Emil J. Kang

Say it loud! 📣The arts are essential and a human right! To limit students access to arts education is to deny critical opportunities for social emotional development as well as other critical aptitudes: Confidence, creative problem-solving, cultural awareness, communication, conflict resolution, collaborative empathy and self-awareness. Decreasing support for arts education limits the ability for low-income communities to envision the many possible pathways that exist in both arts and non-arts professions. The proposed cuts disproportionately impact students in those communities.

36

2 Comments

Equitable Capacity Workshops It is critical for every residency to create a climate where residency staff and any artists can connect, learn together, experiment, grow, and ignite change. Equitable Capacity is a term coined by Artist Communities Alliance (ACA)'s President + CEO, Lisa Funderburke in 2019 and is defined as the facility or power to embody equity across all areas of an organization, specifically its policies, process, and practices. This workshop series was created by ACA in response to common challenges among artist residency programs and targets five key areas of organizational health: Identity, Program Design, Stewardship, Fund Development, and Operational Excellence. During our Equitable Capacity Workshop (ECW) series, intensives include nuts-and-bolts presentations from guest facilitators as well as interactive exercises and time spent in smaller groups for discussion and networking. In these sessions, participants: - Learn inclusive, practical frameworks to identify and understand barriers to your success; - Gain insights from industry professionals about strategies and approaches that work; - Connect with colleagues across the field; and  - Leave with actionable next steps to accomplish their goals. Equitable Capacity Workshops are open to all. ACA members are eligible for a discounted registration rate. If you are a member and did not receive a code, please contact members [at] artistcommunities.org. https://lnkd.in/g5tuQype

4

What just happened to Fearless Fund is deeply concerning for DEIA practitioners and the mission of creating pathways for black people to access capital in their businesses and wealth for their families. This situation highlights the persistent efforts by some individuals—primarily those who are white and privileged—to hinder the progress of Black communities in accessing capital. For those committed to advancing DEIA, it is crucial to reconsider our strategies. Universities are already experiencing varied impacts, with some suffering setbacks while others may quietly celebrate the obstacles to progress. Similarly, several companies, many of which previously engaged in DEIA efforts only under public pressure, are now re-evaluating their investment in initiatives designed to diversify their workforces and leadership. The challenges ahead are significant. It is imperative to develop strategic approaches to continue addressing these critical issues and ensure that the progress toward equity and inclusion is not thwarted.

33

1 Comment

I am hosting a fundraising workshop in collaboration with New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and Unrestricted Funds. RSVP at the link below to attend! Connecting Resources to Ideas: Grant Strategies for Creatives May 30 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pay-What-You-Wish Do you have big ideas that need even bigger funding? This workshop will guide you on how to identify the right grants for your vision, build strategic narratives and budgets, give you tips on how to build relationships with funders, and set you on a path to be a successful fundraiser. It is designed for artists looking to fund their next artistic endeavor, collaborative commission, or fiscally sponsored project. If you’ve never written a grant and are looking for a place to start, or you’re a seasoned grant seeker looking to refresh your knowledge of current practices and opportunities, Ambrose Trataris, Founder and Director of Unrestricted Funds, will share practical process based advice with time for a Q&A to tackle your specific questions. https://lnkd.in/gQdRS-CX

9

Can you really build trust by just goofing around? What is the relationship between play and risk? The new musical Water for Elephants has been hailed for its achievement in seamlessly integrated circus and Broadway. Jessica Stone, the show's director, was asked what she learned from the show’s creation process. Her answer has insights for anyone who is asking a team to take risks: “We had a company of people at the beginning that hadn’t all worked together. So their training sessions sometimes would look like they were just hanging out or messing around. A lot of that had to do with building trust and rapport. If you tense up or get in your head as a circus performer, you’re not going to jump as high or fall from as high. You need to know that the person holding their arms out is going to catch you, and that can only be built through play, community, and trust.” There’s wisdom here that applies far beyond the stage. From my time as executive director of Circus Center and other organizations before it, I’ve learned that when it comes to innovation, leaders must make it safe for teams to embrace risk as a necessity in service of creating something new. In other words, you need to create the optimal conditions for messing around. Of course, it’s still vital that the team has the skills to do the work; that doesn’t change. What changes are the values you champion and how they show up in the processes that you lead. I’m curious: What are the tools you use to create space for risk-taking? How do you use your words? How do you create schedules and workflows? How do you shift your incentive and reward systems? What else do you do to make it possible for your teams to jump, and fall, and jump again, higher than before?

