ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers

Join Bill Cleveland in a special bonus episode as we explore the incredible 50-year journey of Alternate ROOTS a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to social and economic justice. Featuring insightful conversations with Roots staffers Aimee McCoy and Clarissa Crawford, this episode delves into the diverse contributions of artists in tackling community issues, the importance of membership, and the upcoming 2024 Roots Week. Don't miss this in-depth look at one of America's most influential arts organizations and their vibrant community impact.

BONUS-BONUS: Alternate ROOTS Collection: This is a collection of Change the Story Episodes featuring 9 creative change agents who are associated one way or another with Alternate ROOTS. Check them out.

Episode Milestones

00:00 Introduction to Change the Story, Change the World

00:10 The Longevity of Nonprofits and Alternate Roots

00:56 Mission and Impact of Alternate Roots

02:04 Celebrating 50 Years of Alternate Roots

03:00 Roots Week 2024: Southern Soil Sankofa Seeds

03:19 Meet the Guests: Amy McCoy and Clarissa Crawford

05:14 The Role of Membership at Alternate Roots

09:30 Roots Members as Change Agents

12:58 Roots Week: A Gathering of Creativity and Community

18:59 Exploring Power and Agency at Roots

24:11 Challenges and Growth in Membership

33:11 Looking Forward: Hopes for Roots Week

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

 🌟 "Change the Story, Change the World" is back with the FURTHER, Further Adventures of Lenwood O. Sloan! Dive into our conversation on woke culture, historical monuments, and the power of public art. Don't miss this engaging episode! #Podcast #ArtAndCommunity #ChangeTheWorld 🎙️

In this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World,' Bill Cleveland continues his conversation with Lenwood O. Sloan. They discuss the abuse and current significance of Juneteenth, the replacement of Confederate monuments, and the various implications of the 14th Amendment over time. Sloan shares insights on public art as a means to foster community dialogue and how collective storytelling can contribute to social change. They also touch upon the importance of understanding democracy beyond voting, exploring citizenship, and communal responsibilities. Sloan's personal journey of resilience, particularly his experience relearning to walk, serves as a metaphor for social balance and gravity, further emphasizing the need for creative problem-solving and mutual respect within communities.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:36 Reflections on Woke and Juneteenth

05:27 The Role of Public Art in Community Healing

08:19 Navigating Historical Narratives and Monuments

10:10 The Eighth Ward Monument Project

13:59 The Importance of Storytelling in Art and Activism

20:45 The Waystation Project and Artist Responsibilities

26:40 Citizenship and Democracy

For the past 40 years, Lenwood Sloan has provided inspiration, leadership and technical assistance both in the public and private sector.

On October 7, 2013, Mr. Sloan received the Distinguished Service Humanitarian award from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for his outstanding work in community organizing.

He is currently an International Consultant collaborating with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels and the multi nation “Liberation Route” on a new international WWII heritage trail. He is creative consultant for the Cameron Museum of Wilmington, N. C. USCT project, collaborator on the innovative “Two Roads “ series for the Irish Cultural Center of New York,

Throughout 2011 Sloan served as Pennsylvania’s film commissioner and was certified by the Association of Film commissioners international (AFCI). In that capacity, he directed the 60 million dollar film tax credit office.

From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Sloan served as director of Pennsylvania’s Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program His portfolio included the Pa festival initiative, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 13 state geo- tourism initiative, the artisans’ craft trails , the PA Civil War trails

Lenwood Sloan has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting and Commissioning program , Deputy Director of Services to the field for the California Arts Council , Director of New Orleans Arts and Tourism partnership . He is recipient of the Louisiana Travel and Tourism leadership award for business innovations,

His artistic credits include creating “art in the market place” programs for the Rouse Corporation in New Orleans, St. Louis, Boston, and Baltimore. In addition, he participated on the artistic team for five national public television documentaries, Treme- Untold Story, Emmy award winning Ethnic Notions, Stephen Foster, the internationally acclaimed Re-imaging Ireland, and the Emmy award winning Dance Black America.

For the past 40 years, Lenwood Sloan has provided inspiration, leadership and technical assistance both in the public and private sector. On October 7, 2013, Mr. Sloan received the Distinguished Service Humanitarian award from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for his outstanding work in community organizing. He is currently an International Consultant collaborating with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels and the multi nation “Liberation Route” on a new international WWII heritage trail. He is creative consultant for the Cameron Museum of Wilmington, N. C. USCT project, collaborator on the innovative “Two Roads “ series for the Irish Cultural Center of New York, Throughout 2011 Sloan served as Pennsylvania’s film commissioner and was certified by the Association of Film commissioners international (AFCI). In that capacity, he directed the 60 million dollar film tax credit office. From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Sloan served as director of Pennsylvania’s Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program His portfolio included the Pa festival initiative, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 13 state geo- tourism initiative, the artisans’ craft trails , the PA Civil War trails Lenwood Sloan has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting and Commissioning program , Deputy Director of Services to the field for the California Arts Council , Director of New Orleans Arts and Tourism partnership . He is recipient of the Louisiana Travel and Tourism leadership award for business innovations, His artistic credits include creating “art in the market place” programs for the Rouse Corporation in New Orleans, St. Louis, Boston, and Baltimore. In addition, he participated on the artistic team for five national public television documentaries, Treme- Untold Story, Emmy award winning Ethnic Notions, Stephen Foster, the internationally acclaimed Re-imaging Ireland, and the Emmy award winning Dance Black America.

