[Music] I want you to picture the scene
I want you to picture the scene
I want you to picture the scene I look around an empty circle of chairs
I look around an empty circle of chairs
I look around an empty circle of chairs hold in my marker pen like a little
hold in my marker pen like a little
hold in my marker pen like a little sword and tap in my foot the door to the
sword and tap in my foot the door to the
sword and tap in my foot the door to the workshop is open it has to be I don’t
workshop is open it has to be I don’t
workshop is open it has to be I don’t have any keys yet there’s an officer
have any keys yet there’s an officer
have any keys yet there’s an officer standing by the door here’s a piece of
standing by the door here’s a piece of
standing by the door here’s a piece of paper on it a list of names
paper on it a list of names
paper on it a list of names it’s just names that’s all I know right
it’s just names that’s all I know right
it’s just names that’s all I know right now or names and why they’re here what
now or names and why they’re here what
now or names and why they’re here what they’ve done GBH manslaughter kidnap we
they’ve done GBH manslaughter kidnap we
they’ve done GBH manslaughter kidnap we intent to commit a sexual offense soon
intent to commit a sexual offense soon
intent to commit a sexual offense soon the guys arrive I keep them as they come
the guys arrive I keep them as they come
the guys arrive I keep them as they come in no handshakes yet not much eye
in no handshakes yet not much eye
in no handshakes yet not much eye contact mate what is this you said I’ve
contact mate what is this you said I’ve
contact mate what is this you said I’ve got on this gym for this he said I’m not
got on this gym for this he said I’m not
got on this gym for this he said I’m not a man and that’s why I need to man up
a man and that’s why I need to man up
a man and that’s why I need to man up and I come to this course fast forward
and I come to this course fast forward
and I come to this course fast forward one hour that big group huddled round
one hour that big group huddled round
one hour that big group huddled round smaller flipcharts each of them thinking
smaller flipcharts each of them thinking
smaller flipcharts each of them thinking about some of the influences that shape
about some of the influences that shape
about some of the influences that shape how men see themselves the media
how men see themselves the media
how men see themselves the media childhood bad relationships fast
childhood bad relationships fast
childhood bad relationships fast forwards one day that same grouper
forwards one day that same grouper
forwards one day that same grouper standing on their feet there’s a six
standing on their feet there’s a six
standing on their feet there’s a six foot two bearded man who’s been a role
foot two bearded man who’s been a role
foot two bearded man who’s been a role play he’s playing the part of a mother
play he’s playing the part of a mother
play he’s playing the part of a mother who’s just found out her son has been
who’s just found out her son has been
who’s just found out her son has been sent to prison fast forward two more
sent to prison fast forward two more
sent to prison fast forward two more days day three the governor from the
days day three the governor from the
days day three the governor from the prison is sat in the audience a group of
prison is sat in the audience a group of
prison is sat in the audience a group of men who three days before struggle to
men who three days before struggle to
men who three days before struggle to look at each other in the eye are
look at each other in the eye are
look at each other in the eye are standing up on that makeshift stage in
standing up on that makeshift stage in
standing up on that makeshift stage in the back room as a cold Victorian prison
the back room as a cold Victorian prison
the back room as a cold Victorian prison and they’re talking about what they’ve
and they’re talking about what they’ve
and they’re talking about what they’ve learnt about themselves they’re sharing
learnt about themselves they’re sharing
learnt about themselves they’re sharing some of the things that they’ve got
some of the things that they’ve got
some of the things that they’ve got wrong some of the things that don’t
wrong some of the things that don’t
wrong some of the things that don’t understand about being a man
they seem like kind gentle versions of
they seem like kind gentle versions of themselves yes they’re still prisoners
themselves yes they’re still prisoners
themselves yes they’re still prisoners but they’re also brothers and sons and
but they’re also brothers and sons and
but they’re also brothers and sons and football fans and as they leave the
football fans and as they leave the
football fans and as they leave the stage and get a stalks escorted back to
stage and get a stalks escorted back to
stage and get a stalks escorted back to their cells they take a little bit of
their cells they take a little bit of
their cells they take a little bit of that experience with them hello folks my
that experience with them hello folks my
that experience with them hello folks my name is Dan I run an organization called
name is Dan I run an organization called
