Local businesswoman Shay Jung, founder of the Wilco Art Lab at Old Taylor High, was a featured speaker at the “Inspiring Resilience Through Vision and Leadership” retreat for about 200 Child Protective Services workers from around the state of Texas on Aug. 24 at Austin Marriot North in Round Rock.
In her presentation, “Resilience as an art form: creative solutions to heavy problems,” Jung described herself as an “emancipated ward of the court,” and “recovering people pleaser,” sharing the story of her early years living with drug addicted and neglectful parents before winding up in the foster care system at age 16, where she became separated from her younger sister • page 1
and endured abuse from her foster dad and other caregivers.
Jung also discussed how she overcame that cultural inheritance through therapy, selfreflection, self-help books, community building — as well as through trial and error.
“As much as I would love to tell you that the roadmap to resilience is a little windy, but if you keep at it, you’ll arrive at healing in just six easy steps,” she said.
“Unfortunately, that would be the biggest lie to ever pass my lips.”
“Whether pursuing healing, peace, happiness or trying to become the best version of yourself, you can find so many people that will tell you that they have figured it out,” she added. “Advice, tips, tools, something that can solve any problem and get you to your destination. My opinion is that some tools work for some people in some seasons of life.”
Along the way, Jung said she was fortunate to receive unconditional love from some adults, including at a church where she worked, as well as support from a caring caseworker, whom she called “V” for privacy.
“V had to be in her early 20s,” she recalled.
“She wore professional attire, spoke calmly and kindly and wrote her notes in colorful gel pens. She was always on time to check in, gave me updates on my sister, and began working with me on transitional housing.”
During the presentation, Jung drew upon her experience as a multimedia artist at her art lab, allowing participants to use crayons and other art supplies to brainstorm for a therapeutic art exercise involving making a to-do list and then separating out the action words.
“A really fun exercise is to use mediums traditionally used by children to warm up, loosen up and get into a creative mindset,” she explained. “Sometimes this looks like finger paints, jumbo markers, or crayons.
Take out whatever color feels good to you today.
And fill in, all over the extra non-action words.
Make them into flowers, a river flowing through rocks, a tree and vines, or scribble.”
Jung said she conducted this session to help CPS workers better understand the young people they serve. “My planned outcome of sharing with you today is that you have the opportunity to hear from someone who has gone through the foster care system, and that you may have a new perspective of some of your clients,” she said.
“I hope that when I lead you through workshops today you will remember them over the coming year and use them.”
After the presentation was over, Jung received this feedback from Kelly Louis, the training liaison for CPS.
“You have no idea the impact you made,” she said. “You were so captivating, and it resonated.
People are still talking about it. I am so incredibly grateful for you and how this all came to be.” Overall, Jung said she doesn’t shy away from discussing the pain of her former life, especially if it can bring hope to someone who has been through something similar.
“It’s really empowering for me that if I don’t play small, if I step up and am brave enough to share my story and the things that are true for me, it makes space for other people to do the same and to feel known,” she said.
