Change the Story / Change the World

• New Rules: 11 Unlikely Lessons for Activist Artists Navigating MAGA.

  What can we learn from artists who survived the chaos of 1980s prisons—and how can their lessons help us resist authoritarianism today?From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where artivists share and learn the skills and strategies they need to thrive as creative community leaders. My name is Bill Cleveland. As censorship and threats escalate for activist artists and community leaders, navigating today’s polarized world demands more than passion. This episode draws powerful insights from prison arts programs to help creatives and organizers thrive amid rising societal conflict and control.Discover 11 practical rules for building credibility, resilience, and respect in high-stakes, divided environments.Learn why sustained relationships and long-term commitment are the foundation for real, transformative change.Gain essential strategies for navigating us-versus-them traps, telling bold yet responsible stories, and protecting mental health in toxic climates.Listen now to unlock time-tested survival strategies that can empower your activism, deepen your community work, and sustain your creative mission.Notable Mentions1. PeopleBill Cleveland: Host of Change the Story, Change the World. Director of the Center for the Study of Art and Community, he draws on decades of experience working with artists in prisons and conflict zones.Jim Reeves: Author featured in previous episodes, discussed teaching and writing inside prisons.Noel Raymond: Theater director and cultural leader, spoke about operating arts organizations under political duress.Vern McKee: Incarcerated artist, president of Vacaville Prison’s Art and Musicians Guilds, who developed the core “Verne’s Rules” that guide arts engagement in high-stakes environments .2. EventsCalifornia’s Arts-in-Corrections Program (1980-90's): A transformative initiative bringing arts education into state prisons during the 1980s, led by Bill Cleveland. A current program under the same name is being operated by the California Arts Council and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is carrying on the program The Troubles (Northern Ireland): A period of political and sectarian conflict (late 1960s–1998) cited for comparison with the U.S. authoritarian climate.Khmer Rouge Regime (Cambodia): Post-genocide rebuilding efforts included cultural recovery, referenced here as a parallel to U.S. challenges.Serbia under Slobodan Milošević: Cited as a reference...

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• How are Artists and Organizers Creating a Better World Together? Reprise

  Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today’s social movements?From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what they need to thrive as creative change agents. My name is Bill Cleveland.If you’ve ever felt like your efforts for justice aren’t hitting deep enough, it might be because the culture hasn’t caught up with your message. In this episode, labor organizer and social change strategist Ken Grossinger shares how his journey from labor organizing to cultural advocacy revealed a truth many overlook: policy changes fade, but stories—and the art that tells them—have staying power. In this episode:Discover how blending power analysis with artistic expression can amplify grassroots campaigns and drive long-term social change.Hear powerful case studies—from a revolutionary museum exhibit in Louisville to a musical uprising in Alaska—that reveal how art can expose injustice and build movements.Learn from real-world collaborations between artists and organizers that shift narratives, challenge power, and activate communities in ways no policy paper ever could.Tune in now to hear how Ken Grossinger’s book ART WORKS and his work in communities across the U.S. show us why art isn’t just a reflection of justice—it’s how we get there.BIOKen Grossinger, has been a leading strategist in movements for social and economic justice for thirty-five years, in unions, philanthropic and community organizations.For two decades, Ken was one of the labor movement's leading strategists. He represented workers in the Service Employees International Union and then directed legislative field operations for the AFL-CIO, running large-scale issue campaigns including against the privatization of Social Security and for health care reform, economic and civil rights. Grossinger is widely regarded as an expert in pioneering national field strategies for labor and community organizations and is well known for building long-enduring alliances between the two.Formerly a community organizer, Grossinger co-launched the Human SERVE Fund, a national advocate organization that initiated and led the successful decade-long fight for passage of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as Motor Voter.Grossinger is active on several boards including the University of the District of Columbia (Trustee), Hirshhorn Museum (Trustee), People’s Action Institute (Director), Skylight Pictures (Director), and the CrossCurrents Foundation, (Chair).Among other cultural projects, he co-executive produced the award-winning Netflix documentaries Social Dilemma and Bleeding Edge and served as Executive Producer of Boycott and the forthcoming film Borderland.Ken is the author of ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together, published by the New Press in July 2023. He lives part-time in Washington, DC., and Telluride, Colorado.Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and

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• Change the Story Weather Report: A Neighborhood Cultural Center Navigates the MAGA Storm

  The MAGA storm system continues to exert a profound influence on community members, activist artists and cultural organizers living and working in Minneapolis' Powderhorn Central Community. Bill Cleveland's dialogue with Noel Raymond reveals the complexities of navigating activism amidst the destabilizing forces fast moving Trumpian juggernaut. Raymond describes the fraught material emotional landscape faced by artists and cultural organizers, characterized by feelings of fear, rage, and disorientation. Takeaways:Understand why the disorientation that we're all experiencing is used as a tactic to prevent resistance, and that recognizing this helps us stay grounded.Find out how an organization like Pillsbury House, uses the practice of sanctuary is a means of both safety and. And strategy.Learn how creating spaces of safety and joy and cultural expression can be a powerful form of defiance and that the communities stories, whether they're in small circles or on stage, are a lifeline.Other Key Points:And when people tell their truths without mediation, they build solidarity and power and the possibility of change.The discussion emphasizes the critical need for community support and the importance of creating safe spaces for artistic expression. Through the lens of Pillsbury House's mission, the conversation underscores the power of storytelling as a tool for resistance and empowerment. Raymond's insights into the organization's efforts to center marginalized voices, particularly during moments of heightened tension, illuminate the intersection of art and activism. As the episode unfolds, listeners are encouraged to reflect on their roles within their communities and the ways in which they can contribute to building solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity. Ultimately, this episode serves as both a poignant commentary on the challenges of the present and an inspiring call to action for those seeking to effect meaningful change.Change the Story GoFundMe CampaignNotable MentionsIn this episode, host Bill Cleveland sits down with Noel Raymond of Pillsbury House + Theatre to explore how artists and cultural organizers are navigating political backlash, erasure, and community survival in the heart of Minneapolis. Below is a curated list of the people, organizations, events, and references that came up during their powerful conversation. People Bill Cleveland: Host of Change the Story / Change the World and Director of the Center for the Study of Art and Community.Noel Raymond: Senior Director of Narrative Arts and Culture at Pillsbury House + Theatre, leading narrative strategy and performance-based organizing.Mike Hoyt: Artist and cultural organizer at Pillsbury House + Theatre, noted for his community work and collaboration with Noel.Judy Munsen: Composer of the podcast’s original theme and soundscape.Events & Social MovementsTrans Day of Visibility: Annual event on March 31 to honor and raise awareness for the transgender community.

