Video Playlist: Building Community Through the Arts
published 6/9/19; updated 7/15/22
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
Continuing the popular series of Video Playlists for Teachers and Teacher Trainers, here are a variety of perspectives on using the visual and performing arts to promote social change.
Teachers, please note: With such a multicultural audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that all of the videos will be appropriate for your particular context. I’ve put brief descriptions to help you choose, but please preview anything you plan to share with your students.
Street Symphony: Music for Change
People on parole from life sentences join a weekly gathering with professional musicians.
“Street Symphony is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that utilizes music to create opportunities of human connection to homeless and incarcerated communities through workshops, events, and one-on-one musical instruction.”
You can find more information at streetsymphony.org. You might also be interested in this article about Street Symphony from NPR.
Choir! Choir! Choir! gathered 1000 people on both sides of the US-Mexico border in Tijuana & San Diego to sing The Beatles’ “With A Little Help from My Friends.”
Dallas Street Choir: "Homeless, Not Voiceless"
"Seeking support, artistic expression and community as they contend with life on the streets. The organization also aims to raise awareness of Dallas’ growing homelessness problem, even as the city’s economy booms.”
Art, Engagement, and Social Change
Through explaining about her own work, Hilary Cox Codron shows how an artist can benefit her community.
Art, Social Change, and Uncomfortable Conversations
Marquese McFerguson (who's taught middle school, high school, and university students) explains how poetry and storytelling can help us to see through each other's "sunglasses". He worked with a group of Asian American youth to tell their stories through poetry and film.
Black Forest, an indie band from Singapore, performs with percussionists from the organization ExtraOrdinary Horizons to challenge perceptions of d/Deaf youth.
Born Dancing, Inc.
These dance projects involve students with disabilities collaborating with students from the general education program.
The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles
“The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles empowers trans, gender non-conforming and intersex people to discover, develop and use their voices.”
How the Story Transforms the Teller
Donald Davis' father taught him that how we tell the story of our challenges can change how we think about ourselves.
Artists For Humanity's mission is to bridge economic, racial, and social divisions by providing under-resourced urban youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in art and design.
Dance for Social Change Curriculum
Dancing Grounds teaches youth through movement, creative writing, social policy analysis, and leadership development.
Art for Social Change in Uganda
Artist/Activists, or 'Artivists,' raise awareness of social issues in their communities. (You may also be interested in Ugandan artist Arthur 'Mr. Art' Mugume, who uses his paintings to promote social change, and gives back to the community by teaching at a local kindergarten.)
A thought-provoking encounter with an audience member helped spoken-word artist Marcus Ellsworth understand that telling his truth is a powerful act. (Here's the link to the 'City without Tears' music video he mentions.)
Kids living in a slum built on a landfill in Paraguay create an orchestra made of trash, The Recycled Orchestra, and tour the world.
Related Posts
There are many more video playlists and resources on building community and on mindfulness and the arts here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: