Student podcasts featured at Diaspora Voiced

The talented students of our Tenderloin Center are taking the Bay Area art scene by storm! A collection of podcasts written and recorded by students who visited 826 Valencia on podcasting field trips is being featured in an exhibit called “Diaspora Voiced”, which began on September 9. We are so proud and excited to see our students’ voices amplified on such a powerful stage.

Diaspora Voiced is a Bay Area Juried Art Exhibit put on by Rhythmix Cultural Works and K Gallery that showcases the work of 19 diverse artists from around the Bay Area. It is a celebration of the diversity of personal and collective identities in the Bay, and the ways in which individuals and communities can interact and merge with one another. The inclusion of our student’s podcasts was made possible by Paul Cartier, who has been a very involved volunteer in our podcasting program, and created a mixed-media installation showcasing our students’ podcasts.

While the podcasts feature a wide range of student ages (10-18), they all serve as explorations of each writer’s identity and beliefs. Examining their identities, these students explain that they come from “Kuwait, where the people were chargers with energizing attitudes”, “rice that’s left over in your bowl”, “Narnia and Hogwarts”, and a host of other spaces. The podcasts showcase some of the creativity and vibrancy that our students bring to all of our programs. Their work is featured alongside other engaging and thought-provoking pieces.

The exhibit runs from September 9 to November 1 at the K Gallery at Rhythmix Cultural Works. An opening reception will be held on September 14 from 4-6:30 p.m. Stop by to see some truly fantastic student work, and celebrate the cultural vibrancy of the Bay while you’re at it!