"Embarkation: The Resiliency of Humanity Amid Covid-19" - Advocacy Album by José Valentino & Bruno Miranda

August 19, 2021

University of Florida professor Dr. José Valentino has partnered with jazz/popular music pianist for "Embarkation: The Resiliency of Humanity Amid Covid-19," a heartfelt album that aims to sonically encapsulate the collective human experiences (i.e., trials, loss, burdens, joys, and love) that were magnified amid the historic global pandemic of Covid-19 through the medium of original contemporary classical compositions and performances by Bruno Miranda (piano) and I, Dr. José Valentino (flutes) with several special guests (i.e., Vladimir Suarez A., José Leonardo Leon, & Derris Lee).

It is the hope of the musicians involved that this music can (1) magically transport listeners through a transcendental journey of reliving, reflecting, reminiscing, and processing our unified endurance and suffering as a humanity having experienced so much loss and pain, and also to (2) help listeners embrace and celebrate their resiliency to simply continue, empower others, embrace each other, and to bring faith, hope, and love into the world amid these unprecedented times.

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Art Against Racism

May 30, 2023
Art Against Racism is a virtual arts exhibition which aims to lift up the tremendous array of creative works made in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In doing so, project organizers hope that the exhibition will serve as an archive of the national artistic response to this historic moment.

Increasing Vaccine Confidence With Youth's Artwork - La Raza Youth Leadership Institute

May 30, 2023
La Raza Youth Leadership Institute hosted an art contest for youth ages 12-19 with the goal of motivating Latinx youth to get vaccinated. Three winners were chosen, and the first place winner's artwork was displayed on buses and in bus stop shelters near a number of schools. A phone number is included with the artwork for youth to call to receive more information about vaccines.

Perception Isn't Always Reality by Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective

July 22, 2022
Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective's Perception Isn't Always Reality engages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) teen and young adult artists to reevaluate messages they may have received about Covid-19 and vaccinations and to reevaluate the sources of the information. Through their own brand of urban storytelling that involves collaborative work in hip hop music and krump dance, spoken word, videography, photography, and podcasting, the artists will produce a challenging body of work for the public to experience on urban canvases such as the sides of city buses and on air waves.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective

July 22, 2022
Based in St. Louis, Missouri and incorporated in 2014, the Story Stitchers Artists Collective uses a collaborative model to create social justice art. The mission of Story Stitchers is to document St. Louis through art and word and to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships, and literacy. Story Stitchers works to promote a better educated, more peaceful, and caring region through the creation and dissemination of original art.

Healing Wings project helps residents process COVID-19 grief through art

July 21, 2022
The product of a collaboration the Potters' Guild of Las Cruces and Mesilla artist Josh Switzer, The Healing Wings project was developed to gave people in Las Cruces who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic a chance to honor those lost during to COVID-19. Las Cruces community members were invited to paint clay-sculpted wings to hang on a metal tree. The wings gave the community members an artistic outlet to share their griefs or honor loved ones. The project also included a sculpture comprised of metal boxes, where people could write their experiences of grief on a paper and then put it in the box. Once the boxes are full, organizers plan to burn the notes as a symbol of letting go.

The Madisonville Community Studio

July 21, 2022
The Madisonville Community Studio is an ongoing project co-created by Madisonville residents and Design Impact to explore key questions about the inclusiveness of neighborhood changes. The project is supported by the Kresge Foundation. To improve interracial relationships in Madisonville and increase Black residents’ power, influence, and representation in the neighborhood’s development decisions.
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