Peace is an embodied practice. Dance Peace is an initiative where refugee children and families in areas of social tension work together toward peace in their communities through dance. Together, we address insular or divided neighborhoods, potential or actual violence, and Track 3 diplomacy through dance education and experiences. We curate, design, facilitate or collaborate on projects that we theorize will have positive, urgent and relevant impact for each specific context. Shawn launched Dance Peace in 2016 in Chicago, IL.

Since 2002, World Refugee Day Chicago (WRD) has commemorated World Refugee Day by organizing events, workshops, conferences, lunches, street parades, downtown rallies, guest speakers, as well as diverse multicultural performances by members of the Chicago refugee community. WRD Chicago is organized by staff, volunteers, and refugee advocates and supporters from various organizations focused on welcoming and serving refugees. Shawn has volunteered as the Arts & Entertainment Lead since 2020.

From 2016 to 2020, Shawn led Dance Demonstrations with community members, volunteer artists, and collaborators such as Full Court Press 2nd Line Jam Band, Kristina Isabelle Dance (stilt dancers), and Heather Stark-Killian (puppet designer). These efforts were given the recognition of 2017 Best of Chicago: Best Use of Dance as Political Protest by Newcity Magazine.

New Neighbor Arts Entrepreneurship (August 2019 – January 2020) was a pilot initiative designed to help new migrants and refugees integrate successfully into American society and find a place for themselves in their new neighborhoods through arts careers and entrepreneurism. This six-month pilot project was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State – Alumni TIES.

Global Water Dances orchestrates a biennial multinational, community-oriented event that takes place at different water-related sites around the world, to raise awareness about water issues and to celebrate water through movement. They connect and support a global community of choreographers and dancers to inspire action and international collaboration for water issues through the universal language of dance. Shawn designed and facilitated the 2017 Flint, MI site events, working with local artists and educators.

The Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357(CCHE) widely known as Hospital 57357 is a state of the art pediatric oncology hospital inspired by the model of the St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Hospital 57357 is the largest Hospital in the world in terms of capacity. From 2012-2016, Shawn designed dance programs for in-patients, out-patients, families, nursing staff, campers, and teen therapy groups.