Facing Race: A National Conference in St. Louis, MO — November 20-22, 2024

Kalima Young

Project Coordinator | Maryland Institute College of Art
Ms. Young coordinates the Baltimore Art + Justice Project. She facilitates dialogue, data collection and mapping that enables Baltimore City to identify and strengthen its arts based social justice assets. Formerly with the ACLU of Maryland, Ms. Young also served as Project Director of Connect to Protect: Baltimore, a project that mapped communities to support partnerships and advocacy around HIV/AIDS.

Presentations from Facing Race 2012

Art & Agitation: On the Power of Cultural Strategy

Culture is the realm of ideas, images and stories; it is where people make sense of the world and where they find meaning and forge community. History shows that when the culture changes, politics follows. Culture can reach audiences beyond the bounds of what community organizing and policy-based organizing can do. While the media is laced with myths, stereotypes and misrepresentation of grassroots movements, cultural interventions can play a key role in pushing forward stories that help shift the public debate. A growing movement of artists around the country are using cultural tools to fight economic inequality, corporations, banks and anti-migrant hate. In this session, artist-activists, writers, cultural leaders and creative institutions will discuss models for connecting artists to movements for social change.

Speakers: Favianna Rodriguez, Julio Salgado, Jose Antonio Vargas, Kalima Young