Category: Social Change

Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson, WY

Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit on October 15-16, 2024 in Jackson, WY. Climate activist and author Ayana Elizabeth Johnson headlines this year’s summit, organized by Mountain Towns 2030, bringing together over 500 stakeholders from 60+ mountain communities. The summit, hosted at the Center for the Arts, will feature 30+ breakout sessions focused on climate action, clean energy, and collaboration. Keynote speakers include EPA’s KC Becker, Indigenous leader,James Rattling Leaf, and Benji Backer of the American Conservation Coalition. The event will close with a discussion between Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America, and David Roberts,host of the Volts podcast.

Meet Pepper Pong

Pepper Pong, an innovative game created in Denver, emerged from Tom Filippini’s journey of overcoming addiction and mental health challenges. Positioned between the complexities of ping pong and the simplicity of pickleball, Pepper Pong offers a unique, fun, and accessible experience for everyone.

Advocating for Arts Education: A Call to Support Fiscal Year 2025 Initiatives

“Advocates push for increased funding and policy reforms to bolster arts education in American schools. Urging Congress to support initiatives like the ‘Arts Education for All’ bill, they highlight the transformative impact of arts learning on student engagement and well-being. With a focus on equity and access, these efforts aim to nurture creativity and inclusivity in education.”

American Music Tourism Act to Support and Increase Music Tourism

Hickenlooper, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Music Tourism. Music tourism will reach $11.3 billion in revenue (projected) nationwide by 2032. The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries, generating over $43 billion in revenue annually. Recently, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan American Music Tourism Act to support and increase music tourism by requiring the Commerce Department to implement a plan to increase and attract domestic and international visitors to venues nationwide.

Get Grüvi – Not Hungover

But how can it be beer be without alcohol? That’s so confusing. It’s beer? It’s wine? But not alcohol? Can the two things can’t coexist? Anika Sawni Co-Founder, and Chief Brand Officer of Grüvi, says, “100 percent they can” and they can also taste good. If you try a Grüvi nonalcoholic beer blindfolded, you cannot tell the difference.

Art to Live Funding Lilith’s Daughter’s Alter’s Dreams

Alexandria Wilson, the founder of Lilith’s Daughters Altar, and Adorner of Dreams at The Lyric. Alex has a unique story of embarking on a creative and artistic journey to save her life. During the pandemic, her world shifted and her decision to live a more meaningful life took full effect. Making art was not just a hobby but a therapy for her, as she was getting sober. It was a means for purpose and creation, but equally a pathway for her to help others.

Programs for youth..everywhere

Youth on Record (YOR) recognizes that education alone can not solve systemic injustice, nor can it alone liberate youth. Art is a powerful tool, but it also cannot bear the sole responsibility of creating more equitable communities. Still, education and art, when integrated under the right framework, are powerful tools for liberation and equity.

Liz Lawrence

Liz Lawrence, a talented designer based in Colorado Springs, channels her passion into her brand, Lizigns. With a focus on graphic and fashion design, Liz creates wearable art by repurposing thrifted finds. Overcoming challenges as a Black female designer, she emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her work. Liz recently launched Been Thrifty Vintage Mystery Boxes, curating personalized thrifted items. Committed to supporting the Black community, she advocates for genuine connections and inclusive opportunities. Discover her designs and unique approach to creativity at Lizigns.

A Win: Grab-n-Go Snowfox Sushi Meets Hunger and Art Head On

Grab and Go Sushi at grocery store sushi kiosks, fill both an educational and culinary void in Americans’ sushi consumption. Snowfox offers franchises for sushi entrepreneurs, along with a two week training course at its Houston headquarters. After passing a food licensing examination, franchise investors are granted a certificate. This opportunity offers freedom for many refugees to own their business and develop a lifelong skill, empowering them to be self sufficient.

Start Where You Stand, Support The Cultural Enrichment Center

Jamal Skinner, founder and Executive Director of FoCo Cultural Enrichment Center asks, “Initially, I challenge the community. 170,000 people are living in this community. Probably point zero-zero-2% of that are Black teenagers. So my idea is, can we find 1% of 170,000 people who are willing to contribute $5 a month?”

Stand like an Oak with Compassion and Strength

“Music can be a great equalizer…. bringing folks together across the boundaries of country, language, ideals, religions, rage, gender, politics, and everything else that can separate us. I believe, and have felt in the music that I love, a deepening of my own spirit when in musical spaces. A certain levity as well. Some could call it spiritual. Others may call it celebratory. Either way, art calls us into a very sacred space… outside of our heads and our to do lists. From that space, so many things can be built and reimagined. We need artists at the table of policy and design and education. Artists bring the charisma and magnetism that the world is drawn to. Without that, where is the intrigue?”

Big Trouble Little Dumpling Opens with Socially Distanced Driveway Soup Kitchen

If you ask Sam Graf, he’ll tell you dumplings are the perfect food. In fact, he’ll tell you he doesn’t think he’s met anybody who doesn’t like dumplings. This isn’t an idle statement. Graf will also tell you how the dumplings he cooks in his driveway never stick around for long.

Graf has spent ten years exploring dumpling houses. Growing up, he ate potstickers, typically the frozen ones. His first taste of an authentic Asian dumpling was in New York City, in a counter shop lined by steam tables filled with dumplings. You pick out a bunch and they go into a box. From Chicago dim sum to SoHo, Graf has sampled dumplings in big cities and dumplings cooked in shacks to experience the art form. Learning along the way, it reaffirmed he was on the right track but still had to taste more.

RamaMama restaurateur gets what he needs, if not what he wanted

After the pandemic’s arrival and abrupt shutdowns, Lawyer used the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program to float payroll for his core employee base. But when the non-profit Homeward Alliance reached out with a plan to provide two meals daily to homeless people at the Northside Aztland Center in downtown FOCO, he found an opportunity to coordinate with the rescue mission and Catholic Charities to minimize the downtown FOCO homeless population footprint. For 68 day days straight — the beginning of April and into June —, he woke at 4:30 each morning to prepare individually boxed, ready to serve meals. A tight budget required menu creativity, and with little to no employees, he pulled it all together. Lawyer said he was lucky to have the equipment and the commissary — the hub of his company’s food truck and catering operations.

The Juice, The Sauce, and The Love.

Love’s title track, The Juice (feat. Marcus King), is the quintessential part of the entire album. This is the most critical part of the work G. Love and Special Sauce is doing right now. “That song is a protest song about where we’re at right now, about the Trump administration, and his Presidency and kind of how I feel it needs to go.” The Juice is a rallying cry, offering some support to activists, and a call to politicians for change. “Juice is supporting people trying to get [Trump] him out of there and encouraging more people to vote, encouraging people with progressive agendas and liberal values. You know. Giving them some energy.”