name is Dan I run an organization called the change collective the change
the change collective the change
the change collective the change collective we explore how change happens
collective we explore how change happens
collective we explore how change happens through the arts if I had to give myself
through the arts if I had to give myself
through the arts if I had to give myself one professional label it will probably
one professional label it will probably
one professional label it will probably be arts facilitator so what is that
be arts facilitator so what is that
be arts facilitator so what is that basically I work with groups groups that
basically I work with groups groups that
basically I work with groups groups that might often be labeled marginalized or
might often be labeled marginalized or
might often be labeled marginalized or at-risk young people refugees people
at-risk young people refugees people
at-risk young people refugees people with extreme experience of the criminal
with extreme experience of the criminal
with extreme experience of the criminal justice system I used to arts very
justice system I used to arts very
justice system I used to arts very broadly as a way into this kind of work
broadly as a way into this kind of work
broadly as a way into this kind of work to help people look at what’s working
to help people look at what’s working
to help people look at what’s working what’s not working to may be challenged
what’s not working to may be challenged
what’s not working to may be challenged change attitudes behaviors theater is my
change attitudes behaviors theater is my
change attitudes behaviors theater is my background and it’s after my weapon of
background and it’s after my weapon of
background and it’s after my weapon of choice but not always sometimes it can
choice but not always sometimes it can
choice but not always sometimes it can be simply getting groups together in a
be simply getting groups together in a
be simply getting groups together in a room talking dance creative writing some
room talking dance creative writing some
room talking dance creative writing some of the projects last for three hours
of the projects last for three hours
of the projects last for three hours some can last for three days like the
some can last for three days like the
some can last for three days like the prisoners project I talked about some
prisoners project I talked about some
prisoners project I talked about some can last for a week two weeks three
can last for a week two weeks three
can last for a week two weeks three months or longer the projects are always
months or longer the projects are always
months or longer the projects are always practical this is a group I worked with
practical this is a group I worked with
practical this is a group I worked with in Sudan on a project bringing young
in Sudan on a project bringing young
in Sudan on a project bringing young artists from Sudan South Sudan and
artists from Sudan South Sudan and
artists from Sudan South Sudan and Ethiopia together this is a group from
Ethiopia together this is a group from
Ethiopia together this is a group from Jordan again a group of young artists
Jordan again a group of young artists
Jordan again a group of young artists who I brought together to see how they
who I brought together to see how they
who I brought together to see how they might be able to bring their arts
might be able to bring their arts
might be able to bring their arts practice to support communities this is
practice to support communities this is
practice to support communities this is me doing limbo in Uganda this is a group
me doing limbo in Uganda this is a group
me doing limbo in Uganda this is a group in the Ukraine and these guys a group in
in the Ukraine and these guys a group in
in the Ukraine and these guys a group in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil I worked in Brazil with an incredible
I worked in Brazil with an incredible
I worked in Brazil with an incredible organization called afroreggae now they
organization called afroreggae now they
organization called afroreggae now they use music as their weapon of choice
use music as their weapon of choice
use music as their weapon of choice working in some of Brazil’s super
working in some of Brazil’s super
working in some of Brazil’s super violent favelas where those young people
violent favelas where those young people
violent favelas where those young people have a clear choice between getting
have a clear choice between getting
have a clear choice between getting involved in music and getting involved
involved in music and getting involved
involved in music and getting involved in the drugs trade either as a victim of
in the drugs trade either as a victim of
in the drugs trade either as a victim of or part of this work these projects are
or part of this work these projects are
or part of this work these projects are always different the groups are
always different the groups are
always different the groups are different the context is very different
different the context is very different
different the context is very different the approach might be slightly different
the approach might be slightly different
