Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie

Get ready for a mind-blowing conversation as Courtney sits down with the dynamic Judith Insell, Executive Director of Bronx Arts Ensemble, in the first act of this two-part series. In this episode, it's all about stats, stats, and more stats—showcasing the eye-opening numbers around the lack of arts access for kids across New York City. Judith and Courtney, you’ll learn, believe that the arts should be advocated for in the same ways that subjects like history and social studies are, and they pose the question: Could and should people in positions of influence declare arts a core subject? Spoiler: the answer is YES! But their chat doesn’t stop there. They unpack how the arts uplift emotional well-being, acting as a crucial tool for human connection and mental health. Plus, Judith brings the heat with insights on how the arts are an economic powerhouse and an exciting, accessible, viable career pathway. This episode is filled with passion and advocacy for an art-filled future for young people, and you won’t want to miss a second of it!

In Act 1, we explored Betsaleel (Bets) Charmelus’s insights on transforming learning spaces, the importance of introducing novelty in education, and the critical role of trauma-informed practices. Bets challenged us to rethink how we prepare young people for a world that isn’t trauma-informed, emphasizing that the real impact comes when educators model resilience and adaptability. These foundational ideas set the stage for a deeper conversation in Act 2, where we shift focus from the classroom to Bets’s personal journey and the systemic challenges he’s faced.

In this episode, Bets shares his trajectory into his current role as CEO of ArtistYear, offering a candid reflection on the racism he has witnessed within the arts education field and in society at large. He discusses the difficulties of owning his hard-won position and title in a world that often seeks to either undervalue Black leaders. Bets also tackles the complexities of being a Black leader in a time when Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) work is gaining prominence yet facing pushback from those resistant to change. This conversation delves into the intersection of personal experience and broader societal issues, providing our listeners with a powerful perspective on leadership, identity, and the ongoing fight for equity.

In Act 1 of this two-episode arc, Courtney engages in a thought-provoking discussion with educator and facilitator Betsaleel (Bets) Charmelus. In their discussion, Bets emphasizes why it’s essential for educators and facilitators to radically change traditional learning spaces. By altering the energy in these environments, we can create room for creative thinking and innovation, ultimately empowering students to think outside the box. Bets also delves into the significance of introducing novelty in a measured, incremental way during facilitation. He highlights how these small shifts can have a profound impact on student engagement and learning outcomes. The episode also explores the creation of spaces in which kids feel safe to take risks, fail, and learn from those failures—spaces that encourage exploration and experimentation as key components of the learning process.

A core theme of this episode is the concept of trauma-informed practices in education. Bets challenges the notion of preparing students for a world that isn’t trauma-informed by asking, "Why do we offer trauma-informed strategies if the world doesn’t operate that way?" He responds to his own questions with a compelling idea: the power lies in modeling these practices in facilitation. By openly making mistakes, naming them, and celebrating small and big successes, educators can demonstrate resilience and adaptability. Bets asserts that when we model this work, we don’t just prepare students for the real world—we begin to change it. This episode is a deep dive into how we can equip young people with the tools they need to navigate a non-trauma-informed world and become agents of change in their own right.

Welcome back to the second part of our special episode​, the first of which was recorded live at the Face to Face 2024 Conference in New York City. In our last episode, we ​featured an insightful discussion with James Miles, also known as Fresh Professor, about the transformative power of hip-hop in education. James shared his mission to reshape the perception and treatment of children in the U.S. education system, highlighting the importance of teaching methods that resonate with how kids learn and the crucial role of collaboration.

​I​n Act 2, Courtney continues her engaging conversation with James Miles, delving into audience comments and questions from the live session. Together, they explore topics such as the challenges of standardized testing,​ the importance of parental involvement in education,​ and how hip-hop can bridge generational gaps and serve as a catalyst for human connection. Join us as we continue to unpack these vital ​t​opics and more, and their impact on education and community.

In this special episode, recorded live at the Face to Face 2024 Conference in New York City, Courtney J. Boddie has a panel discussion with James Miles, also known as Fresh Professor. With a rich background as an artist and educator, James brings over two decades of experience from New York City to Seattle, where he now serves as an Assistant Professor at Seattle University and Creative Economy Manager at the Seattle Office of Economic Development.

