divergent thinking, and overall motivation to read.” UmBayemake earned a degree in drama studies at South Carolina State University (SC State). 

    Interview

    Transcript

    Thurayya UmBayemake  00:00 

    My name is Thurayya UmBayemake. I moved to South Carolina a couple of years ago from Ohio. But I claim Ohio, Kentucky, and South Carolina because I went to college here, and I felt like I grew up here.  

    Emma Plutnicki  00:13 

    Perfect. So, what do you do for work? And where are you currently working? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  00:18 

    My official title is Actor-Teacher Coach for the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. So, what that entails, is that I’m the Lead Actor-Teacher for a program called Spark, which is through their department of outreach and community engagement. The Spark program is a literacy-based drama program. So, we go to elementary schools, and not only do we show students how to take stories from picture books and how to add drama enactments in there, to show characters, to show settings, to show plot, to reinforce the literacy-based learning, but also creative thinking, divergent thinking, and just overall motivation to read. That’s our main goal. But we also have a goal of showing teachers that even though you don’t have an arts background, you could do this too. So, it’s a twofold job. 

    Emma Plutnicki  01:18 

    Amazing. So, you’re working out of South Carolina? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  01:21 

    Yes. 

    Emma Plutnicki  01:22 

    Okay. Perfect. And how long have you been working there? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  01:25 

    So, I’ve been here for a little over two years. And that’s when the residency program started. But the program before I came along was a summer based only pilot. And when the SR [Sub-recipient], ARP [American Rescue Plan] grant money came in, that’s the federal grant money that was given for the pandemic, it turned this program into a year-long residency program. So, that’s when I was hired in. And I had a team underneath me of other actor teachers, and we’re spread out throughout the state. So, we work somewhat remotely and we traveled to different schools across the state. To spread the wealth, to spread the joy of the job. 

    Emma Plutnicki  02:11 

    Yeah, amazing. So, two years, how did you end up in this field? How did you hear about it? How did you know that this is something that you could do?  

    Thurayya UmBayemake  02:19 

    So, my background, I’ve always been into theater. Well, I shouldn’t say I’ve always been. I’m a storyteller. So, I’ll try not to be so long winded, I promise you, I will try hard. 

    So, it all started when in high school, I was actually an athlete, I did cross country and track and field. I got injured my senior year. And at the same time, I got injured, the African community theater opened up in my hometown. And I tell this story, because it’s very important. That’s how I got into theater. I was involved in a theater that embraced me for who I was and told stories that I could truly relate to. And so, that gave me the theater bug because, actually, I wasn’t even initially an actor; I was an assistant director, slash stage manager, then came acting, and I knew from then I wanted to stay in theater. So, I went to college and ended up at South Carolina State University because they had a drama education program. And that’s how I ended up from Ohio to down here. I have no ties to South Carolina other than that, but that program really developed me. One as a family unit, you know, I felt comfortable and vulnerable enough, which is very important. When it comes to drama and theater, you have to be vulnerable onstage, in the script, everywhere, for the story to be told authentically.  

    So, that was one thing. But then also, when I realized how long the drama education program was going to take to complete, I switched to drama studies, which was good for me because it helped me learn other aspects, more in depth in theater, I learned Tech, I learned administration, all these different aspects, versus just little surface levels and education. So, that is my educational background. 

    Once I graduated, I did some traveling. I called myself a little bit of a nomad, so I went back to Ohio for a bit. I did a children’s theater up there, and I opened up my own theater, basically for social justice. It was called the Sue Company. And I opened it with two of my friends, and we focused on telling the African American stories, you know, up here. I don’t know why I said up here, I put American in there. African American stories. 

    From there, I went to New York and, actually when I moved to New York, I took a break from the theater, even though I was living in New York. I know that’s backwards, but I just was living life and, and me being a natural storyteller, you have to experience life to tell stories. So, that’s what I did in New York. I just was experiencing life. I did go to do readings, and volunteered as an actor, but that’s the extent of my theater experience in New York. Once I came back to Ohio, I realized I wanted to get back into theater. But I also knew I wanted to come back down south to South Carolina, because this, to me, is where my home theater is now. Where my friends from school kind of stayed in the area. So, I was looking for jobs. And then one of my colleagues or old classmates sent me this job. He was like, “Hey, I think you’d be interested.” So that’s how I learned about this job. And I was like, “I am interested.”  