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• Talking Walls & Dancing Kites*: Powerful Lessons from a Prison Writing Classroom

  What happens when a writer steps into a prison and discovers more than just stories behind bars? In this episode author and educator Jim Reese shares vivid stories and hard lessons from more than a decade working with incarcerated men. In a world obsessed with punishment over understanding, this episode dives deep into the transformative power of writing in places most people never dare to go. If you’ve ever wondered whether creativity can truly change lives—on both sides of the prison walls—this conversation offers surprising answers.Discover how inmates find their voices and reconnect with family and humanity through storytelling.Hear how teaching in prisons reshaped Jim Reese’s understanding of justice, redemption, and the role of an artist.Learn why authentic connection, vulnerability, and purpose can break barriers even in the most rigid environments.Tune in explore how the written word is transforming lives and shifting mindsets—inside and outside the prison system.* A "kite" In prison slang, a term for a written note or message. It's a way for inmates to communicate with each other or staff, especially when direct verbal communication is restricted. The term likely originated from the way inmates would attach folded notes to strings and "fly" them between cells, resembling a kite. Notable MentionsHere’s a list of the people, events, organizations, and publications mentioned in the show with hyperlinks for more in-depth information:PeopleJim Reese: An American poet, professor, and advocate for arts in corrections. He is the Associate Professor of English at Mount Marty University and has taught creative writing at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp.David Sedaris: A renowned humorist and author known for his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques. Jim Reese had the opportunity to open for Sedaris during a live performance.Kyle Roberson: Supervisor of Education at Yankton Federal Prison Camp who collaborated with Jim Reese on the prison’s creative writing program. Marquise Bowie: An inmate participant in the creative writing program at Yankton Federal Prison Camp who credited the program with aiding his healing process.2. EventsJim Reese Opening for David Sedaris: In October 2023, Jim Reese opened for David Sedaris at the Orpheum Theater Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Decade of Learning at Federal Prison Camp Yankton: Celebrating Jim Reese’s ten years of teaching creative writing at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp, highlighting the impact of arts in corrections. 3. OrganizationsMount Marty University: A Catholic liberal arts university in Yankton, South Dakota, where Jim Reese serves as Associate...

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• Change the Story Good Trouble Weather Report: Massachusetts

  SummaryIn this Change the Story, Good Trouble “Weather Report” episode, Michael Bobbit, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, joins host BC to examine the turbulent climate for arts and social change under the Trump regime. From the erosion of DEI policies to looming threats against public arts funding, Bobbit underscores the urgent need for advocacy and proactive engagement across the arts sector. This compelling conversation offers both a diagnosis of the current cultural storm and a call to action for artists, organizers, and institutions to reclaim their power in the public square.BioMichael J. Bobbitt is a distinguished theater artist. As the Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council, he is the highest- ranking public official in Massachusetts state government focused on arts and culture.Since 2021, he has led the Agency through several initiatives, including the development of its first Racial Equity Plan, d/Deaf & Disability Equity and Access Plan, and Native American & Indigenous Equity Plan; the launch of the nation’s first statewide Social Prescribing Initiative; the securing and distribution of $60.1 million in pandemic relief funding; and the design and implementation of a strategic plan for fiscal years 2o24-2026. Recently, Michael was listed as one of the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Movement Makers. He has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on both the Governor’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and the newly established Massachusetts Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council, and he recently received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa from Dean College. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He previously served as Artistic Director of the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, MA; immediately prior to this he held the same position at the Adventure Theatre-MTC in Maryland for 12 years. While in Maryland Michael led the organization to be a respected regional theatre training company, and a nationally influential professional Theatre for Young Audiences.Key Moments[00:01:00] – Michael outlines how DEI is central to Mass Cultural Council’s mission—even if that means rejecting NEA funding.[00:02:00] – Discussion on government funding’s symbolic and practical importance in ensuring access to the arts[00:03:00] – Michael warns of the sector’s disorganization compared to housing and gun lobbyists, and calls for operationalizing advocacy.[00:06:00] – “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”: why the arts sector must get political.[00:10:00] – Highlighting current efforts: Theater Offensive’s legal action, Center Stage’s resistance work.[00:11:00] – Summary of Trump-era policies affecting arts and culture—defunding, executive orders, and anti-DEI initiatives.[00:13:00] – Closing reflections and a call to action to remain engaged and support arts advocacy.TakeawaysAdvocacy is essential: Michael stresses that arts organizations must treat political engagement like fundraising or marketing.DEI is non-negotiable: The Mass Cultural Council will not compromise on DEI, even if it jeopardizes federal funding.Government funding sends a message: Beyond finances, it symbolizes societal support for the arts.The threat is real and accelerating: Ongoing executive actions threaten arts institutions, immigrants, and vulnerable communities.Artists must mobilize: This is a critical moment for the arts to reclaim...

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