I was deeply moved and inspired by our last advocacy meeting. It is my sense that we are moving away from a standardized approach to arts advocacy, into a more meaningful, relevant view of how to effect systemic change in Sonoma County.
We mentioned the model started in Venezuela by Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu called El Sistema. Below is an excerpt from an interview he did with 60 Minutes. There is much to learn from this extraordinary program - the question is, how do we make it relevant to our efforts?
From 60 Minutes clip:
Dr. José Antonio Abreu, a 69-year-old retired economist, trained musician, and social reformer founded "the system" in 1975 and has built it with religious zeal, based on his unorthodox belief that what poor Venezuelan kids needed was classical music.
"Essentially this is a social system that fights poverty," Abreu explained. "A child's physical poverty is overcome by the spiritual richness that music provides."
"So, music actually becomes the vehicle for social change?" Simon asked.
"Without a doubt," Abreu replied. "And that is what's happening in Venezuela."
Can't we make that happen in Sonoma County, too!
To view the clip, click here
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Wow!! Amazing story. A few inspired leaders with vision can make so much difference.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had time to view the clip, but I like the direction of this conversation. Another collection of stories about how art changes lives is available in a book by William Cleveland: Art and Upheaval (I mentioned it at our last meeting). You can check it out at www.new villagepress.net
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