During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff discuss artists in politics. Rachael shares about her experience running for elected office and her conversation with artist and environmental activist, Jess Harwood. They discuss using art to convey complex messages and empowering youth, like the School Strikers, to take social and civic actions.
Read moreS2 E5: Listening & Getting Out of the Way: Reflections from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference
During this episode of Why Change? Jeff chats with members of the Creative Generation Collective - Vida, André, and Val - about their reflections from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national conference held from May 2-6, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. They discuss the role of the arts in positive youth development, the elements which affect an arts-based youth development program, and the stories of impact from young creatives and their adult allies. The group ends with bold calls to actions for youth-facing adult practitioners who work with young creatives: listen and get out of the way!
Read moreS2 E4: Imagining New Impossibilities with Francine Kleimann
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts, Madeleine and Jeff discuss imagination, creativity, and play. Madeleine shares her interview with Francine Kleimann, an interdisciplinary artist from Brazil who is leading the “School if the Impossible” project. Both the interview and co-host discussion make the case for a broader vision for arts and cultural education to be one of application towards imagination and visioning for new futures.
Read moreS2 E3: Live from the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference: The Futures of Music Education with André Solomon
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff join you live from the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference. They discuss the emerging themes from music educators across the state of Colorado, interview André Solomon about the futures of music education, and conclude with some bold calls to action about creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and progressive music education experience for students.
S2 E2: Shining a Light on the Nexus of Youth-Led Change and the Creative Economy with Terry Morgan
In this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff connect to discuss Ashraf’s conversation with legendary musician and artist, Terry Morgan. Terry’s incredible past as a musician created a unique chemistry of opportunity as one experience opened him to another, finally leading him to create Borealis, Festival of Lights, an innovative visual and digital art festival based in Seattle, Washington. Ashraf and Jeff discuss how Terry’s personal narrative highlights opportunities for young people to be not only exposed to the arts as an outlet for their creativity, but also a real way they can begin accomplishing change they want to make in their communities.
Read moreS2 E1: Throwing Out the Playbook: A Recap of the 2021 ABLE Conversation
In this episode of Why Change? Jeff introduces a new episode format - an event recap! Creative Generation’s Jordan Campbell shares insights gained at the 2021 ABLE Conversation: Anti-Ableism, Representation, and Accessibility in Arts Education. Hear from keynote speakers Rebecca Cokley and Gaelynn Lea, along with learnings from attendees, to experience this event, just like you were there!
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 E38: Arts Outside of the Box: Creativity and Community Collaboration with Miss Tee Sandifer
In this episode of Why Change? you’ll meet the inspiring entrepreneur, Tee Sandifer, and learn about how she grew her arts organization into a social change empire for youth, family and communities. Building upon knowledge of self and her community’s needs, Miss Tee’s studio has taken off in a phase of rapid growth since the pandemic hit in 2020, as she works to re-educate families and community leaders about the integral role the arts can play in everyday life. Co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff reflect on the work of Studio T and the social responsibility of young artists as public servants in their communities.
Read moreS1 E37: Art as an Amazing Crazy Tool for Change with Fidaa Ataya
In this episode of Why Change?, co-hosts Madeline and Jeff reflect on a dynamic conversation with storyteller Fidaa Ataya who shares her art as an “amazing, crazy tool for change.” Based in Palestine, Fidaa shares about the purpose and power of telling stories based on generational and cultural knowledge and how that can be applied to contemporary times as forms of peaceful protest. Together, Madeline and Jeff discuss the social responsibility artists have to use their art to draw attention to the causes they believe in.
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 E34: Building an Arts Education Ecosystem in Vietnam with Thanh Bui
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff reflect on the place of the arts in creating systemic and policy-based change. Jeff interviews Thanh Bui, live from the World Alliance for Arts Education’s Virtual World Summit, to discuss his work breaking down the barriers of access to arts learning and building an arts education ecosystem in Vietnam. Together, Madeleine and Jeff discuss the scalability and replicability of this work.
Read moreS1 E33: Creative Good Living with Dan Baron Cohen
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff share how they connected two years ago. Jeff interviews Dan Baron Cohen, live from the World Alliance for Arts Education’s Virtual World Summit, to discuss his work in theatre-based eco-pedagogy. Rachael and Jeff break down the interview through the lens of “creative justice.”
Read moreS1 E32: Exploring Creative Vitality with David Holland and Randy Engstrom
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff share their most recent adventures. Ashraf interviews David Holland and Randy Engstrom about a recent “Creative Vitality Summit” and interrogates the role of young creatives in the future of the creative economy. Jeff and Ashraf discuss the implications of this work, reclaiming the terminology, and the power in ceding power.
Read moreS1 E31: Co-creating Healthy Cities with Amanda Masterpaul and Mytoan Nguyen-Akbar
During this episode of Why Change? co-host Jeff M. Poulin introduces a new type of format for the podcast featuring interviews with two practitioners working towards a common goal: Amanda Masterpaul and Mytoan Nguyen-Akbar. Both Amanda and Mytoan focus pieces of their work on arts education projects with young people experiencing unstable housing. They share two perspectives, one as a teaching artist and one as a project evaluator, and encourage future dialogues about this type of work.
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 E29: Understanding People, Not Just Achieving Outcomes with Sudebi Thakurata
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff discuss transitions in their seasons and their work. Madeleine interviews Sudebi Thakurata, a creative facilitator and transdisciplinary designer, working in India, South-Asia and South-East Asia, Europe and the US. Madeleine and Jeff discuss how we can leverage our different areas of knowledge to use the arts as a way of understanding people, not just achieving outcomes.
Read moreS1 E28: Disrupting Systems (or F’ing Sh*t Up) with Quanice Floyd
During this episode of Why Change? Co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss the rollercoaster of return to school and introduce Ashraf’s interview with Quanice Floyd. Quanice is a former music teacher, arts manager, arts education advocate, and organizational leader who focuses her energy on achieving accountability, equity, and racial justice in the American cultural ecosystem. Ashraf and Jeff debrief the conversation thinking deeply about movement building and centering arts educators, cultural practitioners, and youth.
Read moreS1 E27: Avocado for the Soul with Damian Bazadona
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff connect about Jeff’s interview with Damian Bazadona, founder of The Situation Project in New York City. This nonprofit works to create artistic, educational, and career-aligned cultural experiences using unsold Broadway tickets and extended educational engagements with young people in the city. Rachael and Jeff discuss new views on metrics of success and how to best tell the stories of transformative arts education programs.
Read moreS1 E26: Africanizing the Arts Curriculum with Emily Achieng Akuno
During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff discuss their return to teaching and the need to think outside the box. Rachel interviews Emily Akuno, a music educator and university leader who is the current President of the International Society for Music Education, to discuss working together and Africanizing the arts curriculum. Rachael and Jeff conclude the episode with reflections on the power of convening, decolonizing, and being radical.
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