Ruth Hartt’s Post

AHP Senior Program Manager Luis Garcia co-authored a chapter in this innovative book titled "Using Art for Social Transformation." The chapter, "Future IDs at Alcatraz: Transforming Lives in Immediate and Necessary Ways," discusses a socially engaged art project, exhibition, and series of community programs that explored the intersectionality of and the distinctions between art and social work. Future IDs expressed the collective power of rescripting identity, artistic representation, and narrative during and after incarceration. The project softened conventional boundaries between artist, participant, and audience, allowing for mutual learning and identification to undo the social othering and cultural biases that often stigmatize individuals and communities. As a symbolic gesture, Future IDs at Alcatraz engaged the layered history of America’s most infamous prison to host critical, civic deliberations. Check out the book to discover ways to use art for social transformation in your community or program! #socialtransformation #art #artforchange #communityprograms #socialwork #futureids #prison #incarceration #reentry #criminaljustice #socialjustice #destigmatization #Alcatraz

The International Humans Rights Art Festival is now the International Human Rights Art Movement.   We are thrilled to provide you, our passionate and supportive community, with information on our history, progress, and our future.   History.  Founded five years ago at Dixon Place in NYC’s Lower East Side, we began as a single-week, annual festival. In this short time, our reach and our programming have exploded! Growth. We currently publish a literary magazine; Rapid Response and Hear the Voices book series; have international and youth fellows; have created an African Secretariat with three offices, and run other programming year-round.  We have collaborated with over 2,000 creators from more than 100 countries. We have given voice to performers, writers, videographers, artists and others as they struggle for human rights in their home countries. Our creators have risked their lives to tell their stories, working for women’s rights in Iran, human rights in China, social justice in Uganda and many other social justice challenges. Mission. All initiatives have been united at the heart and soul of justice through our signature values of celebrating diversity; engagement with all members of society; sincerity and vulnerability of presentation, and beauty as a fundamental creative value. We honor their work — and protect them as best we can — by showing that they are part of an international cohort of like-minded creators, activists and social leaders. Future. We will continue to expand our to to honor these creators and celebrate their social and political impact. This not only expands their voice, but the community to which they belong. And, most importantly, it provides them safety in their home countries through the international fellowship and transparency. We are more than a festival; we are an art-activist movement. https://lnkd.in/e2huv45x

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🗣️ Advocating for Youth Freedom of Expression! It's time to recognize and amplify the voices of young artists, activists, and change-makers, empowering them to express themselves freely and drive positive social change. Let's delve into stories that showcase the power of youth-led initiatives and call on governments to support youth freedom of expression ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e_Bne9gi 🇿🇼By providing platforms for young musicians and filmmakers to share their stories, Arts4Change is fostering a culture of openness and dialogue. However, arts initiatives often face resource constraints and censorship challenges. Accountability Lab Magamba Network 🇦🇱By adapting their workshop model and collaborating with local partners, Election-Watch.EU is empowering young Albanians to participate in the electoral process and advocate for democratic reforms.  🇺🇬 By simulating the electoral process and engaging students as candidates, speechwriters, and election observers, they're instilling a deeper understanding of democracy and governance.  These initiatives not only prepare students for their future roles as voters and leaders but also foster a culture of democratic values and principles. When young people feel empowered to express their views, engage in civic discussions, and advocate for change, they become active agents of democracy. By investing in youth empowerment and participation, we can ensure a brighter future for generations to come.  🌏💙 Be inspired, informed, and engaged 🤝 Join #YouthInAction https://lnkd.in/eTmt4XqS 

Many artistic practices in our Golden State of California are embedded in traditional cultures. Artists and culture bearers use traditional craft, music, and dance to foster healing and build community. Diverse neighborhoods across the state also benefit from ethnically-specific cultural organizations. In underserved areas where there is no access to art, culturally-specific organizations provide space for creative expression and healing to youth groups and immigrant communities. Cultural strategies such as placekeeping are driving social change, helping neighborhoods maintain their cultural character, and offsetting the effects of gentrification. Programs such as California Cultural Districts help preserve the diverse fabric of our state’s cultural diversity and promote cultural tourism. We need to fully fund programs like these to ensure our state does a good job of protecting cultural communities and diversity of expression. Join our #ACCM2024 campaign this April to prove that #ArtWorkisRealWork. Visit: bit.ly/engage-accm and help us spread the word about the need to invest in creative workers and creative solutions. #InvestCAArts #CAArtsAdvocacy #CAisCreative #SupportTheArts

Understanding and embracing our #differences is crucial for fostering #unity and #humility. It's vital that individuals are exposed to #diverse backgrounds from a #young age to lay a solid #foundation for diversity, #resilience, and the core #fundamentals of #humanity. This early exposure helps in building a #society that values and actively #promotes diversity. Therefore, it is #essential for us to ensure that our younger #generations grow up in diverse #communities, as this experience #empowers them and #strengthens the fabric of our society. Click the link below to read the full article. #UnityThroughDiversity #EmbraceDiverseFutures #ResilienceInDiversity #EmpathyBridges #DiverseMindsUnited #StrengthInDifferences #FutureOfUnity #CultivatingEmpathy #DiversityAsStrength #InclusiveFutures

The Just Cause of The Momentum Center for Social Engagement is to create a community where every person is fully visible, valued, and connected. Executive Director Barbara Lee VanHorssen provides a positive space for social and recreational activities related to mental health, wellbeing, and disability. Membership costs $1 per year and no diagnosis or referral is required. They fill the gap in the community of care between individual and clinical services. The most important thing about The Momentum Center is it works! Members are showing statistically significant decreases in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The Momentum Center is giving people hope, meaning, and purpose. They are literally saving lives. There are locations in both Grand Haven and Holland. If you haven't been to their location at 401 N 7th Street, I encourage you to check it out. It is a fabulous new space! To hear more about The Momentum Center for Social Engagement and many of the amazing resources available in our community, tune into their story on StoryCorps. If you want to read about the organizations, information can be found in my book, "The Power of Community Connectedness: Creating Lifelong Impact & Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities." Books can be found on Amazon using the link in the comments and The Bookman here in Grand Haven. There is no need to journey alone. There are people and organizations who want to walk alongside you. Reach out. It is my hope that other communities will start similar organizations. Any one of the book's contributors would be happy to share their model and answer questions. Community Connectedness is powerful! We are truly better together. #inclusion #connection #disability #community https://lnkd.in/gUQKqxDD

The @Emancip8 Project has started exploring "art and cultural initiatives that offer a valuable and transformative approach to peace-building in Southeast Asia’s war-affected regions. By engaging communities in dialogue, empowering marginalized voices, facilitating healing, and promoting social cohesion, these initiatives contribute to building sustainable peace Art-based peace-building initiatives also contribute to psychosocial healing in post-conflict societies." (Van der Brug & Verduin, 2012). 

The UK Culture Wars, are more than just in name… “Successive surveys have identified “significant inequalities” and discrimination in the sector – not only in terms of gender but also class, ethnicity, disability etc. The pandemic and cost of living crisis have deepened this imbalance. Arts and culture are in danger of becoming the preserve of white, public-school-educated men. Change must start at the top to ensure that our incredibly diverse culture is fully represented in our museums, galleries and theatres. The governing bodies of our leading arts institutions can no longer reflect a narrow elite within society. Inequality is also symptomatic of a much wider problem. Despite contributing more than £112bn to the economy, the sector is underfunded in comparison to France and Germany. Increasing public funding to the European average of 1% would more than double budgets.” #Culture #Diversity #UK