Speakers: Ben Achtenberg and Brinton Lykes

Many immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the United States were victims of torture in their countries. Upon arrival to the United States, some never receive the care necessary to deal with the trauma suffered in their homeland. Come listen as two local Jamaica Plain residents share their experiences with victims of torture and learn what you can do about it

Filmmaker Ben Achtenberg has spent years filming individuals that work with victims of torture in hope of shedding light to these horrific practices and inspire those that can help to do so. He is the founder of The Refuge Media Project which focuses on the individuals and organizations working to help survivors deal with their traumatic pasts. The Refuge Media Project is producing a half-hour documentary on treatment and support programs for immigrant torture survivors in the United States. He has been interviewing victims of torture and those that work with them for the documentary REFUGE: Caring for Survivors of Torture.

As a community cultural psychologist Brinton Lykes has worked primarily with women and children and many of the former are survivors of gross violations of human rights, sometimes including torture, particularly psychological torture. Her work is directed at supporting local communities in tapping their indigenous resources – and combining those with EuroAmerican psychology and the arts – to respond to the effects of these violations and rethread community, seeking to change the conditions that gave rise to the violence and justice for those directly and indirectly affected.

Co-Sponsors: The Refuge Media Project, Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights