Presenters: Sterling Toles, the Detroit Griot Collaborative, Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, EastSide Arts Alliance, Emergence Media

In a basement on the East side of Detroit, Sterling Toles runs a recording studio where mentorship is intentionally a part of the recording process. Meanwhile, downtown, the Detroit Griot Collaborative works out of the Harold Berry Media Center to conduct inter-generational oral history projects. In the South Bronx, the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective launched a community space where studio time is given out in exchange for volunteer hours and community events support local organizing. In East Oakland, the EastSide Arts Alliance builds bridges between diverse neighborhoods through public art projects, festivals & free art workshops for youth.

This spectrum of models from individual, to collective, to non profit organizations, will be presented and exchanged in this meet up. We invite anyone working in, or thinking of starting, a community performance/studio space, to join us for a discussion about how to be effective and sustainable while transforming our communities!