Creative Change is an annual retreat at the intersection of arts and social justice which brings together a diverse group of leaders committed to transformative social change. Through a combination of intimate group sessions and informal activities, Creative Change is a space where artists, advocates, media makers, cultural organizers and donors can connect, reflect, share ideas, and brainstorm innovative ways of inspiring and mobilizing support for social justice values and solutions through the arts.  The first retreat, in 2009, was initiated by a group of social justice, philanthropic, and arts leaders that include Alan Jenkins, Connie Heller, Jason P. Drucker, Michelle Coffey, and Ann Beeson.

The 2013 Creative Change 5th Anniversary Retreat will take place on Monday, August 5 (evening) - Friday, August 9 (through breakfast) at the Sundance/Redford Conference Center in Utah.

Creative Change is an Invitation-Only event. For more information, please contact Betsy Richards at brichards@opportunityagenda.org.

Sponsors

Creative Change is made possible through the generous support of the Akonadi Foundation, Compton Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, Lambent Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Time Warner Foundation, Unbound Philanthropy, Embrey Family Foundation, and anonymous donors.

Past Retreats

Thank you to everyone whose participation, time, and energy has made Creative Change an inspiring, exciting event.

The programs and participant bios from past retreats are available for download:

2012 program (PDF) and participant bios (PDF) | Sundance, Utah, July 30-August 3
2011 program (PDF) and participant bios (PDF) | Sundance, Utah, August 15-19
2010 program (PDF) and participant bios (PDF) | Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 23-27
2009 program (PDF) and participant bios (PDF) | Telluride, Colorado, August 28-September 1

Creative Change Alumni

Download full list (PDF)

