Developing community leadership through the arts in Southside Virginia: Social networks, civic identity and civic change: Fid-Bau Portal

Developing community leadership through the arts in Southside Virginia: Social networks, civic identity and civic change

Stephenson, Max

Abstract

This paper describes a strategy designed to catalyse a process of civic dialogue and social learning in an economically distressed section of Virginia typically referred to as Southside or the Dan River Region. The model underpinning this initiative employs the arts and a grassroots leadership programme simultaneously to encourage a broad-scale civic conversation concerning the past and potential future of the principal communities located in the Southside region. The combination of broad participation and development of an effective leadership cadre at the grassroots level should encourage the creation of robust community problem solving coalitions across the region. The initiative aims to engender specific forms of locally driven community-based problem-solving coalitions: those that emphasize inclusiveness and value the full participation of historically disenfranchised individuals. The project also employs non-traditional forums to promote creative dialogue and to encourage reflection among the broader citizenry on the significance and possible character of a new and regional identity.