the approach might be slightly different but almost without fail
but almost without fail
but almost without fail and it can fail and it definitely does
and it can fail and it definitely does
and it can fail and it definitely does fail but pretty much across the board
fail but pretty much across the board
fail but pretty much across the board through this type of work
through this type of work
through this type of work strangers connect in ways they might not
strangers connect in ways they might not
strangers connect in ways they might not have expected something shifts they
have expected something shifts they
have expected something shifts they begin to feel like their stories are
begin to feel like their stories are
begin to feel like their stories are worth telling so they have the bravery
worth telling so they have the bravery
worth telling so they have the bravery and the confidence to tell them they
and the confidence to tell them they
and the confidence to tell them they feel like good strong solid versions of
feel like good strong solid versions of
feel like good strong solid versions of themselves they feel safe now this
themselves they feel safe now this
themselves they feel safe now this doesn’t happen by magic it’s not as if I
doesn’t happen by magic it’s not as if I
doesn’t happen by magic it’s not as if I go into the prison with a magic wand
go into the prison with a magic wand
go into the prison with a magic wand sprinkle it about sing Kumbaya and then
sprinkle it about sing Kumbaya and then
sprinkle it about sing Kumbaya and then leave so what is it if it’s not magic
leave so what is it if it’s not magic
leave so what is it if it’s not magic then what is it and how can we
then what is it and how can we
then what is it and how can we understand a little bit more about it at
understand a little bit more about it at
understand a little bit more about it at a time that we are retreating to the
a time that we are retreating to the
a time that we are retreating to the safety of our screens on our phones is
safety of our screens on our phones is
safety of our screens on our phones is there anything that we can learn about
there anything that we can learn about
there anything that we can learn about this kind of work from this kind of work
this kind of work from this kind of work
this kind of work from this kind of work that we might be able to bring into our
that we might be able to bring into our
that we might be able to bring into our own lives is there anything that we can
own lives is there anything that we can
own lives is there anything that we can learn from this about how humans connect
learn from this about how humans connect
learn from this about how humans connect now I’ve been thinking a lot about this
now I’ve been thinking a lot about this
now I’ve been thinking a lot about this and yes the groups are very different
and yes the groups are very different
and yes the groups are very different but pretty much across the board for
but pretty much across the board for
but pretty much across the board for invitations so what I’m asking of these
invitations so what I’m asking of these
invitations so what I’m asking of these groups is the same it’s an invitation
groups is the same it’s an invitation
groups is the same it’s an invitation this kind of work this kind of creative
this kind of work this kind of creative
this kind of work this kind of creative process or a series of invitations now
process or a series of invitations now
process or a series of invitations now what people do with those invitations is
what people do with those invitations is
what people do with those invitations is up to them
up to them
up to them all I can do is ask
all I can do is ask
all I can do is ask and keep asking again and again and
and keep asking again and again and
and keep asking again and again and again so what are those invitation
again so what are those invitation
again so what are those invitation invitation number one there’s an
invitation number one there’s an
invitation number one there’s an invitation to listen but to really
invitation to listen but to really
invitation to listen but to really listen because by doing that we give
listen because by doing that we give
listen because by doing that we give people an opportunity to be heard and
people an opportunity to be heard and
people an opportunity to be heard and that is not a given it’s not a given
that is not a given it’s not a given
that is not a given it’s not a given that we’re listened to at school at home
that we’re listened to at school at home
that we’re listened to at school at home in our relationships I’m not sure if
in our relationships I’m not sure if
in our relationships I’m not sure if those guys at the beginning in the
those guys at the beginning in the
those guys at the beginning in the prison are really listened to by the
prison are really listened to by the
prison are really listened to by the majority of the prison officers I don’t
majority of the prison officers I don’t
majority of the prison officers I don’t know if kids in school are really
know if kids in school are really
know if kids in school are really listened to by the majority of their
listened to by the majority of their
listened to by the majority of their teachers now the more we can do through
