Connect & Learn Lab: State of Mind Tour

Arts & Mental Health: State of Mind Tour

with Michael Rohd, Director, University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination

Workshop presented Thursday, June 18, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lujF5VkWCKA

Michael Rohd is a theatre maker, process designer and facilitator who co-founded Sojourn Theatre, serving as its artistic director for 23 years, and co-creating over thirty original productions during that time. He’s premiered new work with partners that include: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre, Ping Chong and Company, House of World Culture in Berlin and Turku Festival in Finland. In addition to his production work, for 35 years he’s been designing and facilitating process around complex public issues across the nation, supporting and training arts, municipal and non-profit staff in developing effective community programs, convenings and public engagement work. He founded/led Hope Is Vital (theatre-based HIV Prevention work in DC and nationwide in the ‘90s) and co-founded/co-led the Center for Performance and Civic Practice (artist collective consulting on institutional and system change work nationwide 2012- 2024). He recently served four years as Civic Collaborations Director with One Nation One Project, a national arts and health initiative, and he is a process-designer and facilitation trainer for national Veteran led bridge-building organization More Perfect Union. He is author of the book Theatre for Community, Conflict and Dialogue (Heinemann Press). In 2022, he founded Co-Lab for Civic Imagination at University of Montana where, as a tenured Professor, he serves as Co-Lab Director and as a University-Wide System Dramaturg/Artist-in-Residence. These days, his work around the US includes offering trainings in facilitation and process design (for partners such as NYC’s Office of Mass Engagement), collaborating/consulting with organizations, institutions and local government agencies on public engagement and civic imagination projects (such as American Composer’s Orchestra), and leading theatre/public dialogue projects such as State of Mind, a theatre initiative that addresses mental health through residencies which, as of Spring '26, has brought workshops, a production and town meetings to 35 rural communities out West, and is launching a National Institute to train others to build their own versions of the State of Mind model in their home communities. In Summer '26, at least twelve states will be represented at the first State of Mind national institute being hosted by Georgetown University. 

Session Description:

In this session, UM’s Co-Lab for Civic Imagination Director Michael Rohd will present on State of Mind, a theatre-based public health project that’s become a state-wide program, having now toured to 35 mostly rural Montana communities since September 2024. He’ll describe it’s approach to community engagement, its relationship to a growing national arts and health movement, and the sort of coalition work that’s allowing State of Mind to demonstrate the impact the arts can have across Montana.

If you are interested in hosting a State of Mind event in your community, please reach out to Michael Rohd at michael.rohd@mso.umt.edu