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Artists & Cultural Workers

Mobilize the Vote!

In partnership with Houston in Action, we are thrilled to announce the selected ARTISTS & CULTURAL WORKERS who are working with organizers in Harris County, Texas, to motivate youth & people of color  to VOTE in the November 3rd elections.

 

In August, we issued a call for proposals seeking projects in which artists will collaborate with organizers and/or community partner organizations to create culturally relevant artistic expressions that inspire & mobilize voter engagement. Houston in Action awarded 12 projects, in various artistic disciplines! THE GOAL: To activate Youth, Black, Latinx, & Asian American communities to register & turn-out to vote in Houston, TX (and beyond!). Collectively, we hope these artist-led, cultural organizing projects will mobilize over 100,000 new voters this year!

 

Selected artists work closely with HiA, organizers, and Art2Action participating in bimonthly cohort meetings for peer exchange, and in Houston in Action Academy trainings and/or Learning Exchanges with Art2Action, including:

  • Voter Registration / Engagement

  • Racial Justice

  • Cultural Organizing: Framework & Values

  • Art & Digital Organizing: Tools & Best Practices

  • Evaluation: Planning & Process

 

All projects are being shared through digital means, and include strategies for safe participation during the pandemic. All funded projects must be non-partisan, and compliant with 501c3 tax-exempt status.

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Visit Houston in Action's project page for social media links and more: houstoninaction.org/art-votes

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FOLLOW these exciting artists & projects on social media:

#HTownVotes #A2AVotes

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#HTownVotes Artists

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Miguel Avarez

Voto 2020

The Voto 2020 film "Houston" is about a seventeen year old activist, Stephanie, who has been mobilizing young voters.

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Koomah & The Locas

Try Voting!

A commercial parody PSA project, The Locas will produce 4 fun and campy video shorts encouraging Houstonians to vote.

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Kemi OG

Interference

Choreographer Kemi OG creates cinematic dance on social issues and the need to vote to impact change.

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Kristina Wong

Vote for the Future

Shareable, viral videos where Asian American kids encourage voter-aged Americans to get out the vote!

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Paul Cuevas

HTownVotes LIVE!

A livestreamed show featuring Houston performing and visual artists, encouraging communities of color to vote!

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Karen Martinez

It Takes a Friend

A multimedia video project that follows the journey of a Houston voter who has pledged to vote and shepherd 3 people to the polls.

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Riyaaz Qawwali

Discourse for Desis

Riyaaz Qawwali will present a music and dialogue series to engage Houston’s South Asian community this Fall.

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Writer's Block & Perseverance Theatre

Voice the Vote

From Alaska to Texas, Writer's Block & Perseverance Theatre team up to co-host virtual Poetry Slams lifting up youth voices.

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Reggie Hanna

Count Me In

A multi-disciplinary project igniting voter awareness through street theatre, writing contests, and a musical bicycle tour!

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MECA Houston

Tu Voto es Poder

Digital media using popular Latinx forms, including online Lotería nights, memes, gifs, and videos, and an original song about voting!

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Tofu Riot

The Animated Vote

Tofu Riot creates vote-themed animations on Instagram and YouTube, with an Animated Vote website.

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VIDEO

VIDEO

FALL 2020 EVENTS

September 1st - Announcement: #HTownVotes Selected Artists!



September 30th - #HTownVotes: Making Sense of Chaos w/ Riyaaz Qawwali


Making Sense of Chaos

Panel Discussion: Healthcare impacts on South Asians


Panelists Nabila Mansoor (Emgage Texas), Debbie Chen (OCA Greater Houston), Riaz Siddiqui (American Pakistani Foundation), Sonny (Riyaaz Qawwali) and Irfana Hussain (Daya) will share their perspectives on how covid-19 has impacted South Asians in Houston. Perspectives from small business owners, artists and domestic abuse counselors will be highlighted.