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

Further Adventures of L. O. Sloan

In this milestone 100th episode, Bill Cleveland engages in a deep, reflective, and often humorous conversation with his longtime friend and legendary activist, actor, dancer, playwright, impresario, and historian, Lenwood Sloan. The discussion spans many topics, including Sloan's incredible career in the arts, his reflections on social change, and the societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode also touches on the roles of art and artists in activism and democracy, shining a spotlight on historical figures like Lydia Hamilton Smith and their untold contributions. The conversation serves as both a celebration of Sloan's legacy and a poignant commentary on current social issues.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:33 A Rambling Conversation with Lenwood Sloan

03:16 Reflections on Pain and Perseverance

06:07 The Impact of COVID on Social Interactions

08:06 The Power of Decision Making and Imagination

18:43 Lydia Hamilton Smith: An Unsung Hero

27:27 The Role of Art in Social Change

31:52 Call to Action for Citizen Artists

For the past 40 years, Lenwood Sloan has provided inspiration, leadership and technical assistance both in the public and private sector.

On October 7, 2013, Mr. Sloan received the Distinguished Service Humanitarian award from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for his outstanding work in community organizing.

He is currently an International Consultant collaborating with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels and the multi nation “Liberation Route” on a new international WWII heritage trail. He is creative consultant for the Cameron Museum of Wilmington, N. C. USCT project, collaborator on the innovative “Two Roads “ series for the Irish Cultural Center of New York,

Throughout 2011 Sloan served as Pennsylvania’s film commissioner and was certified by the Association of Film commissioners international (AFCI). In that capacity, he directed the 60 million dollar film tax credit office.

From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Sloan served as director of Pennsylvania’s Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program His portfolio included the Pa festival initiative, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 13 state geo- tourism initiative, the artisans’ craft trails , the PA Civil War trails

Lenwood Sloan has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting and Commissioning program , Deputy Director of Services to the field for the California Arts Council , Director of New Orleans Arts and Tourism partnership . He is recipient of the Louisiana Travel and Tourism leadership award for business innovations,

His artistic credits include creating “art in the market place” programs for the Rouse Corporation in New Orleans, St. Louis, Boston, and Baltimore. In addition, he participated on the artistic team for five national public television documentaries, Treme- Untold Story, Emmy award winning Ethnic Notions, Stephen Foster, the internationally acclaimed Re-imaging Ireland, and the Emmy award winning Dance Black America.

For the past 40 years, Lenwood Sloan has provided inspiration, leadership and technical assistance both in the public and private sector. On October 7, 2013, Mr. Sloan received the Distinguished Service Humanitarian award from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for his outstanding work in community organizing. He is currently an International Consultant collaborating with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels and the multi nation “Liberation Route” on a new international WWII heritage trail. He is creative consultant for the Cameron Museum of Wilmington, N. C. USCT project, collaborator on the innovative “Two Roads “ series for the Irish Cultural Center of New York, Throughout 2011 Sloan served as Pennsylvania’s film commissioner and was certified by the Association of Film commissioners international (AFCI). In that capacity, he directed the 60 million dollar film tax credit office. From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Sloan served as director of Pennsylvania’s Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program His portfolio included the Pa festival initiative, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 13 state geo- tourism initiative, the artisans’ craft trails , the PA Civil War trails Lenwood Sloan has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting and Commissioning program , Deputy Director of Services to the field for the California Arts Council , Director of New Orleans Arts and Tourism partnership . He is recipient of the Louisiana Travel and Tourism leadership award for business innovations, His artistic credits include creating “art in the market place” programs for the Rouse Corporation in New Orleans, St. Louis, Boston, and Baltimore. In addition, he participated on the artistic team for five national public television documentaries, Treme- Untold Story, Emmy award winning Ethnic Notions, Stephen Foster, the internationally acclaimed Re-imaging Ireland, and the Emmy award winning Dance Black America.

Robert Joffrey

 Alvin Ailey

Ruth Asawa,

Animating Democracy

Lydia Hamilton Smith

Thaddeus Stevens

Reconstruction Amendments.

