OUR PROJECTS
Come Find Joy Through Movement
On Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m., join Brighid for Nia classes at the Oak Park Park District's Ridgeland Commons.
Nia is a soulful movement practice that blends the dance, martial and healing arts to cultivate a sense of balance, vitality, and connection to oneself, others, and the world around us. Yes, it is a workout for the body but it is so much more. You'll leave feeling energized, aligned, and more in tune with yourself. Classes have basic choreography done to world music and all bodies are welcome!
Brighid also teaches Qoya Inspired Movement! Much less about choreography and more about attuning to your body as a guide.
Upcoming Qoya classes: June 30 at ALTAR in Chicago. Click below to register.
https://www.altarcommunity.com/event-details/qoya-chicago-2025-06-21
It's A Long Way Home
Traditionally Brighid has been a story collector committed to helping others find solace and healing through the sharing of their experiences through theater. For the first time in decades, Brighid is telling her own story. She is spending 2024/2025 working with long-term collaborators on a theatrical piece telling both her own family's adoption story as well as those of other adoptive families and the journeys they have taken to find hope amidst the wreckage.
In addition to the theatre project, Brighid has signed a contract with Lived Places Publishing for this to also live as a book which will feature documentary style stories from adoptive moms, resources, and reflection questions and will be placed in University libraries around the globe. The goal is to build adoption competent care among professionals ranging from social workers and educators to disability advocates, medical professionals, law enforcement, hospital staff, and prospective adoptive families.
The project has recently expanded and is now featuring stories of adoptees and birth mothers as well!
Come see our work:
Building Resilient Communities for Children Conference held by Internationally known non-profit the Attachment Trauma Network, June 23rd, 2025, Virtual - Alongside Bruce Perry as the Keynote -https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/brcc
On Your Feet Foundation Fundraiser, August 8, 2025 - Live in Evanston, Illinois; On Your Feet Foundation is a non-profit that works to support birth families as well as highlight the voices of adoptees
Some of Brighid's Favorite Past Projects
Flames, Flaws and Freedom
A sold-out storytelling evening + photography exhibit dedicated to exploring women's health, with a portion of the proceeds going to Harvest 107.
Watch Brighid discuss the inspiration for the show:
Erasing the Distance's Production of Will You Stand Up?
Will You Stand Up? is one of the most beloved and impactful productions from Erasing the Distance, directed and produced by Brighid O'Shaughnessy. Erasing the Distance is a Chicago-based theater company that changes the narrative and challenges the stigma surrounding mental health.
Listen to Meg Ritter's coverage of Erasing the Distance for The Chicago Community Trust:
Using Visual Arts + Career Exploration to Promote Student Voice
A creative partnership between Kellman Elementary Students, Career Professionals + Internationally Known Artist Rhonda Gray