Art To Change the World Inc Board Meeting Minutes and Director’s Report

Date: December 14, 2019            Time meeting is called to order:  5:11

Attendees:
Barbara  Bridges  Director, Craig Harris, Margo Ashmore, Layl McDill, Mohammed Bulhan, Wenwen Liao Manfred, Digital: Pat Rogers, Liza Ferrari

Reports and Discussions:

Barbara Bridges gave the Director’s Report. Following.

Craig Harris reported on Ambassador Program and will be writing up a draft of the expectations.  He will attend a February 1 Conference for a trial run.

Margo created a description of the ProVocation artist critique program. Another member will take the lead on the program.  Layl indicated that WARM is interested in hosting the first one -possibly in the early spring.  Co-chairs from ACW and WARM would organize.

Layl McDill reported on the Coaching Project and will take a leadership role. Board member Wenwen and Layl may serve as a pilot team. Layl will create a sub-committee for this project. Layl would like to find a member “intern” that would like to co-chair with her in hopes that one day that person would take over.

Barbara described the 4 R’s Re-cycle project. She is in conversation with Savers. See details following.

4. Wenwen shared her ideas about social networking, especially Pinterest. She and Barbara will meet online and make a plan for implementation.
5. The partnership with the Beijing Cultural center was discussed. More to come on that.
6. Mohamed expressed interest in working on a project with the ACW, the Freedom Library and the Somalian Arts group. Barbara and Mohamed will try to meet with Peter in the next week.
7. Secretary. It was suggested we might ask someone to serve on the Board with their only task being to take notes at the meetings. Barbara will find someone.
8. It was agreed Barbara will explore the idea of rotating pictures on our landing page on the ACW wbsite.
9. We did not create a Profit and Loss because it was so close to end of year. An itemized spread sheet was distributed. 12/7/2019 Pay Pal 227.64 Balance,  US Bank Checking 2,271.14   Balance
10. Networks of Action and Hope was discussed. David O’Fallon will be taking the lead on this initiative.
11. Pat Rogers and Lynn Olson were recognized and thanked for their service. Pat will continue on the ACW Board and Lynn will serve on the ACW Advisory Committee.
12. Wenwen agreed to find someone who might be willing to streamline the landing page.

Motions and Seconds
It was moved and seconded to nominate Layl McDill as the ACW Chairperson of the Board. Approved by unanimous vote.

It was moved and seconded to nominate Liza Ferrari as the ACW Treasurer.  Approved by unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Bridges, Executive Director

Meeting adjourned:   6:37

Next Meeting and Time May 8, 2020. 6 PM. Location to be announced.  Mark your calendar!!

___________________________________________________________________________

Director’s Report  December  14, 2019     Barbara Bridges

Social Networking: Emily Forbes is still our only paid employee. $100 a month. Instagram, Face Book and Newsletter creation.  We will be launching a Twitter initiative this winter. We are working on having our members include ACW in their Newsletters. Example: Martha Bird just included the South Project in her 280 person Newsletter.

Past Projects
OLLI   U of M studio visits Fall Session Meany, Potek, Ricci, Roberts. 13 registrants, working on 2 new members.  Testimony The hands-on participatory element made this class unique and personally very meaningful. It was great to celebrate the creativity and intentionality of the artists.

South High School Family Welcome Center Funded at $500 by the Givens Foundation. 10 students created a welcoming area with kids corner, art supplies, myth busting flags and symbols, story writing contest,  inspirational quotes board and Adopt- A- Book library for culturally appropriate books. Still a few need adopting! Over 30 people came to the dedication, we earned one new Board member and a new bob-profit partner -The African American Registry.  I am meeting with Ben, the director, next week. He is interested in partnering on the Coaching project and says he has funding.

Oct 5 Thank You Party hosted by Lynn Olson for donors $200 and above. 15 people attended.

Lobster Chowdah donor party for $500 and up. 6 people attended and I delivered 3 “take outs”

Holiday Light?  Holiday Dark?   was a wild success. 450 attended, we received over 100 action promises, earned 7 new members, one new Board member, an ongoing relationship with Judy Onofrio and a real lift of visibility in the arts community.