    So, I was nervous. I actually applied for both the actor, teacher job and the actor, teacher coach job, because I didn’t know if I fully qualified or not. And it’s funny, because I think you’ve probably seen that article where there was a study on men and women. How women feel they have to heal. That’s me. I was like, “I don’t know.” So, obviously, I interviewed well, and I got the position. And it’s just been smooth, not smooth sailing, but it’s been smooth sailing since. It’s definitely been challenging, but it’s a good challenge. And I’m really happy that, one, that they picked me, and they trust me with this position, and that I could do justice for it.  

    Emma Plutnicki  06:20 

    Yeah, amazing. So, what kind of challenges have you experienced? And how have you overcome those challenges? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  06:26 

    Well, one is I’ve somewhat managed before. My managing experience has always been short-term, right? Like my last job, I worked for the Board of Elections in Cuyahoga County, and I was a recruiter official. So, what that means is that I basically was responsible for filling in the poll workers. So I hired them. And then sometimes I had to fire them, you know, or relocate them, and things like that. But it was a very short-term commitment. This job is a very long-term commitment. You know, because once someone’s on the team, we want them to stay on the team. So, I had to grow as a manager to overcome difficulties, whether it’s individual or personal, or just overall team dynamics. 

    Emma Plutnicki  07:10 

    Yeah, that makes sense. So now, on a daily basis, what kind of things are you working on? And what are your responsibilities on a day-to-day basis? Are you working on long projects? Or are there kind of short assignments that come up? Or what does it look like? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  07:26 

    It’s a mixture of both. And I feel like since I’ve been brought on, it has always been a mixture of both. Mostly because it was such a brand-new idea of a program, where we had an idea where it was going to go, but we didn’t necessarily have the pathway. So, we had to be always flexible, which sometimes is harder than it sounds, you know. So, my daily projects, like the shorter terms, are what I know, right? Like summer programming, I know what comes up every year. So, I have to plan for it, right? During the school year residency, I have to plan for that. That’s the short term, you know, constantly, but the long term part is choosing the districts, how we’re going to get to those districts, who’s going to be involved, that’s more of the long term, and also getting the word out about our program because, there’s a lot of challenges that comes with our program, because it’s new, you got to explain it. But you have to explain it in a way that you don’t lose interest. For instance, not being too long winded. But you don’t also want to be too short, because they’ll come up with their own idea of what the program is. I feel like the whole program has had a significant impact on me.  

    Emma Plutnicki  08:31 

    Yeah, it makes sense. So, throughout your time doing this, has there been one project or something that you worked on that stood out the most like resonating with you or something that had a significant impact on you? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  08:45 

    You know what, one thing I’ve always wanted to do is be a presenter, right? Like when I go to conferences or things, there’s always a presenter up there explaining. And I always thought that job looked cool. I didn’t know that this job would turn into part of that. So, this past year, particularly, I got to go to different conferences and present the program. So, I was really happy with that accomplishment.  

    Emma Plutnicki  09:12 

    Yeah, that’s so fun. You said that you didn’t really have too many ties to South Carolina. So, when you came, were there any, um, like organizations or events that you went to, or interacted with to kind of build a network, or just overall help you in your field? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  09:30 

    Yes. So, this is when I bring in my mama. Growing up, we moved around a lot. My mama has always instilled in me that you get to know the community. Like, on the first and second day moving, we always went and got a library card. We met at the police station to meet the officer, like you have to know who you’re living with, you know, your neighbors and everything. So, when I came down here, not only did I reach out to my former classmates from SCSU [South Carolina State] who are still in the area. I did the same exact things. I went to get a library card, I went to local community festivals or events, you know. And I reached out to different communities to let’s say, hey, you know, introduce myself to things of that nature, you know. And that’s how I built my network here. I also went to many different theater events around. I live in Colombia. I don’t know if I mentioned that, but my remote position is in the Midlands. So, I went to the theater network here to just introduce myself because I’m also doing something in drama and wanted to know the familiar bases. 

    Emma Plutnicki  10:38 

    Amazing. When you were trying to get this job, were there any skills that you found helped you land, the position, or any skills that you think someone trying to get into your field should have in order to find success? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  10:53 

    Definitely. So, I think two major skills are what got me the job. One was my natural storytelling ability. The second was my background and job experience. I have worked so many different types of jobs. And I know some people feel that once they get out of college, they should only work in their field, right? You’re missing out, right? Like you are missing out on meeting different people, learning about different situations, how to overcome it, you know, taking that L, you know, learn from your mistakes. So, I think having all those different types of jobs, one led me to be a recruiter official, because I could deal with people well, and that recruiter official helped me get this job because they’re like, Oh, you have management experience, see how it all just comes into place?  