10

Friends and colleagues who work, or are in, philanthropy and/or disabled spaces: Check out Disability & Philanthropy Forum's upcoming "webinar featuring disabled panelists celebrating disability pride, and learn why philanthropy should fund disabled-led, joy-centered spaces."

3

2 Comments

So great to see the power of the arts amplified. Especially from this post-er!

7

Some thought provoking questions for #YomHaZikaron #YomHaAtzmaut.

2

The first word that comes to mind is reparations, as this shift towards investments in Black, Latinx, Arab, Asian, and Native artists and organizations takes place. However, notice people and organizations playing Uno's reverse card: Funds dried up, DEI departments dismantled, and BIPOC leaders challenged by entrenched systems. So, how do we avoid backpedaling as things “return to normal” for the privileged few? Shortly after George Floyd’s murder, large corporations pledged billions of dollars in the name of curing social ills. However, these pledges were often accompanied by vague pronouncements because the specifics of anti-racism work reveal the uncomfortable truth that racism is the foundational infrastructure of American capitalism. It's hard for these corporations to be too specific about combating racism because the extractive economy is predicated on social hierarchy. Yet, some organizations, like the Mellon Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Wallace Foundation, and others, seem willing to evolve their grantmaking to invest more deeply in creative communities of color. So, as the article is titled, "How can grantmakers support artists of color?" 🌟 Reexamine historical ideas of arts and culture and racial injustice to broaden public understanding of artistic excellence and American identity. 🌟 Seek training on addressing historic and structural inequity. 🌟 Listen to diverse philanthropic leadership and self-organizing artists of color. 🌟 Be guided by artists and arts organizations of color: Promote co-creation and flexibility. 🌟 Collaborate with funders, both nationally and regionally. 🌟 Identify and fill geographic funding gaps, especially in areas underserved. 🌟 Fund institutional strengthening: Connect grantees to resources, with them to control. 🌟 Provide non-monetary support: Use voices, spaces, and relationships to amplify grantees’ work and encourage learning. 🌟 Fund intersectional work: Promote gender, disability, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion and justice. 🌟 Make Transformative Grants: Offer large, flexible, multi-year support. 🌟 Make Recurring Grants: Combine one-time and recurring support, and simplify those application processes. 🌟 Measure impact and share learnings: Track grantee progress, refine approaches, and share feedback and insights. For more insights on this topic and related resources, visit my blog "Making It a Movement, Not a Moment" using the following link: https://lnkd.in/eTN9d9J9 #Socioeconomics #Artists #Philanthropy #Development #RacialEquity #CulturalDiversity #Funding #Equity #ArtGrants #SocialImpact

4

In New York City, around 1,000 young adults age out of foster care each year, and about 20% of them become immediately homeless. Communities like Homeward Central Harlem -- a supportive housing development in Harlem with services for LGBTQ+ young adults -- provide on-site supportive services such as counseling, case management for residents to access financial and health care benefits, connections to community resources, group activities, and skills-building programs. Here's the thing. We know how to end homelessness. It's to provide supportive housing that benefits individuals and families, provides the stability they need, and also ends up costing less than cycling individuals through jail and emergency rooms. This is the model for moving forward. And it's why nearly a fifth of our tax credit investments are in permanent supportive housing at Enterprise Community Partners. Because we know it works. https://lnkd.in/eDsA_jzt

23

🔔 New Episode 🔔 from Becoming the Vision featuring Rickke Mananzala, President of the New York Foundation. Tune in to learn how remembering who we are, where we come from, and why we do this work can make us better philanthropy professionals and humans. Listen and subscribe: https://lnkd.in/eHAPfP6C #BTVPodcast #Philanthropy #FreedomDreaming

14

Very interesting information on cultural audiences from Egnyte. This data is from Boston and SF but a deep dive on cultural consumer segments and engagement post Covid. Questions we all ponder in the museum and cultural world! Boston report https://lnkd.in/gGP-DzpT Download here, using password: iwVUiJ2Hy San Francisco report https://lnkd.in/gGP-DzpT Download here, using password: cKPzK3Vp3

1

Dear friends and colleagues, I wanted to share my new book, in which I explore the challenges, dilemmas, and opportunities that Jewish Communities face in the 21st century. How are patterns of belonging changing? How can communities (Jewish and others) thrive in a time of hyper-empowered individuals? How can we sustain community in a time of epistemic upheaval? How can religious and cultural traditions provide meaning in a post-ideological world? In this book, I try to explore "how we got here", how the modern individual became what she is today, and then I offer some thoughts on how community leaders can operate in this brave new world. While this analyzes the Jewish Community, it's valuable for every religious, ethnic, and cultural group, as we're all in the same proverbial boat. Enjoy, and please, let me know your thoughts!

