This is not an essay about bridging in relation to my work; but rather an approach to connection in relation to my identity.
This writing is part of my processing of the past several years and a reflection of my own identity, grounded by an intersubjective lens into other people’s perceptions of me. I do not tell many people this story, because I have come to expect that my words will be misunderstood and that I will only be blamed for mistakes I made. Writing it on my terms has required my active participation in the cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning where I have been and, reframing what I mistook for mistakes in the past as choices I made with the tools I had available to me. This is my way of sharing what bridging is from my perspective as a Chinese-Jewish Queer Disabled woman living, and not truly fitting in, in the Western world.
Read moreWhen arts integration (especially through this expanded view) is implemented by educators, artists, and institutions, extensive evidence shows - particularly in the scholarly fields of social justice youth development that youth have a deeper understanding of self, their community, and the world within which they live.
Read moreAs a part of our 2022 Campaign: Building Creative Futures, we’ll be seeking blog posts from you about a new topic each quarter. Our first topic was “navigating.” Up next is “bridging” here’s the prompt:
What connections can we make between our selves & others' selves; our work & others' work; and our field's work & other fields' work?
Read moreThis article explores the meaning of perspective in making the case for the arts and arts education. It underscores the importance of advocacy that sees the larger system while working within a local context. Three perspectives are described which are most often represented in arts, culture, and arts education advocacy: “practitioner advocate,” “field-builder advocate,” and “policy advocate.” Each group has its constituents, ranging from teachers to corporate citizens to national advocacy coalitions. Effective advocacy is accomplished by understanding first where you are, then embracing perspectives beyond your own. Using the metaphor of being in the balcony or on the dance floor to describe the vantage points of different perspectives, the article makes the point that it is time for casemakers and systems-changers to combine their perspectives to drive the changes they wish to see in the creative education of our youth. The article concludes with four recommended strategies and guiding questions for connecting multiple points of view, enabling everyone’s ability to see the bigger picture while acting locally: Enhance your perspective; own your expertise; embrace learning; and commit to action.
Read moreAs the individual is the heart of advocacy, advocacy is always personal. It starts with us, with our unique inherent beliefs and biases. How we translate these beliefs and biases can be tactical, so we must understand how to personally engage with them, such as: What stories am I telling? How can I use social media? Which words do I use? What relationships am I forming?
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