Armentality Movement Arts Center’s Post

In this substack article, my premise is that The Arts Explore All Of Our Emotions. I invite you to read!

"Chicago is a hub for creative incubation, and neighborhood-based small arts organizations are the spark for the city's artistic innovation, daring, and breadth of arts.." Interested in learning more about the Artistic Vitality program at the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation? Chicago's Artistic Vitality Program Director Ellen Placey Wadey and I recently sat down to discuss the program and why small arts organizations are so important. Check out the article!

Here's a phrase you could use: "As a member of the dance club, we recently organized an event called 'Whisper Through Dance,' where we expressed emotions and stories through the subtlety of movement." #snsinstitutions #designthinking #snsdesignthinkers

On this episode of Arts Engines, Aaron Dworkin spoke with Marvin Curtis, Board President of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, about the role of board members in advancing DE&I efforts. Curtis emphasized the need for authentic, community-centered approaches to change. Takeaways from Marvin: ▪️ Collaboration with Decision-Makers: Open dialogues with the Conductor and Executive Director ensure that DE&I efforts are deeply embedded, not just performative. ▪️ Action and Accountability: It's critical to establish benchmarks for progress, such as increasing board diversity and programming works by composers of color. ▪️ Community Focus: Initiatives like offering Spanish translations at concerts demonstrate how to prioritize inclusion and cultural relevance. Curtis urges us to "be BOLD" in the face of resistance, especially as conversations around justice face backlash. With opposition, the commitment to equity is crucial, as Curtis says, “At the end of the day, it's about being present and working for better futures in music.” #Arts #Culture #Music #Orchestras #BoardLeadership #Community #Justice #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion

Get a glimpse of the magic that awaits at our upcoming festival! Engage with the video, share with your friends, and let us know your favorite community featured! 🌟🎉 #FestivalPreview #CommunitySpotlight #SpreadTheExcitement Check out my blog post https://wix.to/fqrspKg #newblogpost

On this episode of Arts Engines, Aaron speaks to Tammy Yi, Music Education Professor at Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts, who work is a masterclass in blending education, cultural advocacy, and community engagement, all underpinned by a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the arts. At Chapman, Tammy isn't just educating future music teachers; she’s transforming the way they understand and interact with music. By founding the first Collegiate Mariachi Ensemble in Orange County, Tammy is empowering her Mexican-American students and introducing culturally responsive pedagogy. This initiative does more than teach music—it creates spaces of belonging and showcases the richness of diversity within educational settings. Tammy’s impact extends beyond the university. As a conductor for the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, she collaborates with leading figures in El Sistema-inspired programs, advocating for actionable social change. Her work highlights the importance of understanding cultural identity, not just in terms of race or ethnicity, but as a complex web of influences that shape our values and interactions. Tammy acknowledges the resistance she’s faced in her field, particularly against efforts to challenge and dismantle Eurocentric ideologies in music. Her approach is both introspective and educational—encouraging others to explore their own cultural identities and understand how they influence their work. She emphasizes the need for educators and artists to develop racial consciousness and be mindful of how their actions can either support or undermine DEI efforts. Tammy’s advice to those in the arts is clear: stay focused on the communities you serve, remain open to listening, and always strive to understand and address the impact of racial trauma. The work may be challenging, but it’s essential for creating an inclusive and equitable environment in the arts. “Use the arts to share our stories, to listen, and to co-create.” #Arts #Culture #Music #Education #DEI #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #PerformingArts #FirstGeneration #HigherEducation #ArtsEducation #Mariachi #ChapmanUniversity #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #YouthOrchestra #ElSistema #MusicEducation #SocialChange

