Global Language of Resilience with Schree Chavdarov, LEAF Global Arts

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio; I’m your host, James Navé. In this episode, I speak with Schree Chavdarov, Global Engagement Director of LEAF Global Arts, about solidarity, resilience, and the healing power of culture. From the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina to grassroots programs across El Salvador, Rwanda, and Kenya, Schree shows how art keeps communities alive when everything else is broken. She shares her own extraordinary story of surviving a rare, life-threatening parasite—an experience that deepened her understanding of resilience and solidarity. We also discuss how drumming, storytelling, and preserving languages become pathways to healing, hope, and identity for young people worldwide. Together, we reflect on what it means to live fully in challenging times: to welcome others, to share culture, to keep creating even when resources are scarce. This conversation reminds us that art is not a luxury—it is a lifeline.