“It was perfect. They loved the interactive pieces and the pair work.”
What Guides Us
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Accountability
We maintain that accountability thrives within bonds of connection and community. We uphold the notion that accountability is a conscious choice rather than an imposed obligation. With this ethos in mind, our creative endeavors are grounded in the understanding that words and actions are integral components of artistic expression, not mere accessories. We reject the notion of divorcing the artist from their art, and acknowledge the profound impact that words and deeds can have on others, irrespective of intent. Our commitment lies in aligning our values with our actions, and fostering environments conducive to radical exploration and experimentation. We recognize that genuine growth and change are nurtured within supportive and accountable communities.
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We believe that hyper-individualism is antithetical to building community. Transformative work is relational, and we need to work with each other to ensure our collective survival. We practice conflict resolution and communication skills in our spaces in order to foster connections that move us closer towards thrivable communities.
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We believe that art can serve as a catalyst for community building and transformation. Art is a powerful tool that can be used to bring people together to address the things that matter to them. Our work aims at engaging community members in a process of creative expression that prioritizes play and encourages experimentation, questioning, collaboration, conflict-resolution, and considered reflection.
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Creative expression allows us to not only consider, but to reconsider, our relationship to the self and to the world around us. We encourage participants to cultivate a creative practice that is rooted in inquiry, embracing uncertainty, problem-solving, action, and community.
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We celebrate a rich tapestry of artistic mediums and disciplines, recognizing the complexity of human experience in a world often marked by rigidity. Rather than constraining our approach, we aim for boundless exploration, allowing for the fullest expression of creativity and connection in our work. We believe that diverse materials, techniques, and frameworks are tools that honor the multifaceted nature of our existence and can facilitate our freedom dreams.
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We celebrate the vital role of play and experimentation in the artistic process, and recognize that the journey often outweighs the destination. That said, we also understand that outcomes matter. Our initiatives are crafted to encourage process while balancing the pressing demands associated with community goals.
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We recognize the inherent value of creativity in organizing, and believe that it enhances our collective ability to problem-solve and think critically.
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We believe in the power of art to catalyze profound and positive change, both personally and collectively. We believe that transformation is sparked through action, and we view art-making as a potent avenue through which to engage with the world. Art serves as a platform for experimentation and harnesses the collective power of our imaginations, allowing us to explore new ways of being.
Meet Dr. Wilson
Kim Wilson is an artist, educator, writer, and organizer. Kim is the founder of Planting Seeds Arts. She is also the cofounder, cohost, and producer of the Beyond Prisons podcast, and co-editor of We Grow the World Together: Parenting Toward Abolition. Kim received a 2023 Leeway Transformation Award for her ongoing commitment to art and social change.
A social scientist by training, Dr. Wilson has a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy. Her work focuses on examining the interconnected functioning of systems, including poverty, racism, ableism, and hetero-patriarchy, within carceral structures. Her work delves into the extension and expansion of these systems beyond their physical manifestations of cages and fences, to reveal how carcerality is imbued in policy and practice. She explores how these systems synergize to exacerbate the challenges faced by under-resourced communities, revealing a deliberate intention to undermine and further marginalize vulnerable populations.Education
Ph.D. Urban Affairs and Public Policy
Ed.M. Adult and Organizational Development
B.B.A. Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management
“This is the book that I wish I had when my children were young! Taken together, these powerful essays offer an irresistible invitation to embrace the ‘soul work’ of parenting which is vital collective labor for a liberatory future. By reimagining what parenting can and should be, and by challenging us to see all children as our own, these authors demonstrate that we can build the world we want with love and inspire young people to embrace the freedom we all deserve.”
— Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow
Book
We Grow the World Together: Parenting Toward Abolition
In We Grow the World Together, abolitionists and organizers Maya Schenwar and Kim Wilson bring together a remarkable collection of voices revealing the complex tapestry of ways people are living abolition in their daily lives through parenting and caregiving. Ranging from personal narratives to policy-focused analysis to activist chronicles, these writers highlight how abolition is essential to any kind of parenting justice.