In this discussion, centered on the transformative power of hip-hop in education, James reflects on his mission to change how children, particularly those who resemble him, are perceived and treated in the U.S. education system. James also notes how hip-hop culture can bridge the gap between students and curricular content, offering a relatable and engaging learning experience. James highlights the importance of teaching methods that align with how kids actually learn, being a positive influence in all educational spaces, and the crucial role of collaboration. Additionally, he pays tribute to his colleagues at the New Victory Theater in New York City, whose guidance helped shape his inclusive and inspiring approach to education.

Our newest episode, Episode 69: "Building Intentional Queer Spaces,” features Adam Odsess-Rubin, whose many roles include Founding Artistic Director of National Queer Theater (NQT). In their conversation, Adam offers a glimpse into NQT’s programs, including DREAMing Out Loud; Write it Out!; and Staging Pride Queer Youth Theater, a program that offers free acting classes for Queer and Trans youth that culminates in devising original works. At the heart of these programs, Adam notes, is Queer activism through community-engaged arts programming. The heart of this thoughtful conversation shines when Adam states, “I’m looking for community,” he says and continues by reflecting, “I’m that queer artist that needed a home.” Their conversation continues as they discuss: creating supportive spaces for Queer youth to be creative and build community; how, within current systems, administrative practices can’t always act in concert with the support systems created for meaningful community engagement; and the friction that comes with the balance of programming and finding moments for rest and grace.

Our newest episode, Episode 69: "Building Intentional Queer Spaces,” features Adam Odsess-Rubin, whose many roles include Founding Artistic Director of National Queer Theater (NQT). In their conversation, Adam offers a glimpse into NQT’s programs, including DREAMing Out Loud; Write it Out!; and Staging Pride Queer Youth Theater, a program that offers free acting classes for Queer and Trans youth that culminates in devising original works. At the heart of these programs, Adam notes, is Queer activism through community-engaged arts programming. The heart of this thoughtful conversation shines when Adam states, “I’m looking for community,” he says and continues by reflecting, “I’m that queer artist that needed a home.” Their conversation continues as they discuss: creating supportive spaces for Queer youth to be creative and build community; how, within current systems, administrative practices can’t always act in concert with the support systems created for meaningful community engagement; and the friction that comes with the balance of programming and finding moments for rest and grace.

In Act 2 of Episode 68: “Pockets of Light,” Courtney continues her conversation with multidisciplinary artist Jerron Herman. What sticks from Act 1 of this episode are the internal themes of personal and professional growth, and disability justice through disability artistry. What’s new and exciting about Act 2 is Courtney and Jerron’s deep discussions centered on art-making by and about disabled communities through a disability justice lens; Jerron’s invitation to identify one’s authentic curiosity about this work and considering ways one might enter deep conversations that explore disability justice; what solidarity means in the context of building bridges from one community to the next; and we have been indoctrinated to believe that capitalism (an oppressive presence in our lives) is the only way to exist and how, together, we can move toward a more liberated society, deeper thinking and move beautiful art-making.

Our newest episode, Episode 68: "Pockets of Light,” features multidisciplinary artist Jerron Herman. In their conversation, Courtney and her guest discuss their time together at New Victory, when Jerron was just starting out in the arts world. The episode continues by exploring Jerron’s position at the intersection(s) at which his artistry currently lives and continues to evolve. This leads Courtney and Jerron to discuss personal and professional growth and their respective trajectories into their current positions/careers—for Jerron, this is an emphasis on disability justice through disability artistry.

In Act 2 of Episode 67: “The Power of Queer Joy!,” Courtney continues her conversation with guest Lindz Amer. Their chat pivots in tone and substance from Act 1, which was focused on what it means to be a child that is free to explore and to keep that inner child alive as an adult. Act 2 focuses in on Lindz’s work as a content creator and the myriad differences between creating and distributing online content, and creating their longform, non-fiction book, “Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies.” One (of many) interesting parts of this conversation is centered around Lindz’s journey away from and back to programming for young audiences, and realizing the importance of feeling and expressing Queer joy in spaces and through content that have not traditionally held space for that joy or narrative.