Michael Shank

Michael Shank is the 'Artistic Director' of Barefoot Theatre Group based in the United States. As a professional theatre practitioner, Michael uses interactive "forum theatre" to help communities better understand their conflict and explore ways to resolve conflict creatively through theatrical exercises and role-playing. In 2002, Michael served as conflict management trainer and workshop facilitator for United World College's Initiative for Peace: Focus on Kashmir and for Focus on South Asia, a youth training program based in Lahore, Pakistan. Besides working extensively on conflict management processes in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Singapore, Michael developed and organized conflict management workshops for school administrators in the Philippines while working with the Filipino theatre company, Kaliwat Theatre Collective.

Michael currently works at Music Matters in Minneapolis, and will be pursuing a Masters degree in Peace building and Conflict Transformation this fall. He will be facilitating community building and conflict management activities throughout the "Dialogue for Peace Initiatives: Kashmir" conference.