I have made the hard decision to cancel individual performances, and even complete tours, during my time at CWB. I cancelled a CWB performance in Haiti an hour before it was supposed to start. The team was standing at the venue … Continue reading
Category: Education
Climate Emergency and Displacement
What makes something a crisis? Is it the scale? Or the severity? Or maybe it’s the duration? Climate crisis includes all three of these factors: It affects billions of people and every ecosystem on the planet, and a forthcoming Intergovernmental … Continue reading
Palestine and The Power of Names
Naomi Shafer and Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone wrote this blog post. Learn more about our programs in Palestine, here and here. We frequently answer the question: “Why does Clowns Without Borders write ‘Palestine’?” Our standard response is: CWB – USA follows United … Continue reading
Human Rights Day 2020
December 10th is Human Rights Day, commemorating the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark United Nations document specifies that all people have the same inalienable rights, regardless of background, origin, or other difference. This year’s theme, “Recover … Continue reading
World Children’s Day 2020
Es más fácil construir niños felices que reparar niños rotos. It is easier to shape happy children than to repair abused children. World Children’s Day November 20th is World Children’s Day, also known as Universal Children’s Day. It commemorates the … Continue reading
When Children Take the Lead: New UN Report
The United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children recently published a report titled “When children take the lead: 10 child participation approaches to tackle violence.” This report draws parallels between the development … Continue reading
Clowning and Coronavirus: CWB’s online adaptations
I used to know what my job was. I produced clown tours and workshops for displaced people, migrants, and communities in crisis. Amidst all of the unknowns and intangibles of that work, I knew what I was doing. Since the … Continue reading
The Zoom Room
Zoom used to be a word I used exclusively with the toddler in my life. We zoomed in the stroller. We zoomed as we animated a spoonful of peas into an airplane. We shrieked, “Zoom zoom!” while racing to put … Continue reading
Clown School: An Interview With Selena McMahan
In this series, CWB – USA interviews artists and educators about their experience in clown school. Next up, CWB’s Communications Director Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone talks to CWB – USA board member Selena McMahan, a graduate of The Jacques Lecoq School. Selena is an … Continue reading
Know Nonsense: Funny Faces
Know Nonsense is our new program of DIY Clown Activities. CWB can’t come to you, but we still want to clown with you. Clowns live in a world that celebrates everything it is to be human, where anything is possible, and … Continue reading
What Does “Internally Displaced Person” Mean?
Internally Displaced Person, or IDP, refers to someone who is forced to flee their home but remains within their country of origin. Refugees may cross national boundaries to seek safety, but IDPs are unable, or choose not, to do so. … Continue reading
Clown School: An Interview with Hannah Gaff
In this series, CWB – USA interviews artists and educators about their experience in clown and circus school. First up, CWB’s Communications Director Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone talks to Hannah Gaff, a graduate of Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre and a faculty member … Continue reading
What Does “Refugee” Mean?
Do you know what makes someone a refugee instead of a migrant or an internally displaced person? The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) defines a refugee as someone who is forced to cross international boundaries because of war, violence, persecution, or … Continue reading
Empathy, Humanity, and Advocacy Are Not Cancelled
A letter from CWB – USA Executive Director Naomi Shafer: Dear Community, I hope you are well. I know many of you are experiencing job insecurity, restlessness, anxiety, and travel restrictions. You may not be able to see your family. … Continue reading
