January 2009: Arts as Vision: How do the arts enable diverse and unheard voices to be heard?
Tonight, Springboard Social Innovation Forum turns the focus to the intersection between art, underrepresented populations, and visioning for the future. Why are some people’s voices unheard when planning for our collective future? We ask, How can we help them speak out? This forum will discuss how to listen to everyone, and how to use art to include them in community building, decision making, and visioning for the future. Specifically, how can art help those express their vision who typically aren't asked, "What's your vision for the future?" How can we welcome diversity into social innovation organizations and work together to turn our common visions into reality? Tonight's panelists and workshops will review innovative trends in using art as vehicle for diverse inclusion by discussing some important questions.
- Download full description of the January Forum Program
- Download Speaker and Presenter Bios
Panelists
- Moderator - Suzie Boss, Stanford Social Innovation Review Journalist
- Sally Peters, SpeakArtLoud
- Romeo Sosa, Voz: Workers’ Rights Education Project
- Melinda Pittman, BroadArts Theatre
- Sonali S. Balajee, Centennial Learning Center
- Why do diverse voices matter?
- How do you bring diverse voices into the conversation?
- How and why do you use the arts to do this?
Workshops~
(1) Listen to the Voices of Diverse Communities. Debbie Caselton, Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP): Learn strategies for building an organization in which group meetings and activities are a welcoming venue for reaching out to and engaging people from cultures other than in your own your neighborhood.(2) The Importance of Art in Community Development Work. Sarah Dougher, p:ear. Discover how art helps homeless youth form relationships and transforms their lives from tolerable to functional. Learn how this artistic strategy is can be applied to help other at risk populations. Non-artists encouraged to attend.
(3) Songwriting to Create the Future. Melinda Pittman, BroadArts Theatre: Create a short song that is a proactive message about your goals for the future. Learn and draw melodies from historical organizing songs.
(4) Photographic Vision. Chris Cearnal and Alex Ney, My Story: Hands-on workshop; Use photography and writing to communicate your vision for the future. Experience an innovative, fun process for translating your personal vision into an inspiring, work of art. Come with ideas! Limited to 10 participants
Performance! Tonight we end with a performance from community arts organizations who exemplify the opportunities the arts provide us all.
- PHAME Academy Choir
- Veterans For Peace Chapter 72
- BroadArts Theatre