Financial Report

Visioning Task Force Action Outcomes
Change from what to what?
Connecting Community
What is Missing?
Inclusive Global  Convener of using art for social change
Activities and Actions
Sustainability = Re-Think  Refuse Reduce Refurbish
Coaching program
Amplification and support to other organizations
Develop a model of trust
Bring art to the intersection with other disciplines
Events that support “the great turning”
Local/Global Ambassadors Program
Searchable database
Train Social Practice Artists/Workshop
Help organization learn how to use art as a tool to meet their mission

Future Projects

ACW Ambassador Program (name may change).  The purpose of this initiative is to cultivate relationships locally and globally while providing support for our members.  Participants may receive financial and/or other support towards attending a conference, seminar, festival or meeting focused on their particular interest or passion.

*Ambassadors complete an application which screens for passion and commitment.
*Ambassadors complete an orientation/training session where potential networking ideas are brainstormed.
* Ambassadors should be able to talk about past successful ACW projects and current/upcoming activities.

Deliverables may include:
* Advocating for the idea that art could/should be incorporated into partner organization projects for maximum impact.
* Imagine ACW partnership project possibilities with them and put them in touch with ACW leaders for discussions.
* Dispersal of printed materials.
* Report of their outcomes?  We provide a form?
* Introduce new contacts to ACW leadership.

Craig Harris has agreed to create a one-page description.  Launch Cost: $100

NOTE:  Send an Ambassador to the Community Connections event on February 1.  ACW could pay $100. Craig will attend this event. http://columbiapark.org/2019/08/february-1-2020-is-the-community-connections-conference/ ___________________________________________________________________
The 4 R’s: Rethinking, Reusing, Refurbishing, and Recycling   Boring conferences around tables have little effect.  We need an event which is edgy, fun and has potential press appeal.   ACW might host an event in partnership with Savers (and other eco-dedicated partners who might contribute funds and volunteers) which has the following components:

• Kick -Off at Savers where 10 CAREFULLY selected applicants (from all artforms) get $100 of free supplies and 1 hour to select their project materials. Successful applicants must have the verbal skills and 4 R’s passion to lead a discussion.
• A 4 R’s theme as inspiration for the name of the event and as a thematic goal for the completed artworks.
• Participants take their supplies back to a work/gallery space with tools, adhesives, tables etc. and have until 5:00 PM to complete their works.
• ACW hosts a “show” with food, beverages and discussions. Each artist gives a 3-minute presentation on their eco topic and leads a discussion.
• Three carefully selected judges choose a 1^st, 2^ndand 3^rd Prizes: $1,000, $500, $200.
• The show stays up for 2 weeks and we look for other venues – not galleries- government buildings, churches etc where there is heavy traffic from people who might not attend “art” related events.

You have to “romance the street” as I call it in order to effect “change”.  Singing to our already established choir changes nothing.   Barbara will take a leadership role for this event.
Launch Cost: $2,300  $100 to Project Manager, $1,700 to artists, $500 event costs.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Coaching Project
Ashmore, McDill and Bridges have done the design work on this project. Barbara agreed to re-work the website and start using our developed project application when people approach her for partnerships.  Done:  https://www.arttochangetheworld.org/coaching-project/

ACW  might want to go ahead and  find funding for one coaching pair and call it a expanded pilot Coaching Project Internship.

