THE CREW

Zian Chavez, MA, ATR-P
Zian is an artist, activist, writer, therapist and lover of all things. She has lived with multiple sclerosis for 30 years. With her disability she has made a choice to thrive not just survive. Her enthusiasm for life and art are appreciated by her clients. She worked in the Special Education school system 25 years ago. After grad school she moved to Portland, Oregon and started working with different non-profits working with adults with disabilities. Today she runs an art therapy group with HIV positive Oregonians.

Beth Ann (BA) Short, LCAT, ATR-BC
BA grew up around the Great Lakes region, living in both Michigan and Ontario and considers ADHD one of their superpowers. They are also hard of hearing. BA identifies as a mixed race, gender queer/nonbinary person. They are an adjunct instructor for Lewis & Clark College and Heritage University teaching both undergraduate and graduate level art therapy classes. BA has published two books on using the Creative Mindfulness Technique and in their work with clients uses a theoretical lens drawing from a postmodernist approach incorporating intersectionality, social constructionism, feminism, queer theory, and antiracism. “I believe human beings will always be growing and the therapeutic relationship relies on empathy, language, storytelling, and art. Sometimes this may mean there are multiple truths and realities to explore, understand, and witness. I also believe in the importance of acknowledging, questioning, and creatively dismantling historical systemic power structures that have been in place and have unfairly disadvantaged individuals.”

Robert Lafady
Robert was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Robert describes himself as an “old school” photographer with over 35 years of shooting pictures and video, editing and publishing. When not taking pictures Robert loves to spend time with his chosen family, traveling, biking, and experiencing life.