RE:CONVERSATIONS :: TALK PURPOSE :: ART AS A VEHICLE OF TRANSFORMATION
As introduced by AWESOME CREATOR, Mycelium School Founder Matthew Abrams in this recent profile, the TALK PURPOSE series is a a Google supported conversation made possible with the partnership of SoCap & The HUB Ventures, in which Mycelium invites diverse stakeholders in age, race, status & perspective to engage in a facilitated conversation around a sticky topic. This month’s topic question is, “How can art be a vehicle toward individual and collective transformation?”
You can read more about the series, past and future, and sign up to participate in the upcoming May 8th google hangout, Redesigning the Philanthropic and Market System, here. Stay tuned for future (re)conversations, hosted here once a month.
TALK PURPOSE, APRIL 4 2013
Co-hosted by Mycelium, SoCap & the HUB Bay Area
This month’s conversation topic is around creating transformational experiences that invite people into new ways of perceiving the world. Humans are diverse and complex and thus activating social change isn’t a linear, straight path. Often successful social enterprises are attempting to inspire a shift of perspective for their employees, customers, communities and stakeholders. What is the role of art and engagement in inviting people to think differently and see the world differently?
APRIL 4th PARTICIPANTS:
MARK BEAM
Mark is a Senior Advisor to Halloran Philanthropies that has been supporting social and community innovation, impact investing and well-being initiatives for six years. Mark is also a Co-Founder of the Social Capital Markets Conference (SOCAP), Hub Oaxaca and ¡CATAPULTA! He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Buckminster Fuller Institute, Clincas del Azucar, Hub Oaxaca and Hub DF in Mexico City, and a member of the Advisory Board of Adobe Capital.
With Calvert Founder Wayne Silby Mark co-authorerd the Enterprise Innovation Fund a proposed multi-billion dollar fund designed to foster social enterprise development. Before turning his attention to the development of the social capital markets Mark was a senior executive for several major Wall Street banks in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. He continues to live in Oaxaca with his two sons Weston & Sky.
DEBORAH CULLINAN
Deborah is Executive Director of Intersection. Under her leadership, Intersection has achieved a strong reputation for inclusive models for creation of contemporary art and performance, cultivation of new artists and audiences, and powerful cross-sector partnerships. Intersection is playing a lead role on the 5M Project, a 4-acre prototype for the next generation of urban development that embraces diversity of thought, life experience, and culture. She has presented at the NEA, SF Planning & Urban Research Center, Center for the Theater Commons, GrantMakers in the Arts and more. She is co-founder of ArtsForumSF; a member of the Board of the California Arts Advocates, Californians for the Arts, and Yerba Buena Community Benefit District; a Rockwood Fellow; a Gerbode Fellow; and a participant in National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program an initiative gathering 100 top culture sector leaders to re-imagine what cultural institutions are and how they contribute to society.
BEAR KITTAY
Bear Kittay is a social alchemist who exists to activate human potential. As Burning Man’s Global Ambassador, Bear initiates global experiences with cultural pioneers from the realms of entrepreneurship, government, science, and art to accelerate innovation and cultural transformation. As Partner in Avalon Hot Springs, a world-class resort near San Francisco, and others, he transforms unique destinations into incubators of human and organizational potential. As an entrepreneur, he’s founded, discovered and currently advises several venture-backed Silicon Valley technology companies, including Shaker, Organizer, and Sponsorfied. He’s raised more than $20M in early stage venture funding from top tier firms including Founders Fund and Menlo Ventures. A singer and multi-instrumentalist, Bear’s secret sauce is his music. He’s studied and performed music in venues throughout the world and founded Music for Democracy, a PAC organizing musicians for progressive causes. Bear resides in San Francisco, California.
RUBEN ALVARADO
RuBen, a native of Xalapa, Mexico believes art has the potential to transform lives. He’s currently a co-creator of Bolina Sin Parne; a music, art and cultural festival that is designed to tie together music, adventure and work in a way that brings people together to realize collective possibility.
RuBen was also a participant in the first Emerging Leader Labs where he developed the concept of the Beauty Mirror Project; an initiative to invite transformation and internal conversation through the medium of photography.
THOMAS ARTHUR
Thomas Arthur is a poet of fluid motion – a visual artist, contemplative juggler, storyteller and facilitator of experiences designed to deepen embodied presence and imaginative expression. Based in Seattle and the San Juan islands, Thomas tours his participatory performance and workshop offerings to theaters, festivals, retreat centers, conferences and private events. His most recent work, Earthanima: Facing Nature, seeks to re-enchant the Human/Earth relation, playfully awakening planetary perspectives to inspire a sense of wonder, mystery and empathy in our kinship with Earth and Other.
Since 2007 Thomas has worked as artist-in-residence for the Next Step Integral week long seminars on integral education, ecology and community. He has been on the artist team for the ALIA (Authentic Leadership in Action) Summer Institute conferences in Halifax, Victoria and Columbus. Thomas is also an instructor for the online Magellan Courses, creating interactive experiences for participants around the world. This summer Thomas is hosting a three-day retreat, The Wild Depths, at the Whidbey Institute in Washington.
KEVIN JONES
As a founding principal of Good Capital, Kevin leads market formation activities and advisor and portfolio company engagement. Kevin’s former positions include CEO of Net Market Makers, an $18 million revenue online community and research and events company. Kevin built Net Market Makers into the largest brand in business-to-business internet commerce before it was sold to Jupiter Media Metrix in 2000. Five of his previous six businesses all achieved market dominance before he left or sold them. Kevin is the Co-Founder of SoCap, The HUB Bay Area and has been a columnist for Forbes and Business 2.0
MATTHEW ABRAMS: Facilitator
Matthew traveled for 7 years on and off as a freelance travel writer and journalist. Throughout these travels, he developed a deep understanding of the need for young adults to engage the world through hands on experience in order to learn about themselves, the world and develop a meaningful way to connect the two. Largely inspired by this realization, Matthew founded The Mycelium School; a 9-month learning program for 18-35 year old emerging leaders. The Mycelium School was designed for emerging social entrepreneurs to deepen their purpose, connections and hands-on entrepreneurial experience they need to hit the ground and bring their ventures to life.
ASHLEY COOPER: Facilitator
Ashley has produced and facilitated intimate community events and collaborated on large initiatives like Seeds of Compassion, a five-day event with the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and other leading scientists. Her experience has demonstrated that meaningful change comes from diverse groups collaborating for a shared purpose.
Guided by her insatiable curiosity and a deep reverence for life, Ashley creates experiences where learning ignites and meaningful action takes root. She has a gift for facilitating groups and cultivating environments where people feel inspired to be genuine and actively participate. In communities and organizations, Ashley builds bridges and connects ideas, resources and people. Over the last 14 years, she has worked in a variety of settings from organizational strategy with foundations and non-profits to curriculum development and programmatic implementation in schools.
