Arriving at the model of the Collective was not always apparent. Through our organic growth, the group – which we now refer to as a Collective – formed naturally, responsive to the needs of the work. As time passed, we continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of our own personal and professional circumstances, continuously building on the foundation set in 2019.
Read moreYOUTH LEADER SPOTLIGHT: Luke Chacko | Musician & LGBTQ+ Leader
The first time I heard this song, its catchy lyrics got stuck in my head for days and made me think: “What a true testament to what young people are experiencing right now in this intense and rapidly changing world: anxiety, pressure, worry, and yet they are finding ways to stand up and bloom.”
Luke Chacko (he/she/they) is a 16 year old musician from Arlington, Texas who went viral after Idina Menzel invited Luke and other young audience members on stage to sing "Let It Go" in July 2017. Luke’s sudden internet fame landed them an appearance on The Ellen Show in September 2017. This provided Luke with a platform to shine a light on the effects of bullying, which they had endured and ultimately overcome.
Read moreThe Power of the Individual in Advocacy
As 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?
Read moreTowards Being a Values-Forward Organization
Over the last few blog posts, we have described our process to determine and articulate our mission, vision, goals, and more. In the below post, I’d like to share more about the developmental trajectory of our organizational values.
Read moreNAVIGATING: How can we set ourselves up for success as we navigate turbulent times?
As the Director of ITAC I have the privilege of working with artists and changemakers from all over the world. We work together to find ways to connect them to peers in other countries, to develop the impact of their work, to amplify their voices and to showcase their exceptional (and often under-recognised) practice.
One of my closest and most valued colleagues/mentors is Eric Booth, who co-founded ITAC in 2012, and continues to play a leading role in our evolution. When I think of effective and long lasting change/impact/growth in the field of Teaching Artistry, I think of him.
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