About Us
How The Healing Corps Started
In 2007, in the jungles of the Amazon, a group of humanitarian clowns who were also healthcare professionals began conducting public street clinics in the streets, marketplaces, and plazas of Iquitos, Peru.
- First street clinics
- 2007
- First festival
- 2016
- Location
- Downtown Phoenix, AZ
2007 — Iquitos, Peru
We invited people to talk about anything that might be of concern to them, and they responded enthusiastically. In brief 15-20 minute encounters they spoke freely to a knowledgeable, non-judgmental, compassionate, active listener, and often made profoundly impactful connections on both participants and practitioners. The clinics continued for years.
2016 — Clown Town Healing Fest, Phoenix
Dr. Carl Hammerschlag, an internationally recognized psychiatrist, author and humanitarian clown, and Hayley Sklar Shapiro, a community organizer, performance artist, humanitarian clown and LGBTQ+ activist, brought this preventive health model to streets in the U.S. as the Clown Town Healing Fest.
This three-day extravaganza took place in a public park in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, and brought together a wide range of healthcare resources to inspire people to live healthier lives. In addition, we conducted a unique workshop for healthcare professionals that incorporated the science of healing connections and clown healing principles, to teach caregivers how to quickly establish intuitive, heart-centered connections that inspire people.
The festival was enthusiastically received and attended by thousands, but putting together such an enormous event proved difficult to sustain.
The refocus as The Healing Corps
We have refocused our efforts as The Healing Corps. We now offer our unique workshops not just to healthcare providers, but also to organizations and individuals interested in learning more about the art and science of communicating and relating to people authentically.
We believe that relationships are at the heart of healing. The Healing Corps provides a platform that gives people an opportunity to learn how to better communicate with each other, and with themselves. We provide a skill-based training program that applies clown healing principles to teach people how to get real with someone quickly: how to suspend judgement, listen actively, respond spontaneously and share your truth — all qualities that are the foundation for building trust.