Leveraging the Arts as a Mechanism For Social Change

January 10, 17, 24, 31, & February 7, 2022 @ 6pm MST

This webinar series is designed to increase your awareness of the biases, stereotypes, and discrimination Asian-Americans have historically experienced and continue to experience today. You will gain knowledge and skills to help you become a better ally and will leave with a deeper understanding of why Intermountain Opera Bozeman’s new adaptation of THE MIKADO is needed for social change.

HOST: SARAH ALLEN, PHD

Sarah Allen, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her doctorate in Family Relations and Applied Nutrition from the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada. Over the past 20 years her research and teaching has centered on diverse individual, family, and community health and well-being. She has over 50 research publications that can be found in academic journal articles, books, and online formats as well as venues including TEDxSUU, Audible podcasts, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and Slate. She began teaching diversity courses in 2007 and her teaching approach at Montana State University and Southern Utah University has garnered multiple awards. Sarah has also served on numerous arts boards in Bozeman and as an amateur pianist and mother of two string players, has a passion for the arts and its compacity to positively transform individuals and institutions. Sarah is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and health equity through education, outreach, and public policy.

Week 1: Asian-American Representation in the Arts

January 10th @ 6pm MST

Topics Covered:

• Understanding racism, bias, discrimination, & cultural appropriation within the context of contemporary Asian-American experiences and representation in the arts
• Exploring the terms diversity, equity, & inclusion and their application within the arts

Skills Learned:

• How to use your knowledge and awareness of racism and discrimination in the arts to ally with Asian-Americans

Special Guest: DEAN WILLIAMSON (Conductor, The Montana Mikado)

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Week 2: Unpacking The Model Minority Myth

January 17th @ 6pm MST

Topics Covered:

• Defining the model minority myth, how and why it was created, what is problematic about it, and the impact it has on Asian-Americans

Skills Learned:

• How to critically examine biases and stereotypes about Asian-American families to better understand and support them in our community

Special Guests:

NORMAN HUYNH (Music Director, Bozeman Symphony)

KIMBERLY SOGIOKA (Madison, The Montana Mikado)

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Week 3: Microaggressions: What Are They And How do I Interrupt Them?

January 24th @ 6pm MST

Topics Covered:

• Defining microaggressions, understanding their impact, and learning how to interrupt them

Skills Learned:

• Learning how to respond to microaggressions and effective strategies for deciding when to call in or call out individuals who use them

Special Guest: KRISTEN CHOI, mezzo-soprano

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Week 4: How To Be An Ally:  Conversations With Asian-American Community Members

January 31st  @ 6pm MST

Topics Covered:

• Understanding what it means to be an ally, distinguishing types of allyship, and identifying steps you can take to be an ally

Skills Learned:

• The do’s and don’ts of allyship and how to take the ally pledge

Guests: Student panel from MSU’s Asian-American Student Association

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Week 5: Conversations with the Asian Opera Alliance

February 7th @ 6pm MST

Guests: Panel from Asian Opera Alliance