Artists for Equity

(Formally known as the Inclusion Coalition)

Creating brave spaces for young dancers, movers, and artivists to make community & industry change.

Video Advocacy Projects

The Inclusion Coalition, program of the Arts Mentorship Program, and Santa Barbara Dance Arts teamed up to celebrate Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Justice.

Youth leaders play a crucial role in promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice (DEIJ) programs through the power of ARTIVISM for several reasons:

1. Representation: Youth leaders often bring fresh perspectives and represent diverse communities. Their involvement ensures that DEIJ initiatives are inclusive and relevant to the experiences of various groups.

2. Empowerment: Youth leaders inspire and empower their peers to engage in DEIJ efforts. They can serve as role models, motivating others to embrace the arts as a tool for social change.

3. Creativity and Innovation: Young people tend to be creative and innovative. They can develop new approaches to DEIJ programs that use the arts to address social issues, making them more effective and engaging.

4. Interconnectedness: The arts have a unique ability to bridge cultural gaps and foster empathy. Youth leaders can use the arts to connect people from different backgrounds, promoting unity and understanding.

5. Long-term Impact: Engaging youth in DEIJ through the arts can have a lasting impact as they grow into future leaders and advocates, continuing the work of promoting equity and justice.

The Inclusion Coalition Program is a Youth-Led initiative that is instrumental in driving DEIJ programs through the arts, ensuring that these initiatives are inclusive, inspiring, and capable of creating positive social change in our home, community, society, and world.

  • Women Empowerment

    ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 AMP is proud to AMPlify youth leaders voices and debut their 2024 Video Advocacy Project on the First Day of Women’s History Month. This year the VAP is in honor of all the trans women, non - binary people, and powerful women in history that paved the way for the leaps we have taken in women rights, empowerment, and embodiment. It is for the women to come to carry the torch of freedom and liberation. Take action now and call your senators, join local movements to advocate for access, support community organizing efforts as people march for their rights to self, body, and mind. As Demi Lovato states,“Women empowerment is using your voice to help the voiceless women be heard. Women empowerment is taking action now not when it’s convenient.” ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 AMP se enorgullece de AMPlificar las voces de los líderes jóvenes y presentar su Proyecto de abogacía de videos 2024 (por sus siglas en inglés VAP) en el primer día del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer. Este año, el VAP es en honor a todas las mujeres trans, personas no binarias y mujeres poderosas de la historia que allanaron el camino para los avances que hemos dado en los derechos, el empoderamiento y la encarnación de las mujeres. Corresponde a las mujeres venir a llevar la antorcha de la libertad y la liberación. Tome medidas ahora y llame a sus senadores, únase a movimientos locales para abogar por el acceso, apoye los esfuerzos de organización comunitaria mientras las personas marchan por sus derechos a sí mismos, a su cuerpo y a su mente. Como afirma Demi Lovato: “El empoderamiento de las mujeres es usar tu voz para ayudar a que las mujeres que no tienen voz sean escuchadas. El empoderamiento de las mujeres es tomar medidas ahora, no cuando es conveniente”.

    Watch It

  • PRIDE

    PRIDE is to celebrate and coexist in Joy to learn about LGBTQ+ communities and show up as Allies. The Video Advocacy Project is a youth-driven, mentor-led project whose this years’ goal is to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and communities while advocating through dance and movement and ARTivists for more inclusive dance and community spaces for all.

    As the world emerges from a global pandemic and heals from the collective experiences and trauma. We keep in mind what Toni Morrison shared, “It’s not possible to constantly hold onto crisis. You have to have love and you have to have the magic. That’s also life.” The Inclusion Coalition youth have committed themselves as allies as they recognize their collective voices as a tool to amplify and support the LGBTQ+ movement.

    They hope this brings a smile to people's faces and opens up people’s hearts on their views to communities and identities different from their own to learn and to listen on how to take action and creates spaces of belonging, respect, safety, and joy.

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  • Inclusive Dance

    Description The intersection of dance and disabilities is a dynamic and evolving field that enriches the dance world and provides numerous benefits to individuals with disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, creativity, and the celebration of diverse abilities in the arts.

    Santa Barbara Dance Arts and The Arts Mentorship Program Inclusion Coalition teamed up with Never Give Up, Autism Embrace, and Gwendolyn's Playground to learn about disabilities and inclusion and turn it into art. This youth-driven, mentor-led project's goal is to raise awareness about disabilities and advocate for a more inclusive dance space for all. Plus, please consider a donation to Gwendolyn's Playground, Santa Barbara's first inclusive playground: https://nevergiveup.org/playground/

    Thank you to Gianna Burright our Producer and Teen Videographer Katie Gonella and our generous drone operator Ryan Von Grau along with all of our community dancers and participants. Also special thank you to Victoria Strong, for being the epitome of NEVER GIVE UP. We love sharing Gwendolyn's story through dance!

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