Pickup Artist: Fostering Growth through the Arts

Description:

Nearly 50 mil people receive government assistance and 20% of post 9/11 veterans experience PTSD each year. However, social services meant to address society’s vulnerable populations–from welfare recipients to military veterans–miss the mark. They view customers as problems to be solved, leaving them feeling misunderstood or lost. We believe in the promise of the arts to put people at the center of these complex challenges. Highlighting examples from the public and nonprofit sectors, this panel will explore how the arts can shift the perspective from problem to solution, from a person’s weaknesses to her strengths. A diverse panel of government leaders, social entrepreneurs and artists will explore what it will take to incorporate art into policy and program design.