3650. $600   – Coach 12 hours over 6 months meet with intern @ $50 an hour
      $250     Intern  12 hours over 6 months meet with coach @20 an hour
      $500    Intern   Project development -24 hours over 6 months @ $20 an hour
      $1200   Development of coaching materials and for coach to customize materials for Intern   24 hours over 6 months @ $50 an hour
      $800    Supplies, promo and other items for project implementation.
      $300    ACW Admin fees
      Launch Cost $3650.00  If grant funded
3651. ACW  might want to go ahead and  find funding and call it a pilot Coaching Project Internship.
      $600   – Coach 12 hours over 6 months meet with intern @ $50 an hour
      $250     Intern  12 hours over 6 months meet with coach @20 an hour
      $ 100    Prep stipend for Coach to customize materials for Intern
      $150     Supplies, promo and other items for implementation.
      $100     ACW Admin fees
      Launch Cost $1,200   for pilot  ACW Funded

Policy and procedures need to be developed for:
Coaching meeting procedures and expectations
Monthly report form for both coach and Intern
Project steps and expectations- including all the programming, promo, volunteers, budget etc.
Final report with relevant data needed for director to execute a simple analysis.

I think the basic design has been developed for this project and the coach who takes the first intern should develop the relevant policies and procedures since they will be right there on the ground with primary source input!  I would like someone else to take point on the Coaching Project.
Layl McDill has agreed to take a leadership role on this project.
___________________________________________________________________

Networks of  Action and Hope   The base idea of Networks of Hope and Action is to link together people, programs events that are actively both resisting the current unjust and unsustainable polices and economy AND are courageously imagining and building the relationships, the understandings, the programs and policies needed for a more creative, just, sustainable even thriving world.

First step is to link with other networks and nexus, such as Springboard for the Arts locally, Forecast Public Art, which is local and with international connections, (there are too many to name), with ACW as a center for:

1) a directory, a hub, of interconnections.  2) as a prime convener with many others of these sites of Hope and Action. Imagine an emerging network, organic in its relationships, of active hope and resistance !   3)then a select number of events to learn from and with each other , with, possibly, a blog post or podcast.  The learning from and with is a critical piece of this work.

David O’Fallon will take a leadership role on this project.
Launch Cost ???

ProVocation Facilitator Rules of Engagement Directive

The name “ProVocation” communicates that by provoking thought, one’s vocation (one’s life’s mission and body of work) is strengthened. Even the “experts” are invited to take a breath and be open to learning from the small, subtle examples where change is happening at ground level.

In the ProVocation model, facilitator and speaker/s work together in advance to design questions to get the discussion going. Speakers are encouraged to bring key turning points in the field being studied and examples of what worked elsewhere with emphasis on how those solutions sprung from the observations of those closest to the problem.

The facilitator must believe that solutions will emerge from the community, communicate that interest in individuals and groups, and values roles and backgrounds of all community members. From these 2 + hour sessions it is not likely that there will be a defined next step, though the participants will be encouraged to trade contact information if they want to continue the discussion.

If an individual has a preconceived notion of a desired outcome, they are better suited for the speaker role. The facilitator role must concentrate on making spaces for all voices and practice active listening (not only paraphrase and summarize but check back to be sure the meaning was appropriately captured). A facilitator will be curious, optimistic, humble and able to create a friendly, fun atmosphere.

Throughout the conversation, the facilitator uses words and phrases that communicate trust that solutions will come from the group, honesty that there is not a preconceived agenda, inquiry – true curiosity, invitation to anybody who wants to be part of a solution, and community, that at least for this short period we are working together to discover from within, positive approaches.

Facilitator is encouraged to “take 20 seconds” and let silence linger after an open-ended question is asked and as thoughts are processing. This honors the group’s thoughts and calms those who are responsible for the health of the group; it does take practice but is worth the outcome. Above all, a facilitator is not to jump to conclusions or solutions. There is great temptation to fix things, give advice, or parry with each person who speaks, but that is not the role of facilitator.

ProVocation follows loosely a model of Adaptive Positive Deviance called Discovery and Action Dialogs (DADs) where the key questions are “what do you know about the challenge?” “What do you usually do to deal with the challenge?” “What prevents you from doing that all the time?” and “is there anyone who is able to overcome the barriers frequently and easily? How do they do it? (Subtle and obvious ways)”

Facilitator should model body language that indicates interest and comfort, while watching for body language that indicates others’ excitement or discomfort and asking about it.

Reference: Adaptive Positive Deviance, Plexus Institute, Washington DC 2016, www.PlexusInstitute.org, Creative Commons License.