19th Amendment

Birth of a Nation

culture wars

Mapplethorpe (Robert)

Ron Athey.

Andre Serrano

corn for porn.”

Gettysburg Address

Kim Chan

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

In this episode we continue our conversation with Barbara Schaffer Bacon and Pam Korza, co-directors of Animating Democracy. The discussion centers on the role of arts in fostering civic dialogue and community engagement, particularly around challenging social issues. We explore several case studies of arts-based community projects, including:

1.    The restoration of a King Kamehameha statue in Hawaii, which became a catalyst for broader community dialogue.

2.    The Shipyard Project in Portsmouth, New Hampshire by Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.

3.    A community dialogue project in Lima, Ohio by Sojourn Theater.

4.    Controversial exhibits at the Henry Gallery, Jewish Museum, and Andy Warhol Museum dealing with genomics, the Holocaust, and the terrible legacy of lynching.

The conversation highlights how these projects built trust, facilitated difficult conversations, and led to long-term community impacts. We also discuss the evolution of this field over the past decades, current trends, and future prospects for arts-based civic engagement.

Key moments:

1.    Discussion of the King Kamehameha statue restoration (00:02:14)

2.    Reflection on the Portsmouth shipyard project (00:18:27)

3.    Explanation of the framework for assessing project outcomes (00:24:46)

4.    Description of controversial museum exhibits (00:32:40)

5.    Exploration of current trends and changes in the field (00:42:51)

Pam Korza co-directs Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts that inspires, informs, promotes, and connects arts and culture as potent contributors to community, civic, and social change. She is a co-author and editor of Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change. She co-wrote Civic Dialogue, Arts & Culture, and the Arts & Civic Engagement Tool Kit and co-edited Critical Perspectives: Writings on Art & Civic Dialogue, as well as the five-book Case Studies from Animating Democracy. Pam is co-chair of the Assessing Practices in Public Scholarship research group for Imagining America (IA), a consortium of colleges and universities that advances public scholarship in the humanities, arts, and design and was a two-term member of IA’s National Advisory Board. She began her career with the Arts Extension Service (AES)/UMass where she coordinated the National Public Art Policy Project and co-wrote and edited Going Public: A field guide to developments in art in public places. She also directed the New England Film & Video Festival.

Barbara Schaffer Bacon’s career launched in 1977 at the UMASS Arts Extension Service, a national leader in professional education for local arts managers, artists and civic leaders. Barbara served as director from 1984-90. She led Fundamentals and Advanced Local Arts Management seminars and contributed to the Fundamentals of Local Arts Management text book and The Cultural Planning Work Kit. In 1996 with Pam Korza, Barbara took a lead role to conduct research for and shape Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts. Animating Democracy shone an early and bright national light on arts and civic dialogue, built knowledge about quality practice, and created useful resources including Animating Democracy: The Artistic Imagination as a Force for Civic Dialogue; Civic Dialogue, Arts & Culture: Findings from Animating Democracy; Continuum Of Arts Impact: A Guide for Defining Social & Civic Outcomes & Indicators; Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change; and Trend or Tipping Point: Arts & Social Change Grantmaking. In 2022 Barbara stepped back from Animating Democracy leadership. She currently serves as a program consultant for the Barr Foundation Creative Commonwealth Initiative. Barbara recently completed more than 10 years of service as a member of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. A Belchertown, MA resident, she served on the Belchertown School Committee for 14 years. In 2018, Barbara received the Robert E. Gard Foundation Leadership Award. Key words:

1.    Animating Democracy

2.    Civic dialogue

3.    Community engagement

4.    Arts-based initiatives

5.    Trust-building

6.    Cultural traditions

7.    Provocation

8.    Cross-sector work

9.    Creative placemaking

10. Cultural activism

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

Can the Arts Save Democracy? This episode explores how creative practices can reinvigorate American democracy by bridging societal divides. Featuring insights from Pam Korza and Barbara Schaefer Bacon, we delve into how Animating Democracy has supported arts-based civic dialogue and collective action in communities across the country. We highlight impactful projects such as Traces of the Trade, it underscores the transformative potential of engaging critical and often divisive community issues through the arts. This is a call to action for using creativity to address and heal deep-seated social issues.