teachers now the more we can do through
teachers now the more we can do through this kind of work to develop some of
this kind of work to develop some of
this kind of work to develop some of those listening skills to think about
those listening skills to think about
those listening skills to think about different ways of listening it’s a
different ways of listening it’s a
different ways of listening it’s a better now think about this am i
better now think about this am i
better now think about this am i listening from a place that allows me to
listening from a place that allows me to
listening from a place that allows me to learn something new or am I simply
learn something new or am I simply
learn something new or am I simply listening from a place that reinforces
listening from a place that reinforces
listening from a place that reinforces or confirms how I already see the world
invitation number two there is an
invitation number two there is an invitation through this kind of work to
invitation through this kind of work to
invitation through this kind of work to step outside of your comfort zone not
step outside of your comfort zone not
step outside of your comfort zone not too far and not too quickly but just to
too far and not too quickly but just to
too far and not too quickly but just to dip your toe just outside of what feels
dip your toe just outside of what feels
dip your toe just outside of what feels okay remember the guy at the beginning
okay remember the guy at the beginning
okay remember the guy at the beginning the six foot two prisoner who was
the six foot two prisoner who was
the six foot two prisoner who was playing the part of her mother in front
playing the part of her mother in front
playing the part of her mother in front of twenty other prisoners in the back
of twenty other prisoners in the back
of twenty other prisoners in the back end of a prison or for somebody else it
end of a prison or for somebody else it
end of a prison or for somebody else it might simply be contributing one
might simply be contributing one
might simply be contributing one sentence to a group discussion now I’m
sentence to a group discussion now I’m
sentence to a group discussion now I’m not saying our comfort zone is a bad
not saying our comfort zone is a bad
not saying our comfort zone is a bad place to be it’s good it’s warm it’s
place to be it’s good it’s warm it’s
place to be it’s good it’s warm it’s fuzzy we spend a lot of our time there
fuzzy we spend a lot of our time there
fuzzy we spend a lot of our time there as we should do but what I am saying is
as we should do but what I am saying is
as we should do but what I am saying is if we spend all of our time there
if we spend all of our time there
if we spend all of our time there probably nothing will shift probably we
probably nothing will shift probably we
probably nothing will shift probably we won’t we won’t learn anything new so
won’t we won’t learn anything new so
won’t we won’t learn anything new so this kind of work
this kind of work
this kind of work it encourages people to step outside of
it encourages people to step outside of
it encourages people to step outside of their comfort zone to experience what it
their comfort zone to experience what it
their comfort zone to experience what it feels like to be a bit vulnerable but
feels like to be a bit vulnerable but
feels like to be a bit vulnerable but knowing full well they can go straight
knowing full well they can go straight
knowing full well they can go straight back there whenever they want number
back there whenever they want number
back there whenever they want number three there’s an invitation when working
three there’s an invitation when working
three there’s an invitation when working with the arts to recognize that the
with the arts to recognize that the
with the arts to recognize that the world isn’t linear it just doesn’t go in
world isn’t linear it just doesn’t go in
world isn’t linear it just doesn’t go in a straight line we don’t learn in a
a straight line we don’t learn in a
a straight line we don’t learn in a straight line life doesn’t happen in a
straight line life doesn’t happen in a
straight line life doesn’t happen in a straight line it is complex and
straight line it is complex and
straight line it is complex and unpredictable and failures and
unpredictable and failures and
unpredictable and failures and challenges are inevitable let’s
challenges are inevitable let’s
challenges are inevitable let’s acknowledge this and accept this there
acknowledge this and accept this there
acknowledge this and accept this there is lots that we can control but there’s
is lots that we can control but there’s
is lots that we can control but there’s a huge amount that we can’t control so
a huge amount that we can’t control so
a huge amount that we can’t control so let’s be kind to ourselves when we do
let’s be kind to ourselves when we do
let’s be kind to ourselves when we do mess things up yes take responsibility
mess things up yes take responsibility
mess things up yes take responsibility for the things that we get wrong or the
for the things that we get wrong or the
for the things that we get wrong or the things that we don’t know but do it with
