S3 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. 

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S3 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.

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S3 Ep2: Sustaining Futures of Culture and Arts Education

During this episode of Why Change, Jeff provides reflection and background information on the global movement to advance arts education, including the recent World Summit of Arts Education hosted in Madeira, Portugal. Co-hosts Rachael and Madeleine join Jeff to reflect on their time together, in-person in Madeira Island, the big ideas they brought to the dialogue, and their visions for the future. Listeners are encouraged to participate in the efforts to aggregate ideas and visions for the future of the field for the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education. 

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S3 Ep1: It’s Not About You, It’s About Us with Astrid Jorgensen

During this episode of Why Change? Co-hosts Rachael Jacobs and Ashraf Hasham check in on their outlooks for 2023. Rachael interviews Astrid Jorgenson, the founder of Pub Choir, who focuses on community-based, collective music making. The discussions explore collaboration, inclusivity, new approaches to music-making.

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S3 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.

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S2 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.

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S2Ep45: Arts For the Community

Quakneesha is a Site Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma City and in this interview talks about how meaningful culminating experiences can be a way to elevate youth voices. Quakneesha's Club just launched a new arts program, where they are recruiting new youth and staff. During recruitment efforts, she places priority on engaging youth to understand their interests and passions as they relate to the arts.

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S2Ep46: Creating Sparks

Rachel has recently been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, where they offer a variety of arts programs, specifically Visual Arts. Her demonstrated leadership commitment is evident through her interview as she describes the importance of centering youth voice in programming to create artwork that can then be highlighted in culminating experiences.

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S2 Ep 25: Youth Power with Angelique Power

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss Ashraf’s journey learning from funders of color. Ashraf shares his most recent conversation with Angelique Power from the Skillman Foundation in Detroit and their discussion about shepherding youth power, the COVID-19 pandemic, and necessary changes in philanthropy. Jeff and Ashraf debrief and draw connections among many disruptive and powerful ideas.

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S2 Ep24: Bringing Our Whole Selves with Celeste Smith and Jonathan Cunningham

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff reflect on disrupting the field of community foundations through Ashraf’s interview with Celeste Smith, Senior Program Manager for Arts and Culture at The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Jonathan Cunningham, Senior Program Officer at Seattle Foundation. In this episode, you’ll hear conversations about systemic change in the way community foundations fund projects and smaller, BIPOC-led organizations, as well as how some foundations are funding beyond trauma and instead focusing on joy.

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S2 Ep23: Live from the 2022 Arts Schools Network Conference

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff are just back from the 2022 Arts Schools Network Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this episode, you’ll hear from a variety of arts education leaders and the impact their organizations and schools have on young people. Ashraf and Jeff discuss these ideas and other trends from the conference looking towards the future of arts learning.

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S2 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.

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S2Ep43: Right At Home

Laron is a current member and performer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elgin, and he discusses the impact of the arts that allowed him to build positive relationships with staff and peers. Laron has been with the Club for over six years, and he shares how honored he is to have ongoing opportunities to meet new people and bring joy to others.

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S2Ep42: Rebuilding Efforts

Kendall is the Naval Base Youth Director for her Club and discusses the importance of building positive relationships throughout programming. Kendall's Club offers Visual and Performing Arts programs. She shares that her Club’s current priority is staff and youth recruitment, as they rebuild programming and focus on bolstering artistic instruction at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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S2Ep41: Building Community and Making Connections

en is the Director of his Club and discusses the impact of staff building positive relationships with every young person who comes in the building. Ken’s Club is currently focused on launching a new multi-arts program. Through grant funding, they have been able to create a new arts studio and program offerings in Performing, Digital and Applied Arts, including a fashion design class.

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