00:00 Introduction: American Democracy

01:16 The Role of Art in Democracy

03:24 Animating Democracy: An Arts Organization

04:12 Exploring Belchertown and Personal Histories

09:22 The Power of Community-Based Arts

17:53 Iconic Projects: AIDS Memorial Quilt and Vagina Monologues

22:08 The Laramie Project and Scaling Up

25:20 Animating Democracy: Practical Implementation

38:33 Traces of the Trade: A Risky but Impactful Project

49:09 Conclusion and Call to Action

Pam Korza co-directs Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts that inspires, informs, promotes, and connects arts and culture as potent contributors to community, civic, and social change. She is a co-author and editor of Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change. She co-wrote Civic Dialogue, Arts & Culture, and the Arts & Civic Engagement Tool Kit and co-edited Critical Perspectives: Writings on Art & Civic Dialogue, as well as the five-book Case Studies from Animating Democracy. Pam is co-chair of the Assessing Practices in Public Scholarship research group for Imagining America (IA), a consortium of colleges and universities that advances public scholarship in the humanities, arts, and design and was a two-term member of IA’s National Advisory Board. She began her career with the Arts Extension Service (AES)/UMass where she coordinated the National Public Art Policy Project and co-wrote and edited Going Public: A field guide to developments in art in public places. She also directed the New England Film & Video Festival.

Barbara Schaffer Bacon’s career launched in 1977 at the UMASS Arts Extension Service, a national leader in professional education for local arts managers, artists and civic leaders. Barbara served as director from 1984-90. She led Fundamentals and Advanced Local Arts Management seminars and contributed to the Fundamentals of Local Arts Management text book and The Cultural Planning Work Kit. In 1996 with Pam Korza, Barbara took a lead role to conduct research for and shape Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts. Animating Democracy shone an early and bright national light on arts and civic dialogue, built knowledge about quality practice, and created useful resources including Animating Democracy: The Artistic Imagination as a Force for Civic Dialogue; Civic Dialogue, Arts & Culture: Findings from Animating Democracy; Continuum Of Arts Impact: A Guide for Defining Social & Civic Outcomes & Indicators; Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change; and Trend or Tipping Point: Arts & Social Change Grantmaking. In 2022 Barbara stepped back from Animating Democracy leadership. She currently serves as a program consultant for the Barr Foundation Creative Commonwealth Initiative. Barbara recently completed more than 10 years of service as a member of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. A Belchertown, MA resident, she served on the Belchertown School Committee for 14 years. In 2018, Barbara received the Robert E. Gard Foundation Leadership Award. 

• Animating Democracy
• Christine Vincent
• Anna Deavere Smith
• American Festivals Project
• AIDS Memorial Quilt,
• Vagina Monologues
• Congressman Jerry Studds
• Laramie Project
• Moises Kaufman
•  Higher Ground Project in Kentucky
• St. John's Passion.
• (Free Southern Theater) .
• CETA artists
• Judy Baca
• Traces of the Trade
• Sekou Sundiata
• King Kamehameha
• Change the Story Collection

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

"I think unless we embody sensibilities, we connect the head, the heart and the body. We don't have a complete range of experience and expression are limited in what we think, feel and see, and so I have integrated the body into everything I've done. Judith Marcuse

Judith Marcuse is one of Canada’s senior artist/producers with a career that spans over 40 years of professional work as a dancer, choreographer, director, producer, teacher, writer and lecturer in Canada and abroad. She has created over 100 original works for live performance by dance, theatre and opera companies; many projects for film and television; and has produced seven large-scale arts festivals. Her repertory contemporary dance company toured nationally and internationally for more than 15 years, while also creating innovative community and youth programs.

A pioneer in the field of arts for social change, her work is internationally-recognized. The youth-centred, issue-based ICE, FIRE and EARTH projects, each five years long, included workshops, live touring and film productions, and extensive community outreach work. In 2006, Judith Marcuse produced EARTH: The World Urban Festival during the U.N.’s World Urban Forum, hosting performances and exhibitions of socially-engaged artists from around the world and audiences of some 20,000 people.

Marcuse teaches and presents in university and other settings in Canada and abroad. She has received many honours, including Canada’s two major choreographic awards, the Chalmers and the Clifford E. Lee, and an honourary doctorate from Simon Fraser University.

Judith Marcuse Dancing Towards Change: Art, Activism, and Social Transformation

--------- EPISODE SUMMARY ---------

“My earliest memories of dancing are intertwined with feelings of freedom and expression.”, a sentiment echoed by our esteemed guest, Judith Marcuse. As a pioneer in fusing art with social activism, Judith takes us on a captivating journey through her life, illustrating how the union of head, heart, and body can drive societal transformation. This episode sweeps across the vibrant dance scene of 1960s London, where Judith began her creative quest, and ventures into her profound work engaging communities through collective creativity. Her rich narrative serves as a testament to the influential role physical expression plays in advocacy and change, inspiring listeners to consider how their own passions might fuel meaningful action.

Navigating the complexities of societal oppression and censorship, Judith opens up about her experiences touring globally and the innovative ways she's fostered dialogue and collaboration. She recounts captivating stories of running a dance company as a collective, highlighting the importance of safe spaces for conversation, especially when addressing life's most pressing challenges with the youth. This episode shares nsights into building partnerships that transcend cultural divides, using nonverbal communication to foster understanding, and the vital role of communal efforts in combating loneliness and igniting change.

