Collaborators

My name is Crystal Black. I am a board-certified music therapist working with individuals with disabilities and refugees. I graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Music Education and a minor in Speech and Theater, and from the University of Connecticut with a Master of Arts in Music. I attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary studying church music and pastoral counseling. My music therapy training was done at IUPUI. My professional experience includes music therapy with individuals on with the Indiana Medicaid waiver, refugees and seniors; music performance; teaching music at Martin University, and as a church musician for three different denominations over 40 years. I have completed a study on music therapy’s effects on engagement in adults with dementia. I was a music therapist clinician on the SMART2 study working with producing music videos to increase resilience in illness. I am married to a bright, caring man. I have two teenaged girls, four furry and two winged children. I have visited all 50 states in the United States and have driven to Alaska three times in my life.

My name is Pam Thompson. I enjoy reading, walking my dog, going to the movies, doing crafts, playing pickleball, baking, and spending time with my family. I am truly inspired by nature, the clients I serve, and God.  I am in the helping field because I love to make a difference in other peoples’ lives; I am a servant. My hero was my grandfather. I have some “quirks” including the fact that I like all the bills in my wallet to face the same direction, I make my bed every day, I want a tiny house, and I still use a non-electronic calendar.

My name is Jan Schreibman, I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music and Psychology from Indiana University, an equivalency in music therapy from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Music from Western Michigan University. I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I grew up near and have been a long-time resident of Indianapolis. I dreamed of starting Creative Pathways for many years and am grateful that I can serve the Indianapolis community in this way.

I was the first full-time Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Music Therapy Program at the University of Indianapolis and am now Assistant Professor and Music Therapy coordinator at Salisbury University in Maryland. In my little bit of spare time, I like to walk, play with my dogs, listen to music, and binge watch Netflix. I am inspired every day through teaching and in awe of the passion for music therapy that is exhibited by my students. I began nonprofit work because of a deep desire to give back to the community in which I was raised. I love Indianapolis.

I am fortunate to have many mentors and heroes in my life, who have supported me in my various endeavors. One that I’d like to highlight is Dr. Michele Forinash. She embodies all that I hope to become; she is fair, compassionate, kind, and always looking for ways to improve not only herself but provide the tools necessary for others to be and be their best. One final odd, or quirky thing about me is, I love musicals! I love to sing along with the soundtracks and find that the lyrics often speak to me regarding something that is happening and current in my life.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree from IUPUI, was in the Army for seven years, and currently work at IUPUI.  Right now, I don’t have “spare time” ….but when I do, I sleep, or spend time with kids/grandkids. I’m inspired by Innovative Thinking. I have such high regard for people that can take one look at an object, process, whatever and turn it on its head to come up with a whole new concept.  I am drawn to nonprofit work by deep-seated character and values, so it’s a no brainer for me to be drawn to work that would not represent a conflict with that. My heroes are: Alive –  My Dad, he’s the epitome of character. I’ve watched marriages crumble for all kinds of reasons over the years….this man, married a gal that was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis not knowing what was in store for them. He was Lutheran, and she was Catholic, so they had to take classes to even GET married, and he had to promise to raise the children Catholic…so he did.  When his wife was confined to a wheelchair in 1974, he would carry her EVERY week out to the car and take her and those kids to church EVERY Sunday until her death in 1985. He’d only attend twice a year, (Easter and Christmas), the Priests would come to dinner, they’d rope him into all kind of volunteering (pancake breakfasts, the school board, task forces, etc.) and he wasn’t even Catholic.  He stayed, through thick/thin, it appeared so effortless that it never occurred to me that everyone wasn’t like that.  He was home every night (self-employed, farmer), he had a vested interest in his kids and attended their school-related activities.  He’s one of the best examples of “adulting” that I’ve ever seen.  I really need to make a concerted effort to spend more time with him, neither one of us is getting any younger! Deceased – Mother Teresa, now a Saint (Thank you, Pope Francis). I can’t even fathom dedicating your entire life to service of everyone else and all the accomplishments she made in her lifetime.  I suppose my dirty little secret is I listen to hip-hop, which tends to surprise people, I’m not the typical genre that it’s marketed too.