Dancing Grounds’ Dance for Social Change: A Case Story

Dancing Grounds (DG) is a multigenerational arts organization that brings inclusive and accessible dance programs to New Orleans residents of all ages. With youth dance companies, summer camps, and the annual Dance for Social Change Festival, DG creates safe and celebratory spaces in which the lived experiences of youth are truly valued and their unique creative talents are recognized, developed, and celebrated. Since 2012, DG has become a driving force for arts and education in New Orleans and a hub for the local dance community, serving over 3,000 youth, 5,000 adults, and countless audience members. DG’s work is guided by a set of core values: equity, racial justice, integrity, relationships, learning, collaboration, abundance, and joy.



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SEEDS Border Youth Dialogue: A Case Story

Damaging narratives regarding the United States/Mexico border birthed SEEDS Border Youth Dialogue, a center for youth engagement, leadership, and local arts incubation in Nogales, Arizona. The center offers documentary arts mentoring with youth, artist- and scholar-in-residence programs, and co-working lab space for young leaders and entrepreneurs. It represents an innovative partnership between the Southwest Folklife Alliance, the University of Arizona, and individuals and organizations in Nogales.

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Cheyenne River Youth Project’s Waniyetu Wowapi Lakota Youth Arts and Culture Institute: A Case Story

The Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP) gives children and teens the opportunities and tools they need for a future in which they do more than survive—they thrive. We are planting seeds for that future every day, through programs dedicated to holistic wellness, job and life skills, and strengthening the connection our kids have to their Lakota culture. In the process, we are building our young people’s capacity to achieve and serve as both leaders and culture bearers for the Lakota Nation.



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1Hood Media’s Artivist Academy: A Case Story

1Hood Media (1Hood) is a collective of socially-conscious artists and activists who utilize art to raise awareness on issues within the Pittsburgh community. 1Hood seeks to establish a platform for artistic expression in efforts to further the economic and creative advancement of artists, as well the active engagement of diverse audiences. Never censoring youth in their programming, 1Hood provides a safe space for youth to learn, grow, and tell their own stories. The artist-activist collective aims to be the vehicle that will identify, develop, and inspire the artists & activists of today and tomorrow.



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Centering Creative Youth In Community Development: A Creative Placemaking Field Scan

As adults, we must support the creative work of youth, cede power where possible, and uplift their visions for the future. To do this, we must understand the immense and expansive impact of creative youth on communities. Through this research initiative, young creative people, their adult allies, and a team of researchers have reviewed literature, data sets, and case studies – comprised of interviews, narratives, and artistic works – to examine the challenges and opportunities that exist at the intersection of arts & culture, community development, and youth development.

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