    Emma Plutnicki  11:42 

    Yeah, perfect. And just as we’re wrapping up, do you have any advice for someone who would want to get into a position like yours, and how they can manage that? And just any overall advice for them? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  11:56 

    Yes. One, don’t narrow your network, right? Like, make friends with any and everybody, just to learn about their life experiences and what they went through. It will help you learn that your path is not going to look like anybody else’s. Like, you could talk to 100 people, I promise you, your path is going to be different from all 100 people. Right? And with that being said, you can’t take everyone’s advice. Everyone’s advice is used with a grain of salt because, again, your path is going to be different no matter what. 

    Emma Plutnicki  12:28 

    Yeah, for sure. That’s good advice. And is there anything else you’d like to add about your experiences or your profession? 

    Thurayya UmBayemake  12:38 

    Yeah, I would like to add one more thing.  

    I feel like this job was a dream come true. And I say that because when you major in one of those fields that doesn’t, quote-unquote, guarantee you a job. You have to learn patience, right? And when I came out of college, I think my first job was housekeeping. Like, who wants to admit that nobody, right? I eventually got into children’s theater and other stuff, but none of those paid the bills, right? Like it was just something I enjoyed doing. But this job is the first one that meets both. That satisfied my living situation. And I really love and enjoy doing it. And it took a while. But I feel like it was perfect timing. So, it’s about faith. It’s about persistence. I just had to, like I said, refocus and learn different jobs and different skills and enjoy the journey of life. But I really do love this job. My team is great. Working at the SC gov school is great. And I couldn’t ask for anything better. 

    Emma Plutnicki  12:40 

    Yeah. Amazing. I’m so happy you found your dream job. So good to hear. 

  • Katie Hinson Sullivan

    Katie Hinson Sullivan

    “Art has been a language to me that made sense throughout my life.”

    Katie Hinson Sullivan is an Art Therapist and program director of the Arts and Healing program at MUSC Health in Charleston, SC. She holds a degree in Studio Art and Psychology from the College of Charleston and a Masters in Art Therapy from New York.

    Interview

    Transcript

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  00:00 

    My name is Katie Hinson Sullivan. I am a board certified and registered art therapist and I am from Charleston, South Carolina; I actually moved to New York to get my masters to become an art therapist, and I worked in New York for 10 years as an art therapist and then moved back about six years ago and started the arts and healing program here at MUSC. 

    So, we started Arts and Healing in 2018. And it started off with as a very small program, I think the CEO initially here wanted to create some kind of art program, he didn’t know what that was, he was thinking more of art on the walls, but hiring an art therapist, I kind of went in the more clinical evidence-based direction and started a Creative Arts Therapy Department here, which is… art therapy is actually a mental health field. A lot of people can misunderstand that as kind of an educational field, but it’s not, we’re not teaching any kind of art activities. We are using art in a way to impact the health and well-being of patients from children to you know, end of life. Essentially, I have worked in a number of different populations. I’ve worked with vets; I’ve worked with children of abuse and neglect. I actually worked at Rikers Island in New York for three years working with the incarcerated because when words are really hard to find, or really unsafe to use, I think art therapy has a really important place for those types of people, especially the underserved populations out there, which is kind of where my heart lies. 

    But when MUSC Arts and Healing was created, we started with just one art therapist and one music therapist and doing work within the palliative care space with both adults and children, and that just exploded. I think people quickly saw the impact of having that kind of holistic approach in the hospital. Counselors and therapists don’t typically work within hospital spaces. It’s generally, you know, just like a psych eval, but people are going through a lot of things. And we have people that stay here for years sometimes in the hospital, which is really sad, or family members are just experiencing a big loss. So, losing a family member happens often here in the hospital, so we work directly with patients and family members as well. So, we now have three art therapists and four music therapists working at MUSC. Music therapy is a separate field. Music therapists focus on functional goals. If you like, I can connect you to a music therapist as well. But it’s a completely different field than art therapy. 

    Yeah, so that’s kind of us in a nutshell, in the inpatient world. We’ve also expanded with the help of the South Carolina Arts Commission to be in our school systems across the state, which is like the most exciting work ever, especially after COVID-19. Kiddos are very isolated; they really struggle socially. I think anxiety really just took off. We wrote a grant to get funding, a little funding for this to start things off before partnering with the South Carolina Arts Commission, because we were seeing an increase in our emergency room with kiddos having suicidal ideation or just feeling completely overwhelmed and having mental health crises. So, the best place to reach our kids is in schools, especially with those who are underserved and don’t have access to mental health care. So that was our main goal. So, we started pushing into schools using art therapy two years ago. And again, we’ve expanded to four districts. Thank goodness to the South Carolina Arts Commission for helping that work along. 

