Mark Rodriguez's powerpoint presentation at Americans for the Arts' Cultural Equity Precon, Annual Convention 2015

1. Ten
Thousand
Ripples
Public Art,
Peace and
Civic
Engagement
Initiative

2. Changing Worlds - An educational arts nonprofit devoted
to fostering inclusive communities through oral history,
writing and art programs that improve student learning,
affirm identity and enhance cross-cultural understanding.
Ten Thousand Ripples - An innovative public art, peace
and civic engagement initiative that placed artists,
community leaders and residents at the center of arts
planning and community engagement processes.
The project highlights public art and its role to serve as a
creative catalyst for community conversations, artistic
residencies and interactions about art, peace and
contemporary social issues
About Changing Worlds &
Ten Thousand Ripples

3. Ten Thousand Ripples in Action

4. TTR Initiated Activities
15%
13%
10%
12%13%
8%
7%
7%
7%
5%
3%
Community Dialogues
Peace/nonviolenceprogramming
Community ArtPrograms
Community Arts Planning
School-based ArtsPrograms
Interfaith Dialogues
Community Beautification Efforts
Community Forums/Conferences
Intergenerationalprogramming
Health and Wellness Activities
Rallies and parades

6. • Expanded Arts Education opportunities in
partnership with over 16 Chicago Public Schools
• Increased community engagement in key partner
communities with public art and non-violence
community initiatives developed
• Increased collaboration among community-based
organizations, artists, community planners and art
organizations.
• Project linked residents and neighborhoods together
and helped promote cultural awareness understanding.
•Supported and cultivated neighborhood based planning
around public space, arts and cultural programs.
Initial Project Outcomes

7. Future Planned Activities
Framework
for Annual
/ Routine
Community
Dialogues
8% Peace/Nonviolence
Programming
11%
Community-Based Art
Programs
17%
Neighborhood Based Arts
Planning
11%
School-based Arts Programs
9%
Interfaith Dialogues
11%
Arts and Community
Economic Development
9%
Community
Forums/Conferences
3%
Rallies and Parades
3%
Community Beautification
Efforts
9%
Arts and Youth Restorative
Justice Iniatitives
3%
Urban
Gardening
6%

9. • Intergenerational
• Arts and Advocacy
• Sustainability through Community Art Action Plans
• Micro (individual)/Macro (community) relationships
• Cross-Sector
• Resource Leveraging
• Asset-based Approach
• Citizen Driven
Program Common Elements

10. • 100 Buddha sculptures installed across the Chicago area
• 940 Facebook followers from Chicago and over 20
different countries.
• 87 community, education and art organizations involved
• 9 Chicago area communities engaged in the project
• 16 Chicago Public Schools engaged in expanded
arts, peace and nonviolence programming.
• 32 community and artistic programming planning meetings
• 2 new community arts planning initiatives underway and
1 new arts corridor in discussion
• 11 artist employed
• 14 public spaces transformed into gardens or urban retreats
By the Numbers - The Ripple Effect