During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss their approach to the fall and winter of harvesting and rest. Jeff shares his discussion with Natlie Elam and Bronwyn Mauldin about their new report “Agents of Change: Young Adult Advisory Councils at Arts and Culture Nonprofits.” The discussion covers diverse topics of intergenerationality, intentionality, and our commitments to evolution.
Read moreS3 Ep13: Facilitating Exchanges with Khairina Khalid
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Karla discuss their recent collaboration. Madeleine shares her interview with Khairina Khalid who talks about her intergenerational, international collaborations. They all discuss the role of mentorship and using our artistry to drive powerful collaborations around the world.
Read moreS3 Ep11: Granting Yourself Permissions with Jorge Lucero
In this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff talk about working within systems to change those systems. Jeff shares his interview with Dr. Jorge Lucero focused on his book and work about “Conceptual Art’s Permissions” which can be employed in arts education. Karla and Jeff break down the ideas and think about how they can use these permissions to move towards systems of abundance.
Read moreS3 Ep10: Reframing Philanthropy with Nikki Kirk
In this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Ashraf discuss their perspectives on navigating work and life. Ashraf shares his interview with Nikki Kirk, a cultural equity practitioner who focuses her work on reframing the role of philanthropy in the cultural sector. Karla and Ashraf break down the throughlines of Nikki’s work through the use of linguistics, community-driven funding, and ‘radical’ approaches to systems change.
Read moreS3 Ep6: It's About the People with Jasmin Cardenas
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss Karla’s conversation with Jasmin Cardenas, theatre director and activist from Workers Teatro. The dialogues focus on the reciprocal and multiple intersections of the arts and labor issues: how can labor improve in the arts and how can the arts contribute to systemic changes in labor?
Read moreS3 Ep4: Live from A Day of Purpose: Decolonizing Arts Education with Black Lives Matter at School
During this episode of Why Change? co-host Karla meets with Tamara Anderson who moderated an event recently—in partnership with the Teaching Artists Guild, Zinn Education Project, Black Lives Matter at School, and Creative Generation—titled, “A Day of Purpose: Decolonizing Arts Education with Black Lives Matter at School.” This event was a professional development opportunity for teaching artists that focuses on the ongoing activations and reflections from BLM at School’s Year of Purpose, which aims to uplift Black students and undo institutional racism.
Read moreS3 Ep3: Musicians to Change the World with José Angel Salazar Marin
During this episode of Why Change?, co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the change of seasons and Madeleine’s interview with José Angel Salazar Marin from El Sistema Greece. Madeleine and José discuss the role of a musician in educating youth and changing the world - and how to go about doing that! Karla and Jeff break down the dialogue into practical steps for all arts educators towards a more holistic future.
Read moreS3 Ep0: Season 3 Teaser
During this episode of Why Change? the co-hosts of the podcast - Ashraf Hasham, Rachael Jacobs, Madeleine McGirk, Jeff M. Poulin, and Karla Estela Rivera - re-introduce themselves and share their hopes and plans for Season 3. The co-hosts discuss their multi-hyphenated personal and professional identities, how they plan to use those in the coming season, and the ways we can bring more joy into our work.
Read moreS2 Ep26: Season 2 Finale
During this episode of Why Change? the co-hosts of the podcast - Ashraf Hasham, Rachael Jacobs, Madeleine McGirk, Jeff M. Poulin, and Karla Estela Rivera - reflect on their conversations throughout Season 2 and the myriad guests who made this season so rich and inspiring. The co-hosts revisit some of their favorite conversations, the questions that grew out of those discussions, and what they hope to bring into Season 3.
Read moreS2 Ep22: Democratizing Creative Dialogues with Marissa Reyes
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff welcome the Fall season and discuss Karla’s interview with Marissa Reyes. Marissa is the Chief Learning & Engagement Officer at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she oversees programs which democratize creative dialogues for learners of all kinds within the museum. They discuss the tangible strategies employed within art education, museum, and other settings to empower youth voice and important conversations.