    We’ve been in the school system, and we’re pushing into underserved populations as well within our community. So, we’re working with an addiction agency and working with their clientele. We’re working at an assisted living facility, we’re actually doing art therapy with the blind and visually impaired in partnership with the South Carolina Arts Commission, we’re actually pushing into a children’s group home and also working with foster care families as well. And then a myriad of other populations. It’s kind of expanded to very diverse settings. But yeah, that is where we are at – MUSC.  

    Emma Plutnicki  03:59 

    How long have you been there and doing the show? And what’s your official job title?  

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  04:04 

    So, I’m the leader of the Arts and Healing department and I started the program in 2018. 

    Emma Plutnicki  04:08 

    Okay, perfect. And so, what kind of background, like, led you down this path? How did you end up doing what you’re doing now? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  04:16 

    Yeah, I’ve been asked that question before. I was a kiddo who actually had open heart surgery here at MUSC Health when I was five. And I think, throughout my life, I had an art teacher as a mother, so I think she always just put materials out and that was my way of expressing myself when I was very young. So, art was just kind of a language to me, so it made sense throughout my life. I didn’t know what that equated to. I was actually going to the College of Charleston, I was majoring in psychology and just taking art classes on the side because it was like my interest, just growing up doing it. And I had a professor my senior year at College of Charleston, and I didn’t know what the heck I wanted to do, but she was kind of like, you understand that there is an actual profession that kind of blends your two interests, psychology and art. So, I looked into it and then started applying to schools. You have to have a master’s degree to become an art therapist, just to get training. And then there’s a whole myriad of board certification tests, all this and collecting hours in front of patients just like any other mental health field. But yeah, in my senior year, I decided to become an art therapist. I really didn’t have any idea what that was until I got into it. And just, it just makes so much sense to me, just given my history, I think.  

    Emma Plutnicki  05:28 

    Yeah, amazing. So, on a day-to-day basis, are you going to schools and teaching the kids, or what does your day-to-day look like?  

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  05:38 

    Yeah, so, I am more on the administrator’s side. Now, I can speak about what that looked like when I was an active therapist. But my day today is really building programming, really thinking strategically about how we can build sustainable programming and these spaces that don’t have access to care. I am doing a research study currently in the hospital. So, I’m working with pediatric patients who have just had a bone marrow transplant, which is a really tough procedure to go through. So, I’m working on a study that is looking at whether or not art therapy helps young people be discharged quicker. I’m working alongside PT (physical therapy) so if children receive art therapy before PT, does it make them, essentially does it help them to engage in their services a little longer, or more readily, because as we know, if a kiddo going through BMT is compliant with their physical therapy they can be discharged a lot quicker. So just providing that support, assisting them. 

    Emma Plutnicki  06:51 

    Has there been one project that has stood out to you over the years, that was the pinnacle of your creativity, or just had a significant impact on you? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  07:02 

    Yeah, I think my work at Rikers was the most impactful work I did. Actually, my job before that, I worked at HeartShare human services before that in New York, and it was an agency, it was called a preventive agency. So, child abuse cases would come through the city, and then we would be contracted to provide support for those families. I worked with the entire family. I think that just allowed me to get every type of issue or struggle that a family was going through, and whether that was child abuse or neglect, that really gave me a very dynamic view of the world, I think. As a new therapist, I worked there for five years. And then I think that kind of led me to my position at Rikers. I answered a cryptic job posting about a mental health clinician wanted, and luckily, I got the job. And I mean, it was really intense. As people know, Rikers Island is very known for being a really scary place and giving inmates a voice or helping them process what was going on. I mean, there’s so many layers in jails, right, like just who we incarcerate and why we incarcerate them. But allowing them the space to have support in a really scary time, was really impactful to me.  

    Then I fought to work in the women’s jail. There are over 10,000 inmates on that island, and only about 1500 Women were in the jail at the time. And they were receiving little to no services because the men were just, you know, they were having a lot more issues and like code reds throughout the days. And women, a lot of them have children at home. And they were trying to get through their time at Rikers, to find out what the outcome of their sentencing was, et cetera. So very impactful work for me gave me a very different view of the world.  

    Emma Plutnicki  8:51 

    Wow, that’s incredible. 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  8:53 

    Yeah, a bigger view of the world. I mean, it was really impactful. And the women were so strong. 