Rounding out our discussion, the transformative power of art in global collaborations takes center stage. Judith's experiences in Pakistan and South Africa, among other places, reveal art's profound impact on community change and personal growth. She shares the inspirational encounters that have shaped her perspective, stressing the importance of humility, active listening, and embracing diversity. The episode culminates with a look at the Tar Sands Songbook project and the International Center of Art for Social Change, championing the powerful potential of creativity when harnessed for the greater good.

HIGHLIGHTS ---------

0:03:03 - Life's Work (95 Seconds)

0:09:56 - Artists Creating Change Through Collaboration (88 Seconds)

0:18:06 - Youth-Led Initiatives on Tough Topics (102 Seconds)

0:22:45 - Nonverbal Communication and Creative Survival Strategies (130 Seconds)

0:31:25 - NGOs and Artists Collaborate for ClimateJustice (124 Seconds)

0:35:22 - Tar Sands Songbook (80 Seconds)

0:39:12 - Master's Program (116 Seconds)

0:45:17 - Global Connections Changing Perspectives (67 Seconds)

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today’s social movements?

From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what they need to thrive as creative change agents. My name is Bill Cleveland.

If you’ve ever felt like your efforts for justice aren’t hitting deep enough, it might be because the culture hasn’t caught up with your message. In this episode, labor organizer and social change strategist Ken Grossinger shares how his journey from labor organizing to cultural advocacy revealed a truth many overlook: policy changes fade, but stories—and the art that tells them—have staying power. In this episode:

• Discover how blending power analysis with artistic expression can amplify grassroots campaigns and drive long-term social change.
• Hear powerful case studies—from a revolutionary museum exhibit in Louisville to a musical uprising in Alaska—that reveal how art can expose injustice and build movements.
• Learn from real-world collaborations between artists and organizers that shift narratives, challenge power, and activate communities in ways no policy paper ever could.

Tune in now to hear how Ken Grossinger’s book ART WORKS and his work in communities across the U.S. show us why art isn’t just a reflection of justice—it’s how we get there.

Ken Grossinger, has been a leading strategist in movements for social and economic justice for thirty-five years, in unions, philanthropic and community organizations.

For two decades, Ken was one of the labor movement's leading strategists. He represented workers in the Service Employees International Union and then directed legislative field operations for the AFL-CIO, running large-scale issue campaigns including against the privatization of Social Security and for health care reform, economic and civil rights. Grossinger is widely regarded as an expert in pioneering national field strategies for labor and community organizations and is well known for building long-enduring alliances between the two.

Formerly a community organizer, Grossinger co-launched the Human SERVE Fund, a national advocate organization that initiated and led the successful decade-long fight for passage of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as Motor Voter.

Grossinger is active on several boards including the University of the District of Columbia (Trustee), Hirshhorn Museum (Trustee), People’s Action Institute (Director), Skylight Pictures (Director), and the CrossCurrents Foundation, (Chair).

Among other cultural projects, he co-executive produced the award-winning Netflix documentaries Social Dilemma and Bleeding Edge and served as Executive Producer of Boycott and the forthcoming film Borderland.

Ken is the author of ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together, published by the New Press in July 2023. He lives part-time in Washington, DC., and Telluride, Colorado.

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

Born and raised in Mexico City Jose Antonio Aguirre has become internationally recognized for his venetian glass mosaic, and carved limestone murals many of which explore the people, places, and stories he has encountered as an artist who exists in two cultures bound by the Mexican and American bi-national spaces he has occupied for four decades.

The Journey of Jose Antonio Aguirre

In this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World' we explore the life and works of Jose Antonio Aguirre, a Mexican-American artist renowned for his public art in the forms of murals and mosaics. Born in Mexico City and eventually making his way to the United States, Aguirre's multifaceted career spans roles as a muralist, teacher, journalist, and cultural ambassador. His work, deeply influenced by his bi-national experience, celebrates cultural heritage and challenges viewers to consider social issues and their own identities. Notably, Aguirre collaborated with significant cultural and community institutions such as Self Help Graphics and Art in East Los Angeles and participated in the creation of the Cesar Chavez Memorial. His journey underscores the power of art in community building, heritage preservation, and social commentary, all while navigating the complexities of his adventurous life in the U.S.

