Arts Activation 2024: Harmony and Healing

 

A day of inspiring workshops, art experiences, performances, and conversation about the intersection of arts and health.

Summary

There is a global movement to catalyze the arts for health. Boston Arts Activation 2024: Harmony and Healing (BAA2024) brings a global conversation to Boston to inspire collaborations and celebrate local initiatives. Bringing together artists, thought-leaders, healthcare professionals, and arts-focused organizations, BAA2024 features a full day of workshops, art experiences, performances, and conversation about the intersection of arts and health in the Greater Roxbury and Dorchester communities. Collectively, we will exchange ideas, hear from innovative voices, and experience firsthand the way the arts are a force for well-being.

This is a free event, open and accessible to all. 

Download the Program Book (PDF) 

Outcomes

This inaugural activation centered on healing, community, and purpose, engaging in discussions about preventing recidivism, reclaiming cultural identities, and exploring the significance of music and spirituality in BIPOC communities. BAA2024 showcased how the arts can address social determinants of health, exceeding expectations by fostering meaningful connections, igniting innovative dialogues, and providing transformative experiences for all involved.

Schedule

9:15 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Registration and Tabling (lobby)

9:45 a.m.–10:15 a.m. Welcome Remarks (lobby)

9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Quiet Reflection Room Open (second floor annex)

10:15 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Experiential and Performance: Stephen O’Neal (Musician) and Stajez Cultural Arts Center(Opens in a new window) (lobby)

10:40 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Keynote: Catalyzing Change—The Arts as a Pathway to Health Equity in BIPOC Communities (2nd floor auditorium) 

This keynote conversation will explore how the arts can play a vital role in improving mental health and resilience in BIPOC communities. Leaders in arts and health will discuss how thoughtfully designed arts programs can bridge cultural divides, promote healing, and inspire collective action for justice and equity. Attendees will gain insights into how storytelling, power-sharing, and community engagement can address health inequities and shape a more resilient future.

Facilitator: Rev. Liz Walker (Minister, Veteran Television Journalist(Opens in a new window)) 

Panelists: 

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Conversation 1: Rich Cultural Identities—Decolonizing the Expressive Arts (second floor auditorium)

What happens when we reclaim the art forms of our ancestors? In this panel, we explore the movement to decolonize the expressive arts by embracing and celebrating cultural traditions within ancient and indigenous healing practices. It’s a conversation about reclaiming healing through art rooted in culture and identity.

Facilitator: Ron Savage, President and Founder, Ron Savage Music Academy(Opens in a new window) and Vice President and Executive Director, Berklee College of Music

Experiential Lead: Robert Kelley-Morgan, Director of Operations, Dorchester Art Project(Opens in a new window)

Panelists: 

 

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Artist Workshop: Why Accessibility Matters In Your Work (6th floor)

Ellice Patterson MS, founder/executive and artistic director of Abilities Dance Boston(Opens in a new window), will discuss why accessibility matters within your work through examples of disability aesthetics in arts and conversations relevant to your practice. Attendees will explore strategies to increase accessibility, ensuring that deaf/disabled folks can work in and/or participate in arts-based programs, fostering creativity and connection for everyone. Designed for artists and arts administrators.

12:30 p.m.–1:15 p.m. Lunch Break with DJ Hustle Simmons (6th floor)

1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Break

1:30 p.m.–1:50 p.m. Experiential: Urbanity Dance (lobby)

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m. Conversation 2: Healing from Intergenerational Trauma (2nd floor auditorium)

How do we break the cycles of trauma passed down through generations? Join this important conversation on intergenerational trauma, where panelists discuss the power of storytelling, music, and art to heal old wounds and help communities reclaim their mental and emotional health.

Facilitator: Renate Rohlfing, MA, MT-BC, Co-Founder, Sounds That Carry(Opens in a new window), and Associate Professor, Berklee’s Music Therapy Department

Experiential Lead: Danza Organica(Opens in a new window)

Panelists:

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Conversation 3: Unlocked — Preventing Recidivism Through the Arts (2nd floor auditorium)
Can art change lives? This panel explores how creative expression is transforming the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals by amplifying voices, nurturing a sense of purpose, and as a path away from the cycle of recidivism. Learn how the arts are unlocking potential and offering hope for a fresh start.

Facilitator: Krystal Pegram, Executive Director, RPC Social Impact Center(Opens in a new window)

Experiential Lead: Stephen O’Neal, Musician

Panelists:

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Conversation 4: Music, Health, and Spirituality in BIPOC Communities (6th floor)

Discover the powerful connection between music, health, and spirituality in BIPOC communities. This panel dives into how music has long been a source of healing, strength, and belonging, and how it continues to play a crucial role in overcoming health challenges and nurturing spiritual well-being.

Facilitator: Shea Rose, Recording Artist, Voice and Yoga Coach(Opens in a new window), and Assistant Professor, Berklee’s Professional Performance Division

Experiential Lead: Wyatt Jackson, Expressive Arts Coordinator, Can We Talk Network…(Opens in a new window), and Executive Director, We Move in Color Collaborative, Inc(Opens in a new window).

Panelists:

4:00 p.m.–4:50 p.m. Experiential: Can We Talk Network…(Opens in a new window) (2nd floor auditorium)

Facilitated by the Rev. Liz Walker (Minister, Veteran Television Journalist(Opens in a new window)) and the staff of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center/Can We Talk Network ..., this experiential session gives space for participants to tell their stories of trauma and triumph in a safe and affirming context. Expressive Artists are intertwined with the stories to create an atmosphere of abiding, reflection, and community healing.   

5:00 p.m.–5:20 p.m. Closing Experiential: Amanda Shea (Spoken Word Artist) & Carrie Johnson (Singer) Performing Gen Rubin’s Original Song, "Harmony in Healing" (lobby)

5:20 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Closing Remarks (lobby) 

5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Reception (6th floor)

Musical interludes throughout the day by Pat Loomis 

Tabling Organizations

Community Music Center of Boston(Opens in a new window)

Center for Music Therapy at Berklee

New Beginnings(Opens in a new window)

Central Boston Elder Services(Opens in a new window)

Dorchester Art Project(Opens in a new window)

Front Porch Arts(Opens in a new window)

Roxbury Cultural District(Opens in a new window)

People’s HeART(Opens in a new window)

Christine Sinclair: Stop and Shop Community Health Counselor(Opens in a new window)

Contact

Musicandhealthinstitute@berklee.edu

Cosponsored by Can We Talk Network…(Opens in a new window)

can we talk logo