    Emma Plutnicki  08:58 

    Wow. That’s amazing. So, has it been challenging, like the work itself, and also the way that you got into this career path? Was that challenging to find and kind of get your foot into the door? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  09:09 

    It’s very challenging in our state to become an art therapist. There are no grad schools here, and you have to have a master’s degree to become an art therapist. There are some online schools. And I didn’t know what the field was like; I didn’t even know that it existed. I had a professor that was from New York, where it, you know, obviously mental health is a little more accessible in another state. In South Carolina, not only am I a mental health clinician, but I’m an art therapist, which, you know, I think is a double whammy. We don’t have licensure in our state yet. We’re pushing hard for licensure. So, I think that’s a challenge, but we’re doing it. In 2018, I think there were 39 art therapists throughout the entire state. Right now, we are sitting at like 62 therapists, so within a few years, it’s really grown, which is crazy. Then we have a bunch of interns that are working with our program and then just people are flocking to the state because we now have the opportunity for art therapists to work. It is challenging here in South Carolina, in New York; it was not a challenge. There was a huge community of art therapists that were great and wonderful to work with. And there were jobs available and all of that. But South Carolina is really moving along. I have high hopes for the next few years, for sure. 

    Emma Plutnicki  10:19 

    Yeah. And within South Carolina, do you know if there’s any like programs or events or organizations that kind of allow people to network or meet or find out more about a field as an art therapist? Are there any like organizations or anything? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  10:33 

    Yeah, the South Carolina Association for Art Therapists, our state organization. I’m actually the treasurer and have been a past president for that organization. They’re great. We’re small, but I think anybody who’s interested in the field of art therapy, please just get in touch with a licensed or credentialed art therapist to ask about what the field looks like, there’s a lot of art therapists out there that are claiming to be art therapists in our state, because there’s not, I think there’s just a lack of understanding of what it is. But if you’re interested in the field of art therapy, get in touch with me, get in touch with somebody who has an ATR behind their name. That’s the credential to be an art therapist and ask questions. There are online programs to become an art therapist. There are internships available across the state, the association is happy to connect people, or I am happy to connect anybody and/or just have a conversation with people about what the field entails. 

    Emma Plutnicki  11:30 

    As an applicant, are there any specific skills that you think would be beneficial to have? If you were hiring somebody and saw, “Oh, this applicant has this skill, this skill, this skill, they’re good,” or any skills that you have or use on a daily basis that you find come in handy? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  11:44 

    Yeah, they would have to have their training and their credentials to become an applicable applicant. And for any job with us, I think just, I mean, art therapists, you have to be interested in the mental health field, right? And you also, I think, artists just generally are more or are a little empathetic to the world around them, you know. It’s a hard job. Because you’re, I mean, it is mental health, and you’re just hearing trauma and dealing with trauma. And as an art therapist, I think you get to those spaces a little quicker, because you have this process and product that you’re doing with a client or a patient, in that therapeutic space, but I think skill sets would be – A: that they’ve been through their training, B: that they’ve been willing to do the work personally. 

    So, I think any art therapist who’s, you know, been in therapy, or you know, has a good idea of where they end and where a client begins. That’s always a good trait to have as a therapist. To experience therapy yourself, as a therapist, I think it is really important. And just willingness to learn. I feel like even, you know, well into my career, I’m still getting supervision myself, and still learning from others. And I think just always being open to growing. And then also having your own art making on the side, you have to have a place to dump all this stuff, right. I think art is why we became art therapists, right? Or why people become art therapists because they believe in that process of art making. So also, applicants, one of the questions I always ask is, how do you take care of yourself? Do you do anything creative on the side? That is, I think, just a really important piece of that creative outlet as well. 

    Emma Plutnicki  13:25 

    So just as we’re wrapping up, do you have any advice for someone who’s looking to get into the field? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  13:30 

    Just connect with an art therapist, ask them about possible programs they can go to, if they’re in South Carolina. Ask, you know, just talk through what you’re thinking because there’s so many different ways that art therapy is applicable. You can do art therapy in a museum, just you know, going into museums and maybe creating work based on what you’ve seen. There’s, there’s so many different directions an art therapist can go. But again, I think it just takes diving into training, like I said earlier, like I didn’t know what I was getting myself into as an art therapist until I actually got into the training itself. Also, if anybody ever wants to come and shadow an art therapist here at MUSC, we have that opportunity for people, if they’re kind of like, seeing whether or not they want to volunteer or want to come into the field like there are opportunities to shadow or volunteer with a program like ours. Yeah, just throwing that out there. 

    Emma Plutnicki  14:22 

    And then is there just anything else you’d like to add overall, any last thoughts? 

    Katie Hinson Sullivan  14:27 

    Not necessarily, if anybody wants to get in touch, I always do offer conversation. 

    Emma Plutnicki  14:35 

    Perfect.