00:00 Welcome to Change the Story, Change the World

00:12 Journey to Knowledge: The Power of Public Art

01:30 Jose Antonio Aguirre: A Life in Art and Cultural Diplomacy

04:10 The Chicano Art Movement and Self Help Graphics

08:39 A Serendipitous Journey from Music to Muralism

20:57 From Chicago to California: A New Chapter in Art

31:49 The Evolution and Impact of the Mural Movement

41:10 Closing Thoughts: The Role of Art in Society

As a visual artist, I am dedicated to nurturing the development and production of an ongoing body of art that utilizes a variety of traditional mediums, materials, and techniques in combination with an experimental approach to contemporary technology and social issues. I seek to explore the application of space within an installation, painting, print or public environment that invites the interaction of the viewer with the elements of the composition; the spectator is to be engaged as an active participant and not a passive observer. The nature of my art is dependent upon the exploration and exportation of images, icons, symbols, and signs that have been contained within the continuity of creative expression in Mexican art from 3000 years ago until today. The essence of my iconography is traced from my personal pre-Columbian roots and it’s mixing with religious symbols of Spanish colonization, and compounded by the contradictory reality of “modernism” in Mexico and the United States. The content is inspired by the duality of history and social experience; the color palette inspired by the richness of the folk artists hand and the local regions natural landscapes. Reflecting upon my place of origin (Mexico) and its impact on the recent history of my experience in the United States, I probe the aesthetics of an artist that exists in two cultures bound by bi-national implications. I create a visual imagery that provokes definitions and questions that attempt to integrate the tentative everyday experience of human nature and its social implications with the cultural diversity of living on the border of two worlds that exist in the time of expanding globalization.

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.

Can community theater help mend our broken and conflicted communities? In this episode Ash Hanson shares the story of what she and her many citizen collaborators have learned about how our place stories can help our communities not only heal but find new resilience and common ground.

Ash Hanson (she/her) has two decades of experience working with rural communities to activate stories, connect neighbors, and exercise collective imagination. She is the Creative Executive Officer (CEO) of Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) -- a nonprofit organizations that works at the intersection of creativity and civic life in rural communities. She is a member of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice Leadership Circle and she was an Artist-in-Residence in both the Planning Department at the City of Minneapolis and with the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, where she employed creative community engagement strategies for equitable participation in urban and rural planning and development processes. Previously, she was the Program Director for the Minnesota Theater Alliance—where she managed statewide regional networks and resource sharing—and the Program Director for Public Art Saint Paul—where she produced large-scale participatory public art events and projects, including the Saint Paul City Artist-in-Residence program. In addition to her work with DoPT, she is the founder of PlaceBase Productions, a theater company that creates original, site-specific musicals celebrating small-town life. She holds an MA in Applied Theater with a focus on Rural Community Development, and she was named an Obama Foundation Fellow and a Bush Fellow for her work with rural communities. She believes deeply in the power of play and exclamation points!

To learn more about Department of Public Transformation visit www.publictransformation.org

Department of Public Transformation: We are an artist-led nonprofit organization that works to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places. We believe in the power of rural creativity in activating solutions to address community challenges.

PlaceBase Productions: Some of America’s most inspiring stories are nestled in the communities of rural towns. PlaceBase Productions is using community theatre to bring these stories to life—and shift the narrative about what it means to live and work outside of big cities.

Ignite Rural: Ignite Rural is an “at-home” artist residency operated by the Department of Public Transformation focused on uplifting and supporting emerging rural artists that engage in social/civic work. To be considered for the Ignite Rural program, artists must reside in rural communities with a population of 20,000 or less within the colonial state borders of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that geography with priority given to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Native artists and culture bearers.

Partnership Art. In 2015, SWMHP was one of six organizations that received funding through Artplace Amercia to participate in the Community Development Investments (CDI) Program. The CDI Program was launched to investigate and support place-based organization incorporating art and culture into our core work, allowing us to better fulfill our mission of creative thriving place to live, grow and work. The three-year journey with Artplace allowed our organization the opportunity to learn, share our journey, develop strong relationships and projects with the art and cultural sector, and better serve the communities of Southwest Minnesota. 

Andrew Gaylord, Andrew Gaylord is a listener. If you ask him a question he’s more than likely to want to hear your answer than to give you his own. As one-half of PlaceBase productions he’s traveled across Minnesota collecting the stories of communities and spinning them into site-specific productions

Sonia Kuftinek: Professor Kuftinec teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Twin Cities theater, performance and social change, early modern theater and performance, critical literacy, storytelling, and drama. Her research includes community-based theater, conflict transformation, arts-based pedagogy, and the work of story to counter individual and historical amnesia. She has published widely in her areas of research including her award-winning "Staging America: Cornerstone and Community-Based Theater" and "Theatre, Facilitation and Nation Formation in the Balkans and Middle East" 

 Luverne Seifert: is Co-artistic director of Sod House Theater and has been acting professionally for over 30 years. He received a National Fox Fellowship for 2017, a Mcknight Fellowship for Theater Artists in 2003 and an Ivey Award in 2009 for his Performance as Phillip K Dick in 800 Words. He is currently a Senior Teaching Specialist in the Department of Theater Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota where he teaches beginning acting and physical performance. 

