creativestrategiesforchange CSC 3, Events, Get Involved, Programs, What's New, Workshops

ACT Youth Institute is back this October!

Youth ages 13-18 are invited to join an in-person month long institute focused on arts & social justice. We will meet from 4:00pm-6:00pm MST on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from October 18th-November 19th. Here, youth get to connect, explore where we fit into current events and create music based upon our experiences and hopes for the future.

Youth who complete the institute will be paid a stipend and invited to perform or present at Community Cypher, our monthly open mic. Join us for this amazing opportunity to engage community!

Find more information about registration process here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-act-youth-institute-in-person-workshop-series-tickets-179016642597

For further information contact our Program Manager Fati Zulaikha at fati@creativestrategiesforchange.com!

creativestrategiesforchange CSC 3, Events, Get Involved, Programs, What's New, Workshops

CSC Fall Facilitator Workshop: Registration is open!

The Creative Strategies for Change Facilitator Workshop is taking place November 5-13, 2021!

Join us for this immersive workshop building relationships and community rooted in racial equity. Engage with incredible tools for understanding and navigating one’s life experience, and build skills to successfully communicate with others around challenging topics. This interactive and impactful experience will grow participants’ knowledge of self, identity, power, oppression, liberation, and the many factors that make up the context in which we live… and why that all matters. Folks walk away with new creative facilitation techniques, a fresh understanding of oneself within the larger world, knowledge of social justice and restorative practices, new language to use around tough topics, and the confidence to make a unique mark on the world! Our Facilitator Workshops occur quarterly and are registration-based.

“With this model, I am better able to serve my community and create opportunities and shape policies and procedures in my workplace and organization.”

“I’ve been in a lot of virtual webinars, classes and meetings and I have to say this was the most engaging, thoughtful and creative experience on Zoom yet!”

“All of the creative practices were meaningful and powerful from the beautiful rituals that were employed to the fun and energizing exercises and games we experienced. The sharing in circles were very meaningful and within this particular group I experienced a wonderful healing energy and beautiful expression of blended peoples voices and hearts.” 

“Something that has had a significant impact on me is being in a space with BIPOC folks in leadership positions and also being in a space where I am not the only or one of few BIPOC people. This has not happened many times in my life. Hearing what the BIPOC folks in this space have experienced makes me feel like what I have experienced as a WOC is real, valid, and relevant.”

To register, please go to our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/169768579391

Questions? Please contact CeCe at cece@creativestrategiesforchange.com

creativestrategiesforchange CSC 3, Events, Get Involved, Programs, What's New, Workshops

ACT is up next! 9/7-9/20

Youth ages 13-18 are invited to join a two week long institute focused on arts & social justice. We will meet online from 4:00pm-6:00pm MST Monday-Friday from September 7th-September 20th. Here, youth get to connect, explore where we fit into current events and create music based upon our experiences and hopes for the future.

Youth who complete the institute will be paid a stipend and invited to perform or present at Community Cypher, our monthly open mic. Join us for this amazing opportunity to engage community!

For more information contact our Program Team at csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com!

creativestrategiesforchange CSC 3, Events, Get Involved, Introduction, Professional Development, Programs, What's New, Workshops

Spring Virtual Workshop Series

CSC Spring Virtual Workshop Series 2020

REGISTER TODAY BY CLICKING ON THE EVENTS BELOW!

Come connect and exchange creative wellness strategies in celebration of Mental Health Month!

We will utilize music, freewriting and other tools to foster a space of rejuvenation. People participating will receive culturally responsive facilitation honing the opportunities available for centering self and others.

DONATION BASED. Facilitated by Bianca Mikahn.

Explore the arts as a tool for communication and change in this interactive zoom workshop

Social Imagination describes our human capacity to connect across our differences and not only build empathy and understanding, but take action for equity and justice.

Experiment with creative activities and facilitation tools in this trauma informed workshop for facilitators, educators, artists, social workers, and anyone navigating challenging conversations and topics in the current zoomisphere.

Bring your whole self, there will be room for movement and somatics, emotions, ideas, and questions. Come together and get creative as we navigate individual and collective wellness in this time of unprecedented uncertainty.

Facilitated by Bianca Mikahn and Rachael Sharp.

Sliding Scale Tuition, Scholarships May Be Available.

