In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Ibrahim Songne, who migrated from Burkina Faso to Italy and overcame cultural and language barriers to pursue his passion for food, connection, and community well-being. Ibrahim founded Ibris Pizza, now recognized among Italy’s top 50 pizzerias, and uses his culinary platform to foster community, social initiatives, and promote cultural exchange. His work includes social impact initiatives through his GIVE association like Pizza Sospesa that creates the opportunity for customers of his restaurant to leave prepaid slices of pizza and essential goods for those in need; Ponti Meticci a cultural exchange initiative to promote dialogue, understanding, and connection between Italy and Africa; and Offerta Libera that provides community meals where anyone can eat and pay what they can. Ibrahim is collaborating with Dr. Briana on the Building Bridges film project, aiming to reduce social isolation, inspire inclusive behavior, and advance multicultural understanding in Trento and beyond. Songne hopes his story encourages resilience, compassion, and equal opportunities for all.

https://www.ibrispizzeria.com/

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/30/1075558056/an-african-immigrants-pizza-wins-global-raves-and-overcomes-italian-prejudices

https://www.instagram.com/ibris.official/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana interviews Nicole Sessions, a writer, reproductive justice advocate, and full-spectrum doula who is currently serving as a peer provider on I-HOPE, a multisite comparative effectiveness trial examining culturally responsive Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) versus brief screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in reducing PTSD symptoms during and after pregnancy. Nicole shares her journey into birth work, inspired by her empowering childbirth experience, and her path to joining the I-HOPE Study as a peer provider supporting Black birthing patients with trauma-informed care. Throughout the discussion, Nicole reflects on the challenges and rewards of facilitating culturally responsive PTSD interventions during the perinatal period, emphasizing the importance of empathy, validation, and authentic human connection. She highlights the role of storytelling, peer support, and creative approaches in advancing reproductive justice and improving Black maternal mental health.

https://www.nicolesessions.com/

In this episode of Creative Resilience, Dr. Briana speaks with Dr. Jessie Borelli, a clinical psychologist and professor at UC Irvine, about relational savoring, a brief, strength-based intervention designed to foster emotional well-being and resilience by helping individuals focus on and immerse themselves in moments of secure, loving connection within close relationships. Dr. Borelli explains that relational savoring draws on the concept of savoring, an emotion-regulation strategy, and applies it specifically to attachment-based interactions. Through guided reflections, participants revisit positive relational experiences to strengthen the emotional impact of those memories, which can be particularly beneficial for parents, trauma survivors, and communities experiencing stress. Dr. Briana and Dr. Borelli discuss the origins and key components of Relational Savoring and how, through partnership and creativity, it has been adapted for various communities to promote thriving relationships and communities.

https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/borelli/

https://www.drjessicaborelli.com/