Join us for a dynamic webinar addressing the crucial question: How can we fill the gaps in workforce development for arts and health initiatives? As interest grows among artists, healthcare workers, social services professionals, and others, as second responders, this session will explore the qualifications and training needed to effectively integrate arts into healthcare and public health. Our panelists will share insights and strategies to equip a diverse workforce with the skills necessary to support arts-based interventions, ensuring they meet the needs of individuals and communities.

This program series is sponsored in part with support from The Music Man Foundation.

Meet the Speakers

Alison previously worked in corporate banking for over 10 years in Scotland, England, and Ireland before studying Social Sciences and moving into the Voluntary Sector.  She joined the Community Link Worker Network in 2017 and has moved from CLW to Team Lead, to her current role as Assistant Manager. She leads the Scottish Social Prescribing Network which works closely with colleagues within the Population Health Directorate at The Scottish Government.  She is also part of the Scottish Government National Community Link Worker Advisory Group which is looking at link working across the whole of Scotland. The Edinburgh Community Link Worker Network recently won the 2024 Award for the Best Local Social Prescribing Link Worker Team/Service at the International Social Prescribing Conference. 

Meida Teresa McNeal is the Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Grants, Resources, and Arts Education with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. Prior to her role with the City, Meida worked with the Chicago Park District as Arts & Culture Manager supporting community arts partnerships, youth arts, cultural stewardship, and civic engagement initiatives. She received her PhD in Performance Studies (Northwestern) and her MFA in Choreography & Dance History (Ohio State). She is also Artistic and Managing Director of Honey Pot Performance. Meida has received awards from Illinois Arts Council, Field Foundation, 3Arts, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, and Links Hall.

Ping Ho, MA, MPH, is Founder and Director of Arts & Healing Initiative, which transforms lives through creative expression by integrating the innate benefits of the arts with mental health practices for self-discovery, connection, and empowerment. This work represents the nexus of her graduate education in counseling psychology and public health with her lifelong experience in performing arts. Ping co-developed and served as principal investigator for the evidence-based training program, Beat the Odds®: Social and Emotional Skill Building Delivered in a Framework of Drumming. In addition, she spearheaded the development of the Certificate Program in Social Emotional Arts (SEA) and SEA on a Shoestring: Supportive Art, Movement, Music, and Writing for Individuals and Groups in Any Setting. Ping is associate editor for the creative arts therapy section of the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine and a steering committee member for the UCLA Integrative Medicine Collaborative. She is also co-author of The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art, winner of a 2019 National Parenting Products Association Award.

Julio Hanson, Ed.D, is a SAG-AFTRA entertainer and the principal of Loyola Village Fine and Performing Arts Magnet in Los Angeles, California. With more than 25 years experience, Julio attributes most of his artistic talents to his mother and father, John and Yolanda Hanson, both classically trained musicians from Howard University.

As a vocalist, Julio has performed with Grammy-recognized Toni Braxton, Prince, Kelis, and La Ley, to name a few. Julio has also acted in feature films and stage productions under the direction of Ron Howard and Luis Avalos. Julio also had a recurring role in the hit television series RPM Miami on Mun2/Telemundo. Julio is a dancer and choreographer with Panama Mola Pollera Tambor (PMPT) and Congos Istmeños promoting the beauty of Panamanian culture to the world.
Julio is a commissioned writer and member of the Robey Theatre Company and the Advisory Council for The Young Shakespeareans.

Julio holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Sciences-International Relations from UCLA, a Bilingual Teaching Credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills, a Master of Education and Administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Education from Pepperdine University, researching the Power of Artistic Activism.