SuperBloom: In May 2022, the Cuyama Valley was the stage for a community play about Cuyama, by Cuyamans, for Cuyamans. On this page you’ll find information about the cast, crew, and artists that made it happen, photos from the performance, as well as full-length videos and audio performances.

En mayo de 2022, el valle de Cuyama fue el escenario de una obra de teatro comunitaria sobre Cuyama, por Cuyamans, para Cuyamans. En esta página encontrará información sobre el equipo y los artistas que lo hicieron posible, fotos de la actuación, así como videos completos y actuaciones de audio.

Blue Sky Center: We are building models for resilient, thriving, and inclusive rural economies in the Cuyama Valley. As a place-based organization, our creative team prioritizes projects and collaborations that celebrate the abundance of Cuyama.

Alex Barreto Hathaway earned his BA at the University of Minnesota under former Jeune Lune members and his thesis project exhibited Mask, Puppetry, and Street Theatre practices studied in Pernambuco, Brazil. Barreto Hathaway creates and performs with Twin Cities groups Open Eye, Exposed Brick, Red Bird, WLDRNSS (or Theatre Forever), Sod House, and Children’s Theatre, as well as touring summer performances in greater Minnesota. He is drawn to original work, mask and physical theatre, clown, stories that celebrate the Latinx experience, and productions that partner with local communities. 

Citizen University: Citizen University’s mission is to build a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country. We design gatherings, rituals, and workshops for people who are searching for new ways to strengthen civic culture in their hometown. In our programs, these civic catalysts explore ideas (like power + character = citizenship), pick up new tools, develop connections, and build a renewed sense of civic spirit. They’re sparking new ways of thinking about citizenship, deepening the resolve to take responsibility, and rekindling faith in our democracy and one another.

social prescribing: In social prescribing, local agencies such as local charities, social care and health services refer people to a social prescribing link worker. Social prescribing link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me?’ to coproduce a simple personalised care and support plan, and support people to take control of their health and wellbeing. Social prescribing links people to a wide range of community groups and services. This may include creative activities such as art, dance, and singing or other activities such as knitting, cooking or sports, for social support and to improve wellbeing.

 (Change the Story / Change the World Episode (# 88) – Arts on Prescriptions. Social Prescribing and the Arts.

Tasha Golden: Is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant; a career singer/songwriter; and a PhD health scientist. As an expert in arts and health, I leverage my background as both a performer and health scientist to help leaders and organizations think bigger and ignite change.

Jill Sonke PhD, is the research director in the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, the director of national research and impact for the One Nation/One Project initiative, and a codirector of the EpiArts Lab. She has written dozens of articles on the benefits of the arts and serves as a consulting editor for the Health Promotion Practice journal.

Arts On Prescription, A Field Guide for U.S. Communities: offers a roadmap for communities to develop programs that formally integrate arts, culture, and nature resources into local health and social care systems.

Michael McCarty in my prison workshops, they say. “Storytelling, you're going to show us how to tell the Three Little Pigs?” I say, “Every living person has at least one story they need to tell. And (telling) that story will help them in their relationship with the people around them, and the world, and more importantly, with themselves.

Michael McCarty: Mother always told me stories. I began telling stories formally when I was in high school in Chicago (St. Ignatius) in the 60’s, stories of Africa and the struggles of African-Americans for freedom. In 1992 I met Joel ben Izzy from Berkeley, CA who was introduced to me as a professional storyteller. “You mean to tell me that people pay you to tell stories!?” I asked. I picked his brain and vowed that I was going to become a professional teller too, and my motto would be “Have mouth. Will run it.” A week or so later I asked myself what would I do as a profession if I was independently wealthy. Tell stories, was my answer.

So I went to my local library and began collecting folk tales from different countries and reading books about storytelling. One day the Young Adult Librarian asked me why I was getting so many books of folk tales and asked if I was writing a paper. When I told him that I was a storyteller he said that he had a group of teenagers that wanted to learn storytelling. Could I give them a workshop? I said sure. The workshop was a success. Thus began my career. And I’ve been running my mouth around the country and around the world ever since.

In 1996 I initiated the GRIOT Workshop in Leimert Park in Los Angeles. This is a place where anyone can come and get assistance in developing their storytelling skills. From 2004 until 2008 I was the Pacific Region Representative for the National Storytelling Network (NSN) Board of Directories.