Emily Accamando, The Opportunity Agenda (2010)
Lulani Arquette, Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (2012)
J. Bob Alotta, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice (2011)
Jason Michael Aragón, Pan Left Productions (2011)
Andrea Assaf, Art2Action Inc. (2011)
Caron Atlas, Arts & Democracy Project (2009, 2010)
Orlando Bagwell, Ford Foundation (2011)
Kenneth Bailey, Design Studio for Social Intervention (2012)
Bryonn Bain, Poet, Prison Activist, Actor (2010)
Robert “Biko” Baker III, League of Young Voters Education Fund (2011)
John Bare, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (2011)
Jonathan Barzilay, Ford Foundation (2012)
Maria Bauman, Urban Bush Women (2012)
Ann Beeson, Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation, University of Texas at Austin's College of Communication (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Elizabeth Méndez Berry, Journalist and Consultant (2012)
Janet Dewart Bell, The Opportunity Agenda (2009, 2010)
Angad Bhalla, Time of Day Productions (2012)
Joan Blades, Moveon.org, MomsRising.org, LivingRoomConversations.org (2011)
Johanna Blakley, USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center (2012)
Andrew Boyd, The Other 98% and Beautiful Trouble (2011, 2012)
Stephen Malloy Brackett, Flobots (2011)
Robert Bray, Four Freedoms Fund (2009)
Stanlyn Brevé, National Performance Network (2012)
Kate Brick, Unbound Philanthropy (2012)
Joanie Bronfman, Board Member, Tides Network (2009)
Adrienne Maree Brown, Activist and Social Change Facilitator (2011)
Claudine Brown, Smithsonian Institution (2009)
Denise Brown, Leeway Foundation (2009, 2010)
Tania Bruguera, Artist, Immigrant Movement International (2011)
Shannon Brunette, Lambent Foundation (2009, 2010)
Allan Buchman, Culture Project (2009, 2010)
Rashida Bumbray, Independent Curator (2011)
Daniel Cameron, Orange County Museum of Art (2009)
Jeff Chang, The Culture Group, Stanford University Institute for Diversity in the Arts (2010, 2011)
Ken Sanway Chen, The Asian American Writers’ Workshop (2011, 2012)
Katy Chevigny, Big Mouth Productions (2009, 2010)
Mel Chin, Conceptual Artist (2010)
Eleanor M. Cleverly, MEC Social (2011)
Michelle Coffey, Lambent Foundation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Justin Cole, Fenton Communications (2009)
Steve Colman, Bum Rush the Stage (2011)
Cheryl Contee, Fission Strategy (2009, 2010)
Jean Cook, Future of Music (2010)
Kelly Creedon, Documentary Photographer and Multimedia Producer (2011)
Cindy Lou Cuesta, The Opportunity Agenda (2011, 2012)
Dee Davis, Center for Rural Strategies (2009)
Delia de la Vara, National Council of La Raza (2010)
Maria López De Leon, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (2012)
Mallika Dutt, Breakthrough
Eleni Delimpaltadaki, The Opportunity Agenda (2010)
Quinn Delaney, Akonadi Foundation (2012)
Amalia Deloney, Center for Media Justice (2010)
Kathie deNobriga, Arts & Democracy Project, Alternate ROOTS (2012)
D’Lo, D’LocoKid Productions (2012)
Timothy Dorsey, Open Society Foundations (2010, 2011, 2012)
Jason P. Drucker, The Opportunity Agenda (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Beka Economopoulos, Not An Alternative (2012)
Lolis Eric Elie, Filmmaker and Writer (2012)
Phil Engelhorn, Cinereach (2009)
Shawn Escoffery, Surdna Foundation (2011)
Diane Espaldon, Strategy Consultant (2012)
Jordan Estevao, National People’s Action (2012)
Rachel Falcone, Housing is a Human Right (2012)
Negin Farsad, Comedian, Author, Filmmaker (2011, 2012)
Bruce Ferguson, American University in Cairo (2010)
Ken Foster, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (2010, 2011)
Diane Fraher Thornton, Filmmaker-­‐AMERINDA Inc. (2009)
LaToya Ruby Frazier, Photographer and Multimedia Artist (2012)
Michael John Garcés, Cornerstone Theater Company (2011)
Benjamin Gass, Spitfire Strategies (2011)
Rebecca Gates, Musician, Artist and Editor (2012)
Theaster Gates, Jr., Rebuild Foundation Chair, Director of Arts and Public Life, University of Chicago, (2011, 2012)
Rha Goddess, Move the Crowd, Performing Artist (2010, 2011)
Gan Golan, Artist, ArtIsMyOccupation.org (2011, 2012)
Jesse Goldstein, Visual Artist (2012)
Scott Goodstein, Revolution Messaging (2009)
Inez Gonzalez, National Hispanic Media Coalition (2011)
Javier Gonzalez, Sound Strike (2011)
Hakim Green, Channel Live (2012)
Ken Grossinger, CrossCurrents Foundation (2011)
Lani Guinier, Lawyer, Scholar, Civil Rights Activist (2011)
Lori Hanau, Global Round Table Leadership (2011)
Connie Heller, Co-­‐Director, Linked Fate Fund for Justice (2009)
Mia Herndon, Consultant, Former Executive Director, Third Wave Foundation (2012)
Taryn Higashi, Unbound Philanthropy (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Micky Hingorani, Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention (2010)
Erlin Ibreck, Open Society Foundations (2009)
Kemi Ilesanmi, The Laundromat Project (2012)
Jakada Imani, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (2012)
Ian Inaba, Citizen Engagement Lab (2010, 2011, 2012)
Jesus Iñiguez, DreamersAdrift (2012)
Sarah Ingersoll, text4baby (2009, 2010)
invincible, Musician and Community Activist (2011)
Jayson Jackson, Bum Rush the Stage (2011)
Maria Rosario Jackson, The Kresge Foundation (2011)
Beth Janson, Tribeca Film Institute (2011)
Alan Jenkins, The Opportunity Agenda (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Carol Jenkins, Media Consultant, Women’s Media Center (2009)
Judi Jennings, The Kentucky Foundation for Women (2010)
Tammy Johnson, Applied Research Center (2012)
Alexis McGill Johnson, American Values Institute (2010, 2011)
Jason Jones, Not an Alternative (2012)
Si Kahn, Musician and Activist (2009)