6/4: 4-6PM MST: RACIAL EQUITY FOUNDATIONS 

Dive into key concepts, terms, and tools for combatting racism and cultivating racial equity in this interactive zoom workshop.

Racial Equity Foundations is a primer introductory workshop that starts at square one. Defining race and relevant terms, understading how structural racism functions, addressing specific issues in the time of Covid-19, and engaging tools for equity. This is a great opportunity for facilitators, educators, artists, social workers, and anyone ready to begin the journey toward racial equity in your work and your community.

Facilitated by Bianca Mikahn and Rachael Sharp.

Sliding Scale Tuition, Scholarships May Be Available.

6/9: 4:30-6:30PM MST: CHECK YOUR HEAD: CREATIVE TOOLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Explore the arts as a tool for mental health in this interactive zoom workshop.

This interactive program creates a safe environment to identify mental health needs and explore issues such as identity, conflict navigation, and stress, through the use of creative art and self-expression. CYH incorporates artistic practices from journaling and lyric writing to painting and drawing.

Facilitated by Bianca Mikahn.

Sliding Scale Tuition, Scholarships May Be Available.

creativestrategiesforchange Events, Get Involved, What's New

12/10/2019 Colorado Gives Day | CSC Holiday Celebration

CSC Middle School Drum Class Performance

How beautiful to witness trees gracefully let go. As we watch them shed, awed by their bold bareness, we come to understand that even without leaves, a tree is still a tree. How comforting to share this truth, that we too can let go and still be. Here at CSC we’re embodying all this season has to offer, from profound wisdom, engaging and activating the poetry within through the hidden lessons turned metaphors, to the spirit of gratitude and giving.  Join us December 10th for #ColoradoGivesDay at Hapa Sushi to celebrate this beautiful season and our beloved team from 4-9PM, 20% of the proceeds will go directly to CSC community and youth programs. Please RSVP so the restaurant knows we are coming! Wether or not you can join us in person, you can schedule a donation today, or maybe #GivingTuesday, Dec. 3 is the right time for you, either way your donation supports CSC’s innovative arts and social justice programs, their sustainability, and our collective liberation! The great Maya Angelou said, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

Donations of any size make a difference, here are a few examples of where your dollars go: 

$15: Instrument Rental for 1 Student 

$25: Arts for Action Workshop Materials for 1 Student

$50: Community Event / Workshop Scholarship

$100: Youth Featured Artist Honorarium 

$300: Facilitator Workshop Scholarship

$500: Community Performance & Dialogue

$1,250: Youth Creative Leadership Residency

Check us out Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest news and events at CSC. Please keep us posted on your happenings – we are happy to spread the word.

creativestrategiesforchange Get Involved, What's New

Make an Impact: Movement Music Campaign

Be part of launching an innovative, accessible mobile studio for folks of all ages and identities to come together and make music for the social justice movement: Donate to the Movement Music Campaign

Our fundraising goal of $6500 will match a grant from Denver Arts and Venues to purchase equipment and pay producers, facilitators and musicians equitable rates for their time!

Project Components:
*Professional Producer and Equipment

*School Based Studio Time at CSC Partner Schools

*Monthly Intergenerational Open Studio in Denver’s Historic Five Points Neighborhood

*Accessible, Equitable Opportunity for Emerging Artists of All Genres, All Ages, All Identities

*Culturally Responsive & Wellness Centered

*Collaboration and Civic Engagement

Check out the video to hear from the Music Movement host and producer Bianca Mikhan about the companion project: Community Cypher Open Mic.

creativestrategiesforchange Get Involved, What's New

Gratitude & Generosity

IMG_1954“Gratitude is like breathing in – letting ourselves be touched by the goodness in others, and in our world. Generosity is like breathing out – sensing our mutual belonging and offering our care. When we are awake and whole, breathing in and out happens naturally.”  Tara Brach

Team CSC is grateful for another meaningful year of building with passionate, creative, intelligent individuals, organizations, and communities, and the many ways you show up!

Our diverse donors raised over $6000 on Colorado Gives Day. Thank you to everyone who pitched in! In the last days of 2018 we ask for your support in matching that amount and keeping our programs accessible in 2019.

Follow the links below and find out what your dollars can do!

Give Before 1/1/2019 & Receive Gifts of Gratitude:

*All sustaining donors & donations of $100 or more: original print from artist Moe Gram.