My life has been one heaven of a story: Student activist, Black Panther, US Army martial arts instructor, acupuncturist, world traveler, spiritual seeker, construction worker, storyteller, husband, father, crazy friend. Never a dull moment! I LOVE my life;-)

High John the Conqueror: John the Conqueror, also known as High John de Conqueror, John, Jack, and many other folk variants, is a folk hero from African-American folklore. He is associated with the roots of Ipomoea purga, the John the Conqueror root or John the Conqueroo, to which magical powers are ascribed in African-American folklore, especially among the Hoodoo tradition of folk magic.[

Have mouth will run it: Michael D. McCarty’s web site

Black Panther Party: Founded in 1966 in Oakland, California the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was the era’s most influential militant black power organization.  Its members confronted politicians challenged the police and protected black citizens from brutality. The party’s community service programs - called “survival programs” - provided food clothing and transportation. Rather than integrating American society members wanted to change it fundamentally. For them black power was a global revolution.

Fred Hampton: Fredrick "Chairman Fred" Allen Hampton Sr. (August 30, 1948 – December 4, 1969) was an American activist. He came to prominence in his late teens and very early 20s in Chicago as deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party and chair of the Illinois chapter. 

Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education: The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), founded as the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education, was a non-profit organization based in New York City. Its activities included an annual conference that drew ~2000 Jewish educators,[1][2] advocacy for Jewish educators, various education-related publications, and more. Its founding was the brainchild of Jerry Benjamin and Cherie Koller-Fox.[3]

Joel Ben Izzy: It was back in 1983 that I graduated from Stanford with a self-designed degree in English, Creative Writing and Storytelling, and set off to travel the world, gathering and telling stories. Since then I have told stories and taught storytelling in some 36 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Peninnah Schram: In 1970 Peninnah Schram started recording books for the blind at the Jewish Braille Institute. That experience inspired her to begin to teach Jewish storytelling as a separate subject, and in 1974 she taught her first course on Jewish storytelling. The year 1974 heralded several other groundbreaking projects: She became “storyteller-in-residence” at The Jewish Museum, and she recorded three record albums and broadcast two storytelling series on radio. Some of this recorded material is now in the National Jewish Archive of Broadcasting.  

Karen Golden: Karen is currently a teaching artist with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission (LAartsed.org) and the founding director of Creative Learning Place (creativelearningplace.com), an academic and arts center for home-schooled children. She is also an international touring artist with the Buenos Aires based company DreamOn Productions and she has brought her storytelling to 1000's of students in international schools in China, S. Korea, Hong Kong, and Peru. In 2020 she will be telling stories in Argentina and Columbia. 

Kathleen Zundel: ONCE UPON A TIME...there was a storyteller named Kathleen Zundell whotraveled far and wide telling stories of fearless kids, feisty women, family foibles, and four-footed creatures. Her repertoire celebrated many cultures,stories with American Sign Language, and tales of the earth. 

Pasadena storytellers (Community Storytellers): Community Storytellers is a storyswap group that was formed in 1981 by two special women named Peggy Prentice and Kathleen Zundell. Peggy and Kathleen are no longer with us but they left a wonderful format for bringing people together.

Leslie Perry : It was an article of faith with this great “Story Man,” the title of his first book. Note he didn’t just refer to himself as a “storyteller,” but as a “story man;” it defined his entire being—not just the act of telling, but the act of being itself. It was who he was, not just what he did. More than any one I know, he became the story when he told it—he was just the vessel for the tale. (from Folkworks, in Memoriam)

PF Sloan: P. F. Sloan, was an American singer and songwriter. During the mid-1960s, he wrote, performed, and produced many Billboard Top 20 hits for artists such as Barry McGuire, the Searchers, Jan and Dean, Herman's Hermits, Johnny Rivers, the Grass Roots, the Turtles, and the Mamas and the Papas.[2]

Arts in Corrections: Administered by the California Arts Council in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California's Arts in Corrections program is internationally recognized for its high-impact, innovative approach to addressing the state's critical public safety needs and rehabilitative priorities through the arts. 

LA Dream Shapers: Our mission is to connect quality performing artists with children’s and family shows to elementary schools, libraries, preschools, cities, community organizations and families.  Dream Shapers has provided over 150,000 professional and highly acclaimed performing arts programs over the past 35 years .  

NFL Live: A popular football focused sports talk show on ESPN

The Monkey, and the Crocodile: A Jtaka tale with the moral that a wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.

Jataka tale: The Jātaka (meaning "Birth Story," "related to a birth") are a voluminous body of literature native to the Indian subcontinent which mainly concern the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. Jataka stories were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. [1][2] According to Peter Skilling, this genre is "one of the oldest classes of Buddhist literature."[3] Some of these texts are also considered great works of literature in their own right.[4]

The Story Factor by Annette Simmons: Over one hundred stories drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables from around the world, illustrate how story can be used to persuade, motivate, and inspire in ways that cold facts, bullet points, and directives can’t. These stories, combined with practical storytelling techniques show anyone how to become a more effective communicator. From “who I am” to “I-know-what-you’re thinking,” Simmons identifies the six stories you need to know how to tell and demonstrates how they can be applied.

*******

Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.

Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.

Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you’re an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.