The School of Social Work received the Illinois Global Institute (IGI) New Approaches to International Area and Global Studies Grant and has, in partnership with other units at the University if Illinois Urbana-Champaign, created “Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue”. This initiative aims to explore racial and social transnational justice through creative expression.
Gianna Camacho (she/her), BSW student, has joined the Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue team as the student assistant. Her role will be primarily to communicate with students and the wider School of Social Work community on the performances and dialogues hosted by this new initiative.
Gianna holds minors in Spanish and Child Health & Well-Being. She is involved in the campus community and passionate about advocacy, community empowerment, self-expression, and social justice. Gianna has collaborated with Dr. Kevin Tan on research exploring the mental health environment in Mahomet and has served as a student worker for Amy Frederick in the Professional Education Office. Over the summer, she worked as an Inclusion Aide at the Nature Day Camp, supporting a child with autism in outdoor learning environments. She is active in the student-run organization Heal for Impact and currently serves as President of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urvbana chapter of Save the Children Action Network.
Through her involvement in the IGI Grant, Gianna is excited to explore how creative expression can be a powerful tool for social change and community healing.
Can you tell us about your role as the student assistant for Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue?
My role is to support outreach efforts, assist with Continuing Education Units (CEUs), collaborate on performances and dialogues, and participate in other behind-the-scenes organizational initiatives. As a student, I am responsible for encouraging classmates and community members to participate in our fruitful conversations. I am looking forward to providing my insights as well as voicing the thoughts and needs of other students.
What aspects of this initiative are you most passionate about?
I was thrilled to join the team because the goals of this project align with my passions so well. Growing up, I always gravitated towards art. I played the saxophone for several years, wrote poetry as a therapeutic outlet, and always enjoyed art class and art club. Importantly, I value the stories that are told to me through music, books, and spoken word because they are produced out of vulnerability. This initiative will allow us to learn about the perspectives and experiences of people all around the world in a beautifully unique manner. I am passionate about the use of art in global dialogue because it distinguishes itself from the classroom and facilitates a learning experience that is not always possible.
What do you hope audiences will take away from a performance hosted as part of Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue?
I hope that the audience will walk away from our performances with a new perspective, connection, and a handful of questions. These performances are a great opportunity to learn about the experiences of diverse identities across the world, as well as the perspectives of different professions. Thus, I hope that each person can earn at least one new perspective. As a result of the interdisciplinary nature of our project, I also hope that people can create connections with others from different professions and cultures. Lastly, given the abundance of information that the performances can provide, I hope people can walk away with more questions than they arrived with. My goal is to ignite the passion to explore further because, while we have the privilege to start a conversation, it would make a great difference if each participant continued it.
What can attendees expect and look forward to when they attend a performance?
Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue consists of two components. First, we will host a performance that addresses themes of racism and social justice. I hope that people attend several of our performances because they will be from various disciplines, including poets, musicians, dancers, photographers, and more. Attendees should look forward to enriching illustrations of racial and social transnational justice. The second component is dialogue. Depending on the event, there will be a conversation about the dialogue hosted after the performance or on a different day. These discussions will provide the space for attendees to explore themes further, process what they learned, and develop strategies for addressing racism in their personal and professional lives. We’re also very excited to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to those who need them!
How does Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue reflect the core tenets of social work?
Leveraging the Arts for Global Dialogue is a beautiful reflection of the core tenets of social work. We will explore many themes of social justice, and by gaining this knowledge, we will improve our competence and integrity in providing service to others. Our performances are provided by people from different disciplines and cultures, and our discussions will encourage diverse perspectives. This will emphasize human relationships and the dignity and worth of the individual, as we will interact respectfully with one another to create deeper connections. Ultimately, all attendees, regardless of their profession, will be able to interact with the core tenets of social work and improve their skills and knowledge as helping professionals.