Shalini Kantayya, Documentary Filmmaker (2011)
Robert Karimi, ThePeoplesCook.org (2012)
Diane R. Karp, Santa Fe Art Institute (2010)
Maurine D. Knighton, Nathan Cummings Foundation (2011, 2012)
Sally Kohn, Writer and TV Pundit (2009, 2010)
Brian Komar, Center for American Progress (2010)
Pam Korza, Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts (2009, 2011)
Wayne Kramer, Jail Guitar Doors USA (2010)
Amitava Kumar, Vassar College, The Asian American Writers’ Workshop (2012)
Nishat Kurwa, Youth Radio (2010)
Geraldine Laybourne, Founder, Oxygen Media (2009)
Kit Laybourne, Professor, Author, Animator (2009)
Jeanette Lee, Allied Media Projects (2010)
Todd Lester, Global Arts Corps (2011)
Kirsten Levingston, Ford Foundation (2009)
Wendy Levy, New Arts Axis (2012)
Mark Lipman, Holding Ground Productions (2012)
Jean Little, Pequot Museum (2012)
Tatiana Litvin, i.am angel Foundation (2011)
Natasha Logan, Producer (2012)
Rick Lowe, Project Row Houses (2009)
David Lubell, Welcoming America (2011, 2012)
Neal MacMillan, Musician (2009)
Idelisse Malavé, Organizational Consultant (2012)
Eva-­‐Marie Malone, The Opportunity Agenda (2012)
Liz Manne, FilmAid International (2009, 2010, 2011)
Kathy Mattea, Musician (2009)
Cassandra Medley, Playwright (2011)
Mike Medow, Allied Media Projects (2012)
Cara Mertes, Sundance Institute (2010, 2011)
Alan Michelson, Artist (2012)
Jim Miller, Brave New Films (2009)
Michelle Miller, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, Georgetown University (2011, 2012)
Elizabeth Minnich, Philosopher and Writer (2009)
Erik Moe, Service Employees International Union (2012)
Amy Morris, Surdna Foundation (2011)
Courtney Desiree Morris, Scholar and Activist (2010)
Taij Moteelall, Media Sutra (2009, 2010)
Ross Mudrick, The Opportunity Agenda (2009, 2011, 2012)
Tufara Waller Muhammad, Highlander Center, Alternate ROOTS (2012)
Scott Nielsen, Alexander Nielsen Consulting (2011)
Alex Nogales, National Hispanic Media Coalition (2012)
Rebecca O’Doherty, Educator (2009)
Maria Gabriela "Gaby" Pacheco, Trail of Dreams (2011)
Raul Pacheco, Ozomatli (2012)
Eli Pariser, Upworthy, MoveOn.org (2009)
Anne Pasternak, Creative Time (2011)
Rachel Payne, FEM Inc. (2009)
Martin Perna, Antibalas and Ocote Soul Sounds (2010)
Bao Phi, The Loft Literary Center (2012)
Mimi Pickering, Documentary Filmmaker, Appalshop (2009)
Erin Potts, Air Traffic Control (2010, 2011)
Lori Pourier, First Peoples Fund (2010, 2012)
Michael Premo, Housing is a Human Right (2012)
Estevan Rael-­‐Gálvez, National Trust for Historic Preservation (2010)
Laura Raicovich, Creative Time (2012)
Dania Rajendra, Neighborhood Funders Group (2012)
Mike Raisler, Cinereach (2009)
Toshi Reagon, Singer, Songwriter and Musician (2010, 2011)
Steven Renderos, Center for Media Justice (2010)
Yosimar Reyes, Poet and Activist (2012)
Laurie Jo Reynolds, Artist and Activist (2010)
Ryan Rice, Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (2010)
Damon Rich, Designer and Artist (2011)
Betsy Theobald Richards, The Opportunity Agenda (2011, 2012)
Alex Rivera, Digital Media Artist and Filmmaker (2011)
Gibrán X. Rivera, Interaction Institute for Social Change (2009, 2010, 2012)
Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange (2011)
Takema Robinson, The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (2009)
Favianna Rodriguez, Visual Artist (2011, 2012)
Raymond Roker, URB Magazine and Red Bull Media House (2011)
Julie Rowe, The Opportunity Agenda (2011)
N. Bird Runningwater, Sundance Institute (2009)
Archana Sahgal, Open Society Foundations (2012)
Julio Salgado, DreamersAdrift (2012)
Phillip Sanchez, Time Warner Foundation (2011)
Carlos Sandoval, Camino Bluff Productions (2011)
Ellen Schneider, Active Voice (2009, 2011)
Rinku Sen, Applied Research Center (2011, 2012)
Yosi Sergant, Task Force (2010, 2011)
Jose Serrano-­‐McClain, Queens Museum of Art (2011)
Rashid Shabazz, Open Society Foundations (2011)
Andy Shallal, Busboys and Poets (2011)
Tayyib Smith, Little Giant Media (2011)
Kim Snyder, Documentary Filmmaker (2010)
Jennifer Sokolove, Compton Foundation (2012)
Leslie Stem, Transformazium (2011)
Lynn Stern, Surdna Foundation (2010, 2011, 2012)
Darnell Strom, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Foundation (2012)
Molly Sturges, Littleglobe (2011)
Vicky Holt Takamine, Executive Director, PA'I (2011)
Catherine Tambini, Producer and Filmmaker (2011)
Rulan Tangen, Founding Artistic Director and Choreographer, Dancing Earth Creations (2010)
Loris Taylor, Native Public Media (2009, 2010)
Hank Willis Thomas, Artist (2012)
Juhu Thukral, The Opportunity Agenda (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Jenny Toomey, Ford Foundation (2009, 2010, 2011)
Sheila Tousey, Actress, Director and Writer (2012)
Anasa Troutman, Lion & Butterfly/Art is Change (2010)
Carlton Turner, Alternate ROOTS (2009, 2012)
Roberta Uno, Ford Foundation (2011, 2012)
Robert Valencia, The Opportunity Agenda (2011)
Lisa Valencia-­‐Svensson, Storyline Entertainment (2012)
Jose Antonio Vargas, Multimedia Storyteller and Journalist (2012)
Emily Verellen, The Fledgling Fund (2012)
Jon Vezner, Musician (2009)
Dan S. Wang, Writer and Artist (2012)
Melinda Weekes, Applied Research Center (2011, 2012)
Elon James White, This Week in Blackness (2010, 2011)
David Whitlock, Purpose Media (2009)
Timothy Wilkins, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (2009, 2010, 2011)
Billy Wimsatt, All Hands On Deck, Gamechangers Salon (2011)
Roger Ross Williams, Documentary Filmmaker (2010)
Erica Williams, Foolish Life Ventures (2012)
Jasiri X, Musician (2012)
Mirah Zeitlyn, Musician and Recording Artist (2012)
Ivan Zimmerman, WNYC Radio (2009)
Jawole Zollar, Urban Bush Women (2009)