BIOGRAPHIES

The I WAS HERE photobloggers are 6 young women who are pregnant and/or parenting, all of whom have experienced homelessness. For over 18-months, they have joined together in a media workshop, to create photoblogs and 2 photo exhibits [ I WAS HERE and STREET HEALTH STORIES ] as well as advocacy work on behalf of young parents across the city [ WE ARE HERE ]. At HAND-HELD, the photobloggers will premiere their video bridge documentary work about their experiences with the health-care system.

Misha Glouberman [hand-held facilitator] is a facilitator, host, and performer. He runs the popular Trampoline Hall Lecture series, and has an ongoing interest in how groups of people interact with each other, whether in participatory theatrical events, relational artworks, or highly interactive conferences. He can be found online at www.schooloflearning.org

Katerina Cizek [hand-held designer] is a documentary-maker and the National Film Board of Canada’s Filmmaker-in-Residence at St. Michael’s, an inner-city hospital in Toronto. She is teaming up with partners at the frontlines - doctors, nurses and patients - to create collaborative media. Her work culminates at the award-winning immersive online documentary, www.nfb.ca/filmmakerinresidence

Dawn Wilkinson [I WAS HERE video mentor] is an Associate Producer at Filmmaker-in-Residence. She is an award-winning fiction filmmaker. Her first feature film DEVOTION (05) won the Tony Stoltz Completion Award at the 2004 Reel World Film Festival, The Star! Audience Award at the 2005 Reel World Film Festival; and the Best Feature at the San Francisco Urband Kids Film Festival.

Dr. Michael Evans is a family physician and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. He is currently launching The Health Media Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital. The centre brings together leaders in design, media, technology and marketing with physicians. Dr. Evans also writes a column for The Globe and Mail.

Tonya Lee Williams [actor, director, producer] is the founder of Reel World Film Festival. Best known as Dr. Olivia Winters on The Young and the Restless, she recently starred in Poor Boy's Game. She made her directorial debut on Kink in My Hair, which she executive produced. Tonya uses her voice to advocate for a strong Canadian media industry.