How Do the Arts Build Communities?

I visited a class on arts and social change at Roosevelt University taught by visual artist, Maggie Leininger. I gave this presentation about my work for Peoples Housing, where I organized a community arts program that combined culture, training and micro-enterprise.

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"The Artist as Leader" at Links Hall

Join Tom and the folks from the Stockyard Institute for an interactive workshop at Links Hall on Monday, April 7- "The Artist As Leader - A Workshop for Community, Political, and Social Change Agents."

We'll show you why we think artists, cultural workers and creative professionals have what it takes to lead in the public sector. We'll combine presentation and group creative work.

Are You A Creativity Champion?

Does your work, politics or lifestyle cause to study, celebrate, defend, or accelerate creativity? Then you're a creativity champion - and we' love for you to:

(1) Join the LinkedIn "Creativity Champions" Group.

(2) Stop by the "Creativity Champions" blog and introduce yourself.

Tom to Offer Workshops at Columbia College Leadership Week

Tom will be creating and facilitating four workshops for the 2008 Leadership Week at Columbia College. Here's the run down:

“Building an Effective Student Organization (that lasts longer than the current academic year)”

This workshop will lay out the fundamentals for building an effective campus organization that will outlast your own participation. Think of it as establishing a new nonprofit organization. Most of the elements that make a nonprofit successful can be applied to your student organization. We’ll look at mission, recruiting, leadership, communication, recruitment, programming and sustainability.

“The Artist as Leader (Yes, You!)”

Did you ever think of yourself as a leader? Would you believe that the very same values and skills that brought you to Columbia College might make you an excellent leader in the public arena? This workshop will lay out the argument for creativity as a national value, as a basis for a new winning politics and – therefore – as the basis for a new definition of leadership.

“Creative Tools for Social Change”

Hip Hop and voter registration. Media hacking and globalization. Street theater and commercialization. Increasingly activists are turning to creative techniques to effect social change. The line between impactful social protest and creative work is becoming blurred. This workshop will introduce you to the work of a group of creative change agents called the Interventionists. Come and meet the Yes Men, Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping, the Billionaires for Bush and the Guerilla Girls!

“Basics of Community Organizing for Artists”

Did you notice the word “Change” plastered all over the place at Columbia? Did you know Chicago is one of the global capitals of community organizing? Community organizing is where citizens band together in the face of powerful opposition to create real change for themselves in their neighborhoods. This workshop will introduce you to the proud tradition of Chicago-style Direct Action Organizing and the work of Saul Alinsky and his successors. We’ll take a special look at how artists can participate in this powerful democratic civic work.