things that we don’t know but do it with
things that we don’t know but do it with kindness and compassion number four
kindness and compassion number four
kindness and compassion number four there is an invitation to tell your
there is an invitation to tell your
there is an invitation to tell your story and that’s not easy tell as much
story and that’s not easy tell as much
story and that’s not easy tell as much of it as you want as much of it as you
of it as you want as much of it as you
of it as you want as much of it as you feel comfortable to but tell it we’re
feel comfortable to but tell it we’re
feel comfortable to but tell it we’re all carrying stories they make us who we
all carrying stories they make us who we
all carrying stories they make us who we are they are all valid they are unique
are they are all valid they are unique
are they are all valid they are unique they have got us to this point today and
they have got us to this point today and
they have got us to this point today and they will inform the direction that we’d
they will inform the direction that we’d
they will inform the direction that we’d go from here but recognize that the more
go from here but recognize that the more
go from here but recognize that the more you understand about your own story the
you understand about your own story the
you understand about your own story the more you will be able to deal with
more you will be able to deal with
more you will be able to deal with somebody else’s story and hopefully
somebody else’s story and hopefully
somebody else’s story and hopefully respect it my story is my story
respect it my story is my story
respect it my story is my story and my perspective is my perspective
and my perspective is my perspective
and my perspective is my perspective it’s different to yours but that’s okay
it’s different to yours but that’s okay
it’s different to yours but that’s okay oh thank you just yet but thank you so I
oh thank you just yet but thank you so I
oh thank you just yet but thank you so I wouldn’t write these on a flip chart at
wouldn’t write these on a flip chart at
wouldn’t write these on a flip chart at the beginning of a work shot they would
the beginning of a work shot they would
the beginning of a work shot they would run a mile but through this kind of work
run a mile but through this kind of work
run a mile but through this kind of work through this kind of creative process
through this kind of creative process
through this kind of creative process every time I get a group of people in a
every time I get a group of people in a
every time I get a group of people in a room together this is exactly what I’m
room together this is exactly what I’m
room together this is exactly what I’m inviting them to do I’m encouraging them
inviting them to do I’m encouraging them
inviting them to do I’m encouraging them to accept these invitations and that is
to accept these invitations and that is
to accept these invitations and that is creates the conditions whereby things
creates the conditions whereby things
creates the conditions whereby things can start to move forward things can
can start to move forward things can
can start to move forward things can start to shift this kind of work is
start to shift this kind of work is
start to shift this kind of work is powerful because it strengthens human
powerful because it strengthens human
powerful because it strengthens human connection it develops empathy it allows
connection it develops empathy it allows
connection it develops empathy it allows me to understand more to a value
me to understand more to a value
me to understand more to a value difference to be okay with my failures
difference to be okay with my failures
difference to be okay with my failures and my insecurities it encourages me to
and my insecurities it encourages me to
and my insecurities it encourages me to play – laughs to have fun
play – laughs to have fun
play – laughs to have fun so this is my invitation to you to see
so this is my invitation to you to see
so this is my invitation to you to see what might happen if we accept some of
what might happen if we accept some of
what might happen if we accept some of this well even better if we ask the
this well even better if we ask the
this well even better if we ask the people around us to do some of the
people around us to do some of the
people around us to do some of the things that I’m encouraging the guys in
things that I’m encouraging the guys in
things that I’m encouraging the guys in the prison to do the work that I’ve done
the prison to do the work that I’ve done
the prison to do the work that I’ve done has been with the prisoners but it also
has been with the prisoners but it also
has been with the prisoners but it also needs to happen with the prison offices
needs to happen with the prison offices
needs to happen with the prison offices the governor’s the commissioners the MPs
the governor’s the commissioners the MPs
the governor’s the commissioners the MPs let’s hold a mirror up to ourselves
let’s hold a mirror up to ourselves
let’s hold a mirror up to ourselves sometimes and see what we might be able
sometimes and see what we might be able
sometimes and see what we might be able to discover let’s invite the people sat