On this episode of Arts Engines with Aaron Dworkin, he speaks to Eduardo Delgado, Public Programs Director of the New World Symphony, who shares how the symphony harnesses evolving technology to realize its artistic vision of fostering meaningful connections with the community. For Eduardo, community engagement isn't just about outreach—it's about building genuine connections in public settings. By collaborating with trusted community leaders, the symphony seeks to bridge the gap and cultivate authentic relationships with the communities they serve. As Eduardo notes, trust is earned, not assumed, and partnerships must be approached with humility and mutual respect. One shining example of the New World Symphony's commitment to accessibility is the "Wallcast" program. What began as a modest endeavor with concerts on TV screens has blossomed into full-screen projections on building walls, offering free concerts in the park—a testament to their dedication to breaking down barriers and bringing music to all. But innovation doesn't stop there. Recognizing the need for inclusivity and diversity in their audience, the symphony pioneered the "Mobile Wallcast" initiative. By taking the concert experience to communities, they're ensuring that music transcends physical boundaries and resonates with diverse audiences across Miami. At its core, this is more than just about music—it's about understanding and embracing the spaces where art breathes and evolves. Partnerships, Eduardo emphasizes, must be reciprocal, honoring the excellence that exists in every corner of our communities. Yet, we must tread with care and mindfulness. The New World Symphony, like any other organization, must be committed to entering communities where their presence is welcome, ensuring that projects and programs are co-created and mutually beneficial. Change takes time—but the rewards are worth it. #Arts #Culture #Music #Programming #Community #CommunityEngagement #AudienceEngagement #NewWorldSymphony #Miami #Florida #Technology #Artistry #Collaboration #Accessibility #Innovation #Trust #Change

I've been thinking about....the paradigm shift to #authentic learning experiences. Now, hear me out. I call out the #paradigmshift because providing authentic learning experiences for our young people is SO much more than mimicking real-world experiences. It's about building #relationships among the adults in a #school, #district, and #community that result in enlightened collaboration that INCLUDES how we can work together to create actual experiences for young people that impact the world around them. Left alone, teachers, at best, can create versions of real-life experiences. And, in some cases, teachers are pulling together what's needed to create these opportunities for our young people but..honestly...they shouldn't be left alone to shoulder the effort. If we empower teachers by providing the structures, processes, and incentives needed for deep collaboration across a community....well, just imagine what they can do? One simple example is shared here by Jayden Balbuena Valles - a new colleague I met via collaboration here on #linkedin. Jayden is a part of a film maker team in Santa Ana Unified School District who, as a result of the intentional collaboration of a lot of adults AND the determination of young people, is creating real-world products for real-world clients. Imagine the impact on #motivation when young people come to school to learn in this way. Imagine the impact on #chronicabsenteesism when THESE are the types of experiences awaiting our young people. Imagine how much more possible this type of design can be when every single one of us sees ourselves as a part of making it happen (aka this is NOT a "teachers should...." type of shift). Feeling brave? Share an idea below about how YOU (yeah, not "they" or "them") can become involved in making authentic learning happen in your community schools. There. I said it. #itatakesallofus #communitymatters Dawn S. Reese, CFRE Tim Hanner Jerry Almendarez Dr. Lorraine Mora Perez Eric Timmons Cory Strasser Andy Johnsen, Ed.D. Joseph Clevenger Ed Manansala Ed.D. Frank Miranda, Ed.D. Laurie Dent, Ph.D. Erin Jones Trevor Greene, Ed.D. Gloria Ciriza, Ed.D. Todd Lile Babatunde Ilori

It's an exciting line-up for this year's Sacrededge Festival. 30 plus artists and presenters including glorious music from Amos Roach, Kutcha Edwards, Kardajala Kirridarra, Kavisha Mazzella, ROOT ensemble band, and Neon Ngargee cultural dance class; poets and storytellers. Also keynote speakers and workshops from folks like Tyson Yunkaporta and Glenn Loughrey. Program and artist profiles and tickets link here: https://lnkd.in/gZsnZ4uR Here's the blurb for The Recollective's offering in Saturday's program: STORIES AS MEDICINE Who directs the narrative of our story? Who writes the ending? Who decides what is meaningful to take away from it? Colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy are just a few systems that direct the cultural narrative. We are exploring ways our own actions, choices and voice can inform and determine for ourselves how our next chapter unfolds. How may we understand stories as medicine – others’ and our own? This practical session invites you to explore the use of silence, creativity, storytelling and curiosity to develop tools for creative resiliency that can support healing and recovery for ourselves and others in responding to personal and collective trauma experiences. 

Chuzih, takes us through his journey as a struggling artiste from Bamenda, to a celebrated video director, in this new episode of Beta Torpoh! Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eFFU5P4d