Watch live/recorded video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBSgpHaukx4



October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th - #HTownVotes: Loteria Nights @ MECA

Family Game Nights & Voter Education ONLINE!

Join MECA every Thursday for a weekly virtual lotería nights! Part of the #HTownVotes initiative is keeping our community informed! And what better way than through a favorite pastime! Did we mention there were cash prizes!?! Gather your frijolitos and your cards! Message us if you don’t have your own and we will send you 2 to print! Keep an eye out for the Zoom link!

Este jueves tendremos la primera de nuestras noches de lotería virtual semanales! ¡Parte de la iniciativa #HTownVotes es mantener informada a nuestra comunidad! ¡Y qué mejor manera que a través de un pasatiempo favorito! ¡¿Mencionamos que había premios en efectivo?! ¡Junta tus frijolitos y tus cartas! Envíenos un mensaje si no tiene cartas m y le enviaremos 2 para imprimir. ¡Estén atentos por la invitation de Zoom!



Ocober 8th - #HTownVotes: Writer's Block

Description:Live online poetry event to get out the Vote! In collaboration with Perseverance Theatre. Watch the 2-part event at @WeAreWritersBlock on Instagram!



October 9th - #HTownVotes: Perseverance Theatre

Description:Live online poetry event to get out the Vote! In collaboration with Writer's Block Houston. Watch live on the Perseverance Theatre Facebook page, or on their website.



October 20th - #HTownVotes: Panel on Xenophobia

Riyaaz Qawwali
with Emgage Texas, OCA Greater Houston, American Pakistani Foundation and Daya
Watch live or recorded on YouTube!



October. 23rd-24th - #HTownVotes LIVE!

Description: Live-streaming an exciting line-up of Houston artists, produced by Paul Cuevas and Soalz Media, to get out the vote!



October 27th - #HTownVotes: Interference - Panel Discussion

Virtual Panel Discussion
Featuring Choreographer/Dancer Kemi OG
with The Alliance (https://thealliancetx.org/)



PHOTOS

Trainings

September 4, 2020 - Racial Justice Training

The Houston in Action Academy & Art2Action, Inc. team up to present a free series of online trainings examining Racial Justice. This first session, featuring Keryl McCord, founder of Equity Quotient, will focus on developing a shared historical analysis, with respondants from Houston communities. 4 PM Central / 5 PM Eastern time.



September 17, 2020 - Artists & The Vote

Featuring #HTownVotes Artists Miguel Alvarez, Riyaaz Qawwali, and Tofu Riot. Co-presented by Houston in Action, Art2Action, DiverseWorks, FreshArts, and the Houston Arts Alliance.



October 15, 2020 - Art & Digital Organizing

Thursday, October 15, 2:30-4:00 PM CT / 3:30-5 PM ET This session will offer examples and best practices on how to utilize artistic approaches in digital space during the pandemic to engage community and develop creative approaches for current campaigns. This training will feature national guest speakers, including Irna Landrum, facilitated by Andrea Assaf of Art2Action. REGISTER HERE.



November 9, 2020 - Healing Justice & Racial Justice

Monday, November 9, 2020 1:30-3:00 PM CT / 2:30-4 PM ET In this training, we will explore “Healing Justice”--what it means and how to practice-- through a racial justice lens, including arts and culture based and trauma-informed approaches. This session will use interactive activities to reflect on where we are in our process and organizing, post-election, and dream of possible futures together. Featuring guest speakers, such as Kim Pevia and Sharon Bridgforth, facilitated by Andrea Assaf of Art2Action. This training is part of the Community In Action Academy, in partnership with Art2Action, Inc. This event is FREE and open to the public, but Registration is required.



June 10, 2020 - Arts & Healing

A special session in response to the times, facilitated by Andrea Assaf, featuring Two-Spirit theatre artist Adelina Anthony, social worker L. Lanee Green, and visual artist Saori Murphy. Hosted by Oscar Hernandez of Houston in Action.