Creativity & the Alchemy of Groups | Dan Boyden | TEDxYouth@BrayfordPool

[Music]

[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]