haydee “hr.” souffrant is a Chicago-based Haitian American teaching artist, writer and doula-healer, whose work weaves performance, critical race and radical healing theory to probe the intersections of race, trauma healing and cultural memory through storytelling and creative writing. As an arts administrator, hr.’s work through arts programming, healing and creative arts workshops connects multiple identities and cross-cultural communities together in order to create spaces of empathy, healing and social justice for people of color.
hr.'s literary work has been featured in numerous online literary publications at Oberlin College, Hair Trigger Issue 41, Sixty Inches from Center and her performance work featured at The Whitney Biennale under the Dance Diaspora Collective, Links Hall @ Constellation, Threewalls at Navy Pier and other venues in and around Chicagoland.
A graduate of Oberlin College with a BA in African American Studies and English, hr. is currently an MFA Creative Writing Fiction candidate at Columbia College Chicago.
hr.'s literary work has been featured in numerous online literary publications at Oberlin College, Hair Trigger Issue 41, Sixty Inches from Center and her performance work featured at The Whitney Biennale under the Dance Diaspora Collective, Links Hall @ Constellation, Threewalls at Navy Pier and other venues in and around Chicagoland.
A graduate of Oberlin College with a BA in African American Studies and English, hr. is currently an MFA Creative Writing Fiction candidate at Columbia College Chicago.
EDUCATION
2019 Masters in Fine Arts at Columbia College Chicago
Creative Writing-Fiction MFA
2011 Bachelors in Arts at Oberlin College
African American Studies, High Honors; English
Minor(s): Studio Art/Art Management Studies
THEATER|PERFORMANCE
2017 Jada (Main Cast), Low Hanging Fruit. Dane Campbell, Director. Stage 773, Chicago IL
2018 Borders. Amythest Art Show. Jimmy Beans Cafe Gallery, Chicago IL
2018 Mami Wata. Connections Reading Series. Jimmy Beans Cafe Gallery, Chicago IL
2017 Abundance. Thawalls Exhibition. Patricia Nguyen, Director. Navy Pier, Chicago IL
2016 Abundance. Patricia Nguyen, Director. Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2016 For Our Purposes: In Sync Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2011 Following the Sound of Legacies. Senior Performance Thesis Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Dance Diaspora Dance Theater Company
2010 Refresh My Sorrows. Kristal Boyd, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2010 Sad Divas. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2009 Eric Dolphy, My Love. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
PRODUCTION
2018 This Boat Called My Body. Nik Zaleski, Director For Youth Inquiry, Chicago IL
Installation Designer
2016 I Shout to Keep My Devils at Bay. Kantara Souffrant, Curator Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
Apprentice Producer
2015 For the Love of Afrekete. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Assistant Stage Manager
2015 First Class at Theater on the Lake. Juan Castaneda, Director Berger Park Theater, Chicago IL
Stage Manager
2014 Can I Hit It?. Nik Zaleski, Director For Youth Inquiry, Chicago IL
Production Stage Manager
2010 Steppin’ ‘N Da Beat. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Assistant Stage Manger
VISUAL | INSTALLATION
2018 This Boat Called My Body. Site Specific Installation Palmisano Park, Chicago IL
2016 For Our Purposes: In Sync. Performance Installation Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2011 Drown My Blues. Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2010 Behind Hidden Faces. Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2009 Don’t Leave Me By Myself Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS
2019 Desert Winds, Rising Stars DWRS Teaching Fellow Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, University of Arizona
2018 ABSC Sexuality Conference Featured Panel Presenter Columbia College Chicago, Chicago IL
‘Broken Pussy: How HBO’s Insecure Reclaims Black Sexuality’
2018 Mystic Soul Conference Teaching Artist for Workshop ‘Spirit Speak’ Northeastern University, Chicago IL
RESIDENCIES
2018 Winter Tangerine Winter Workshop Cohort
2017 SWARM Artist Residency
PUBLICATIONS
2018 Ti Zwazo (Little Bird). Hair Trigger: Issue 41
2017 Picture This Post Dance Review Contributor
2015-2016 Sixty Inches from Center Arts and Race Content Contributor
2010 In Solidarity Contributing Poet and Editor
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2011 African American Studies High Honors Recipient, Oberlin College
2010-2011 Oberlin College 1835 Fund Grant Recipient
2009-2010 Oberlin College Undergraduate Research Fellowship English Research Fellow
2008-2009 Oberlin College 1835 Fund Grant Recipient
2007-2010 Oberlin College Bonner Scholar AmeriCorps Scholar
2003-2007 Prep for Prep, New York, NY Prep for Prep Scholar Class of 2007
CERTIFICATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
2018 toLabor Doula Certification Professional Birth Coach + Doula
2017 Reiki Master Certification through Reiki Rivers Master Reiki Teacher + Healer
2016 Chicago Community Health Workers Local Network Mental Health First Aid Certified Responder
2016 Creating Change Conference, Chicago IL Youth Task Force Volunteer and Mediator
2015 Reiki Healer Certification through Reiki Rivers Reiki Levels I, II, + III Training
2007-2011 Oberlin College Multicultural Resource Center Social Justice Facilitator
2006 Oberlin College Social Justice Institute Conflict Resolution Facilitator
2006 National Conference for Community & Justice Anytown, NJ Social Justice Teen Fellow
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Apr 2016- Present The Rooted Turtle Healing. Chicago, IL.