17

1 Comment

As the Executive Director of the LCU Fund for Women's Education, I am acutely aware of the impact that the housing affordability crisis has on people in New York City. Recent reporting from @Bloomberg calls out that with average earnings just under $89,000, New Yorkers could afford up to $2,216 per month on housing without spending more than 30% of their annual income. However, this does not include the upfront costs of deposits, broker’s fees and more. The data is even more disheartening when we consider specific groups. Essential workers in healthcare support, food preparation, and transport services, earning less than $70,000 annually, could only afford 1% of New York apartments. This crisis is directly felt by our students as well. At the LCU Fund, we are committed to providing financial assistance to alleviate the housing burden, allowing these scholars to focus on their studies and future careers without the constant worry of finding and affording a place to live. Our mission is more critical than ever. We need to support students not only through financial aid but also by advocating for more affordable housing solutions. Investing in the education and housing stability of women scholars today will yield significant returns for our society in the future. https://lnkd.in/g69aXSaM #LCUFund #OpeningDoorsForWomen #LCUScholars #WomenInEducation #EducationFunding  #CollegeCompletion #AddressingHousingInsecurity #InvestsInTheFuture #EmpowerWomen #EconomicResilience #EducationMatters

8

So looking forward to my session at @insidehousing today to demonstrate the powerful participatory process of legislative theatre - whoo hoo 🙌🏿🙌🏿 In legislative theater, communities, advocates and policymakers work together, to identify, develop, and build support for new legislation. Through interactive theater productions, community members explore and act out solutions to homelessness, then work with officials to translate these solutions into new policies/laws. #Homelessness https://lnkd.in/eZ8d3vTR

2

Excellent look at how real estate price appreciation disproportionately impacts lower income residents and how Community Land Trusts challenge the notion of real estate/housing as a speculatory tool for privileged groups vs. a basic human right.

4

The Lewis Prize for Music presents the Producing Well-Being Report, diving into the transformative intersection of Creative Youth Development (CYD) and Workforce Development. This report sheds light on the profound impact of music-based CYD programs in empowering youth who face marginalization to amplify their voices, hone artistic skills, and emerge as leaders in the 21st-century workforce. Through purposeful dialogues, peer knowledge exchange, and collaborative efforts, they uncovered insights that highlight the pivotal role of CYD organizations across the United States. These initiatives empower young individuals to navigate life's complexities, fostering a future where they lead self-determined lives and contribute meaningfully to society. 🌍🌟 🔍 Access the Report Here: https://lnkd.in/eMS9iuh9 From innovative frameworks to real-world case studies, the Producing Well-Being Report offers insights into the power of CYD and Workforce Development integrations: 🔹 Innovative Frameworks: Guiding stakeholders with CYD research and practical strategies. 🔹 Case Studies of Success: Showcasing impactful initiatives as blueprints for replication from the following participants: Beyond The Bars Inc (Philadelphia, PA), The David's Harp Foundation, Inc. (San Diego, CA), Hyde Square Task Force (Boston, MA), Memphis Music Initiative (Memphis, TN), and We Are Culture Creators (Detroit, MI) 🔹 Strategic Partnerships: Amplifying collective impact through key alliances. 🔹 Metrics for Measurement: Ensuring accountability & optimization of strategies. 🔹 Engagement and Collaboration: Inviting stakeholders from all sectors to contribute and share benefits. 🔹 Policy Recommendations: Advocating for CYD with actionable policy recommendations for systemic change. #Arts #Culture #CYD #WorkforceDevelopment #MusicEducation #YouthEmpowerment #SystemicChange #TheLewisPrizeForMusic #Philadelphia #SanDiego #Boston #Memphis #Detroit #YouthDevelopment #ArtsEducation #SocialImpact #Empowerment #Leadership #CommunityEngagement #Equity #Inclusion #FutureOfWork #YouthEmpowerment #MusicForChange #CreativeYouthDevelopment #WorkforceReadiness #PolicyChange #SystemicEquity #MusicForSocialChange #OpportunityForAll #TransformativeEducation

4