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Friday, May 10, 2013

NEWS: New Utah Arts & Museums Change Leaders Certified


New Utah Arts & Museums Change Leaders Certified

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Arts & Museums recognized 16 certifying graduates of the Change Leader Institute, an innovative leadership development program for people interested in advancing their communities through culture and the arts. The certifying Change Leaders are:

Jean Cheney, Utah Humanities Council
Ken Crossley, EngAGE Utah
Jeremy Dabb, Defend the Arts
Andrea DeHaan, Cache Valley Center for the Arts
Laura Durham, Utah Arts & Museums
Maryo Gard Ewell, Colorado Creative Industries
Kristen Jensen, Utah Division of State History
Mary Ann Kirk, Murray City Cultural Arts
Katie Lee, Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery, Weber State University
Rhiana Medina, Moab Valley Multicultural Center
Vickie Elisabeth Morgan, University of Utah
Amanda Robinson, South Jordan Public Art & Cultural Development Board
Melissa Singleton, Utah Symphony Utah Opera
Maria Sykes, Epicenter
Rachel Wheeler, Roosevelt Junior High School
Lisa Zumpft, Zion Harvest

“Change Leaders across Utah are strengthening their communities through arts and culture,” said Lynnette Hiskey, Interim Director of Utah Arts & Museums. “We are pleased to welcome these new graduates to the network. They have already made an impact with their certification projects, and we look forward to following their progress as they engage with each other and with their communities.”

Change Leaders acquire communication and community-building skills in a three-day intensive training course and then design and complete a certification project, applying what they have learned. Once certified, participants join a network of more than 150 Change Leaders across Utah who regularly convene, partner on projects, mentor each other and generate positive change.

Among the ranks of Change Leaders are artists, museum professionals, mayors, executive directors, volunteers, professors, government employees, entrepreneurs and many others. What they have in common is a connection to arts and culture and a level of engagement in their communities.
Certification projects allow Change Leaders to utilize their training in a practical, individually meaningful way. Projects for this class of Change Leaders included:

•              Engaging underserved students and helping them see themselves as future college students
•              Enhancing the quality of life for the state’s growing older adult population through continuing education
•              Organizing free cross-disciplinary art classes for all ages
•              Planning a searchable, organized and up-to-date artist directory
•              Inspiring people to recognize how art has enhanced their quality of life by identifying and recognizing Utah’s most influential artists
•              Creating a year of events exploring water issues through the arts
•              Designing a new Web site
•              Launching a community storytelling festival
•              Developing a new branding identity for a gallery
•              Conducting a community needs assessment
•              Using art-based methods to encourage girls from a Title I elementary school to consider higher education
•              Recognizing local artists through monthly exhibits of their work
•              Implementing a volunteer appreciation program
•              Empowering rural towns through visual data and information
•              Motivating orchestra students through an annual Halloween concert
•              Helping a community have better access to local foods and education regarding better living

For more information about the Change Leader Program or a list of certified Change Leaders, visit artsandmuseums.utah.gov.

Photo caption information, from left: Lynnette Hiskey, Jason Bowcutt, Rhianna Medina, Jean Cheney, Mary Ann Kirk, Maryo Gard Ewell, Melissa Singleton, Vicke Morgan, Kristen Johnson, Maria Sykes, Lisa Zumpft, Laura Durham, Ken Crossley, Katie Lee, Andrea DeHaan, Julie Fisher, Amanda Robinson, Rachel Wheeler, Wendi Hassan, Jeremy Dabb.

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