Professional Birth Doula + Teaching Artist
Dec 2014- Mar 2017 Columbia College Chicago. Department of Exhibitions & Performance Student Spaces
Education Outreach + Program Coordinator
Sept 2013- Oct 2014 For Youth Inquiry. Chicago, IL
Youth Production + Programs Manager
Sept 2009-May 2011 Dance Diaspora Theater Ensemble. Oberlin, OH
Production Coordinator + Lead Children's Program Instructor
2019 Masters in Fine Arts at Columbia College Chicago
Creative Writing-Fiction MFA
2011 Bachelors in Arts at Oberlin College
African American Studies, High Honors; English
Minor(s): Studio Art/Art Management Studies
THEATER|PERFORMANCE
2017 Jada (Main Cast), Low Hanging Fruit. Dane Campbell, Director. Stage 773, Chicago IL
2018 Borders. Amythest Art Show. Jimmy Beans Cafe Gallery, Chicago IL
2018 Mami Wata. Connections Reading Series. Jimmy Beans Cafe Gallery, Chicago IL
2017 Abundance. Thawalls Exhibition. Patricia Nguyen, Director. Navy Pier, Chicago IL
2016 Abundance. Patricia Nguyen, Director. Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2016 For Our Purposes: In Sync Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2011 Following the Sound of Legacies. Senior Performance Thesis Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Dance Diaspora Dance Theater Company
2010 Refresh My Sorrows. Kristal Boyd, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2010 Sad Divas. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2009 Eric Dolphy, My Love. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
PRODUCTION
2018 This Boat Called My Body. Nik Zaleski, Director For Youth Inquiry, Chicago IL
Installation Designer
2016 I Shout to Keep My Devils at Bay. Kantara Souffrant, Curator Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
Apprentice Producer
2015 For the Love of Afrekete. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Assistant Stage Manager
2015 First Class at Theater on the Lake. Juan Castaneda, Director Berger Park Theater, Chicago IL
Stage Manager
2014 Can I Hit It?. Nik Zaleski, Director For Youth Inquiry, Chicago IL
Production Stage Manager
2010 Steppin’ ‘N Da Beat. M. Adenike Sharpley, Choreographer Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Assistant Stage Manger
VISUAL | INSTALLATION
2018 This Boat Called My Body. Site Specific Installation Palmisano Park, Chicago IL
2016 For Our Purposes: In Sync. Performance Installation Links Hall@ Constellation, Chicago IL
2011 Drown My Blues. Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2010 Behind Hidden Faces. Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
2009 Don’t Leave Me By Myself Site Specific Installation Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS
2019 Desert Winds, Rising Stars DWRS Teaching Fellow Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, University of Arizona
2018 ABSC Sexuality Conference Featured Panel Presenter Columbia College Chicago, Chicago IL
‘Broken Pussy: How HBO’s Insecure Reclaims Black Sexuality’
2018 Mystic Soul Conference Teaching Artist for Workshop ‘Spirit Speak’ Northeastern University, Chicago IL
RESIDENCIES
2018 Winter Tangerine Winter Workshop Cohort
2017 SWARM Artist Residency
PUBLICATIONS
2018 Ti Zwazo (Little Bird). Hair Trigger: Issue 41
2017 Picture This Post Dance Review Contributor
2015-2016 Sixty Inches from Center Arts and Race Content Contributor
2010 In Solidarity Contributing Poet and Editor
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2011 African American Studies High Honors Recipient, Oberlin College
2010-2011 Oberlin College 1835 Fund Grant Recipient
2009-2010 Oberlin College Undergraduate Research Fellowship English Research Fellow
2008-2009 Oberlin College 1835 Fund Grant Recipient
2007-2010 Oberlin College Bonner Scholar AmeriCorps Scholar
2003-2007 Prep for Prep, New York, NY Prep for Prep Scholar Class of 2007
CERTIFICATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
2018 toLabor Doula Certification Professional Birth Coach + Doula
2017 Reiki Master Certification through Reiki Rivers Master Reiki Teacher + Healer
2016 Chicago Community Health Workers Local Network Mental Health First Aid Certified Responder
2016 Creating Change Conference, Chicago IL Youth Task Force Volunteer and Mediator
2015 Reiki Healer Certification through Reiki Rivers Reiki Levels I, II, + III Training
2007-2011 Oberlin College Multicultural Resource Center Social Justice Facilitator
2006 Oberlin College Social Justice Institute Conflict Resolution Facilitator
2006 National Conference for Community & Justice Anytown, NJ Social Justice Teen Fellow
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Apr 2016- Present The Rooted Turtle Healing. Chicago, IL.
Professional Birth Doula + Teaching Artist
Dec 2014- Mar 2017 Columbia College Chicago. Department of Exhibitions & Performance Student Spaces
Education Outreach + Program Coordinator
Sept 2013- Oct 2014 For Youth Inquiry. Chicago, IL
Youth Production + Programs Manager
Sept 2009-May 2011 Dance Diaspora Theater Ensemble. Oberlin, OH
Production Coordinator + Lead Children's Program Instructor