*Donations of $250 or more: original Moe Gram print & limited edition CSC T shirt!

*Photo: Jared Cheek repping the new CSC Tee*
creativestrategiesforchange Events, Get Involved, Professional Development, Programs, What's New, Workshops

Autumn Programs & Events

 

TO Tree10/2: THEATER FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

TUESDAYS | 10/2-11/27 | 6-8PM | 2900 Downing St. Suite 1B
Take a deep dive into creative tools for structural change in this 9 week Theatre of the Oppressed workshop series. Our collective devised work will be shared at a culminating community presentation on November 29. Applicable for individuals engaged with all types of institutions: schools, universities, businesses, organizations, families, communities, collectives…. no experience necessary, all are welcome! 
 
Tuition: $240 Sliding Scale, Scholarship, Work Exchange Options
 
The first workshop on October 2 will be donation based and open to the public, all are welcome!

Register today or get in touch to find out more! 


10/11: Restorative Practice Sessions

Thursday | October 11 | 6-8pm | 2900 Downing St. Suite 1B
Navigating conflict takes practice! These sessions are meant for us to come together in community and practice transforming conflict through restorative practices and circle facilitation. We also aim to build our collective capacity for community accountability. This work has roots in aboriginal and indigenous cultures around the world. It aims to transform relationships, increase safety, heal harm, and build capacity amongst communities. Communities practice in the ways that are specific to them, though the practices have common principles.

Open to the public, all are welcome!

Donation-based. No one will be turned away; any donations really make a difference in continuing restorative practice events and circles.  

10/25 & 11/29: Place Matters Community Cypher Fall Series

ARTS. DIALOGUE. ACTION | GUEST HOST: QUEENZ OF HIP HOP!CSC PLACE MATTERS FALL SERIES-2

These monthly sessions cultivate creative spaces for cultivating community across social divides. The intergenerational events incorporate a wide range of arts (music, spoken word, dance, healing arts, visual arts, etc.) with dialogue and action related to place, history, culture, and identity. The fall series will be co-facilitated by guest host: The Queenz of Hip Hop. Light refreshments are included. Sessions are donation based and open to all, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 
*Made possible in part with generous support from Moew Wolf Denver!
October 25: 6-8pm
November 29: 6-9pm
Light refreshments / Donation Based

11/1 Cervezas for Causes 

Thursday | 11/1  | 6-9pm
Cerveceria Colorado: 1635 Platte St. Denver, CO 80202
Cypher_CPR_2017Each week Cervecería Colorado partners with a non-profit to have a celebratory happy hour with proceeds benefiting that non-profit!

All funds raised from your drink purchases on 11/1 will directly support CSC’s innovative arts and social justice programs in Denver Public Schools. Your support contributes to equitable access to the arts for young people, and equitable pay for local artists!

11/19: Place Matters Performance Event

Blair Caldwell Library 6pm

This event will take place in coordination with the Undesign the Redline exhibit. The 2018 Social Imagination production Place Matters is place-based, happening in non-traditional venues and amplifying their relationship to the shifting landscape of community, culture, and access, both in Denver, and in a more universal sense. Place Matters is an interactive performance, locating the audience in the midst of the story, as an invitation to reckon with diverse perspectives and the roles we play. The cast will explore the complexity and nuance of redlining, gentrification, and displacement through one woman’s story of her family over 3 generations. 

creativestrategiesforchange Events, Uncategorized

September With CSC!

original

CSC is thrilled to be hosting more community events in our space at the Whittier Neighborhood Association Community Center. Please mark your calendars and join us on September 13th, and every second Thursday, for our Restorative Practice Sessions. These sessions are meant for us to come together in community and practice facilitation, transformative justice, community accountability, and restorative systems. Navigating conflict takes practice: this time is about doing so in community. These events are open to the public and donation-based. No one will be turned away; any donations collected go to funding future restorative practice events and circles.

Cypher_CPR_2017

Join us on September 27th for Community Cypher: Place Matters. Community Cypher includes intergenerational, interactive performances and dialogue around our relationships to the shifting landscape of community, culture, and access, both in Denver, and in a more universal sense. This is an invitation to reckon with the diverse perspectives and roles we play. The heart of the work centralizes our shared humanity and liberation. Free event, sponsored by Meow Wolf!

Creative Strategies for Change. 2900 Downing St. Suite 1B. Denver, CO. 80205