Read moreS2 Ep18: Arriba el Telón with Alexis Truitt and Mitch Mattson
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Karla discuss professional updates amidst big changes in the field of theatre education. They discuss co-host Jeff’s interview with Alexis Truitt and Mitch Mattson from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education. Both the interview and discussion center on the movement of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the global field of theatre education.
Read moreS2 E15: Navigating Arts Education Ecosystems with Dr. Allison Roberts
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the change of seasons and the upcoming big changes in the field of arts education. Jeff shares his interview with Dr. Allison Roberts, CEO of the Arkansas Arts Academy, who reflects on her trajectory from arts teacher to education policy advisory to school leader and community builder. Karla and Jeff conclude by thinking deeply about the role of arts schools in communities, cultural ecosystems and as drivers of change in the lives of youth.
Read moreS2 E10: Disrupting the Traditional Notions of Museums with Nick Duarte
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss the role of museums as institutions for community belonging. Ashraf interviews Nick Duarte, a musician and senior manager of community engagement at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, who manages their youth and music programs. They discuss the unique positionality of museums in their communities and this museum's intentional shift towards service.
Read moreS2 E9: Politics of Care with Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Ashraf discuss municipal leadership through and for the arts. Karla interviews Rossana Rodrguez-Sanchez, an educator, artist, activist, and alderwoman of Chicago's 33rd ward. They discuss the role of artists at the decision-making table and the importance of the politics of care. Karla and Ashraf debrief by thinking big about municipal and local leadership by creatives.
Read moreS2 E8: Radical Thinking in Philanthropy with Lizette Garza
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss some exciting professional news for Karla in Chicago! Karla interviews Lizette Garza about her work disrupting the challenges of philanthropy to re-center on those most impacted. Karla and Jeff debrief by discussing strategies which are transferable across the sector.
Read moreS2 E0: Why Change? Season 2: A New Focus
In this preview of Season 2, the Why Change? Co-hosts - Karla, Ashraf, Rachael, Madeleine, and Jeff connect to discuss their plans for the coming season. Jeff shares a bit about the shift in focus of Why Change?’s second season to focus on the adult change-makers supporting the creative development of young people and how this fits into the suite of podcasts produced by Creative Generation.
S1 E39: Season 1 Wrap Up: Reflections, Responses, and Reimagination
Join us for the final episode of Why Change? ‘s first season as co-hosts Karla, Madeleine, Rachael, Ashraf, and Jeff reflect on the powerful conversations they’ve had with artists, educators, and activists over the season. The five co-hosts lift up important reminders their guests contributed during conversations and begin reimagining a future influenced by the personal narratives and the stories of critical responses to community needs shared during the podcast.
Read moreS1 E35: Live from the Arts Schools Network Conference: The Artists Place at the Table for Policy with Karla E. Rivera and Jeff M. Poulin
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff join you live from the 2021 Arts School Network Conference in Chicago to have a conversation about the role artists and arts schools can have as influencers and instigators in policy decisions that impact their communities. Outside of the broader conference themes around diversity, equity and inclusion, Karla and Jeff discuss actions taken to broaden the scope of schools to be laboratories for youth-led, civically-engaged experiences that create large-scale community change.
Read moreS1 E30: Artists Indicating Policy Change with Jonathan VanderBrug
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the return to school and how policy can impact arts education in public schools. Karla interviews Jonathan VanderBrug about their work enacting an “arts indicator” in the State of Illinois to measure student access to the arts in schools. Karla and Jeff debrief the conversation thinking about the role of artists in activism, the potential of U.S. federal education policies, and the unusual champions who enable them.
Read moreS1 E22: Social Transformation with Inès Sanguinetti
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the connections between interpersonal and community-based connections and wellbeing. In Spanish, Karla interviews Inès Sanguinetti, founder and artistic director of Fundación Crear Vale la Pena in Argentina; they discuss the concept of social transformation and how creativity and culture can lead to systems change. Karla and Jeff conclude with ideas about turning these concepts into everyday actions.
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