Janelle Matias
Janelle Matias (she/they/ella) is a Dominican-American educator, organizer, and abolitionist from Harlem, NYC. Deeply committed to ending carceral violence and expansion, Janelle envisions community care, safety, and well-being in schools and neighborhoods without prisons and policing. She has spent years empowering marginalized young people through political education, critical civic engagement, and leadership development. This past spring, Janelle earned a B.A. in Educational Policy from Barnard College.
Presentations from Facing Race 2024
Kaleidoscope of Identity: From Unseen to Seen Through Art
A kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors reflecting colored glass pieces, with the angle of the mirrors shaping what we see. Drawing inspiration from Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu, who transforms images from magazines that fail to represent her culture into powerful art that creates presence from absence, this workshop invites you to create a collage that addresses and challenges your own sense of invisibility. Together, we’ll explore how to assert visibility, take control of your place in media narratives, and dismantle imposed hierarchies to make room for your authentic story. Join us in this creative journey to discover how you can commit to being seen and redefine the space you occupy in the world.
Speakers: Ashley Hernandez, Janelle Matias