to discover let’s invite the people sat
to discover let’s invite the people sat around our dinner table to do some of
around our dinner table to do some of
around our dinner table to do some of this let’s invite the peoples that met
this let’s invite the peoples that met
this let’s invite the peoples that met to us today’s do some of this but even
to us today’s do some of this but even
to us today’s do some of this but even better let’s invite ourselves let’s
better let’s invite ourselves let’s
better let’s invite ourselves let’s listen next time you hear somebody who
listen next time you hear somebody who
listen next time you hear somebody who has a different opinion – you always
has a different opinion – you always
has a different opinion – you always bite your tongue or even better ask them
bite your tongue or even better ask them
bite your tongue or even better ask them to elaborate a little bit more let’s
to elaborate a little bit more let’s
to elaborate a little bit more let’s step outside of our comfort zone if
step outside of our comfort zone if
step outside of our comfort zone if anybody asks you to do a TED talk and
anybody asks you to do a TED talk and
anybody asks you to do a TED talk and you haven’t had any sleep for two months
you haven’t had any sleep for two months
you haven’t had any sleep for two months because you’ve just had a little baby
because you’ve just had a little baby
because you’ve just had a little baby boy say yes let’s recognize that the
boy say yes let’s recognize that the
boy say yes let’s recognize that the world isn’t linear that things won’t go
world isn’t linear that things won’t go
world isn’t linear that things won’t go as we plan them to but that’s okay let’s
as we plan them to but that’s okay let’s
as we plan them to but that’s okay let’s plan for the fact that we might need to
plan for the fact that we might need to
plan for the fact that we might need to change our plans and let’s tell our
change our plans and let’s tell our
change our plans and let’s tell our story be proud of who you are and where
story be proud of who you are and where
story be proud of who you are and where you’re from understand and bring
you’re from understand and bring
you’re from understand and bring awareness to your story but recognize
awareness to your story but recognize
awareness to your story but recognize that it won’t be shining it won’t be
that it won’t be shining it won’t be
that it won’t be shining it won’t be perfect
perfect
perfect but you know what nobody’s is so all of
but you know what nobody’s is so all of
but you know what nobody’s is so all of this is just tools it’s just an approach
this is just tools it’s just an approach
this is just tools it’s just an approach you put it in your tool book and the Ute
you put it in your tool book and the Ute
you put it in your tool book and the Ute toolbox and you use it as and where it
toolbox and you use it as and where it
toolbox and you use it as and where it might not be right it definitely won’t
might not be right it definitely won’t
might not be right it definitely won’t solve all the worries of the world but
solve all the worries of the world but
solve all the worries of the world but it might lead to more connection it
it might lead to more connection it
it might lead to more connection it might lead to more understanding it
might lead to more understanding it
might lead to more understanding it might lead to braver and more authentic
might lead to braver and more authentic
might lead to braver and more authentic relationships I’m not saying every time
relationships I’m not saying every time
relationships I’m not saying every time you go on the tube or a train you need
you go on the tube or a train you need
you go on the tube or a train you need to be best friends with everyone in the
to be best friends with everyone in the
to be best friends with everyone in the carriage I’m not saying that every time
carriage I’m not saying that every time
carriage I’m not saying that every time you go to Tesco’s all Sainsbury’s you
you go to Tesco’s all Sainsbury’s you
you go to Tesco’s all Sainsbury’s you get a porn sandwich and then you invite
get a porn sandwich and then you invite
get a porn sandwich and then you invite everyone for Christmas dinner
everyone for Christmas dinner
everyone for Christmas dinner but what I am saying is let’s listen to
but what I am saying is let’s listen to
but what I am saying is let’s listen to what’s working in that prison with those
what’s working in that prison with those
what’s working in that prison with those brave brave men who did accept these
brave brave men who did accept these
brave brave men who did accept these invitations because maybe at a time that
invitations because maybe at a time that
invitations because maybe at a time that we’re disconnecting it might allow us to
we’re disconnecting it might allow us to
we’re disconnecting it might allow us to connect and feel safer and ultimately
connect and feel safer and ultimately
connect and feel safer and ultimately happier in our skin in our communities
happier in our skin in our communities
happier in our skin in our communities in ourselves thank you
in ourselves thank you
in ourselves thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment