Art in Action

Testimonials

Dear Art in Action, You’re a beautiful thing to be around. If I never came to camp, I wouldn’t know where I’d be right about now. You showed me how to stop believing that I can’t trust anybody and you showed me that I should start caring for folks.
Adonis Walker, 17, Oakland
Art in Action Camp Participant ‘05

To My Dearest: Art in Action! To say you have changed my life is an understatement. From the moment I arrived, after riding on my bus for seven hours, I was welcomed to a space that embraced both art and activism, the two passions of my life. I allowed myself to test my openness to the struggles, challenge my heart to breathe for the first time and comfort my spirit toward a blissful balance, surrounded with love and peace. I do not know exactly how to express the great amount of appreciation I have for the effort, dedication, patience and love you all put into 10 days to truly display the most important part of resistance – ACTION! Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart for being my inspiration.
Nathalie Sanchez, 19, Los Angeles, CA,
Art in Action Camp Participant‘05

Dear Art in Action, Thank you for filling me up with love, strength, and compassion. For allowing space to feel pain, to process it and to be inspired by everyone you brought together for those beautiful 10 days. I came this year drawing strength, love and wisdom from my loved ones and my community, the people I work with who are locked up but fighting, fighting, fighting for liberation. I will no doubt be bringing the love and strength we shared together at Art in Action right back at them! Thank you for creating space for all of us to practice community and build a culture based on compassion and trust. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to connect and build with these amazing visionaries and artists. I love you Art in Action!!! I will continue to keep you in my heart as I have since I was first lucky enough to be a part of this community. Love Always,
Vanessa Huang, 21, Oakland, CA/Providence, RI
Art in Action Camp Participant ’04 & Art in Action Camp Facilitator ‘05

Dear Art in Action, I am honored and it is a pleasure coming back to what has changes my life in the last 3 years, because of the people that I met before made me want to come back again to make a difference. I have missed the environment of love and yearned to feel it once again, to express myself, love myself and respect myself. I have learned many things without going to school and that says a lot about our educational system and what it does to you. It is one of the reasons why I stop going to school and believe that been self taught has certain benefits in my experience, for example meeting loving, respectful, intellectual, beautiful, kind, peaceful, human beings that regular schools don’t offer and I think that’s why this whole society is the way it is. So I thank you and everyone who has stepped and contributed to my life…
Josué Bustos, 19, Los Angeles, CA
Art in Action Camp Participant ’01 &‘05

I feel that this is the perfect community not because we are the“common” image of perfection, but because in this time each of us has cultivated love “true love” that allows us to be who we are and be genuinely appreciated and respected for our individuality in a group setting. The workshops, rituals and material have been very important, but what is more important is the people.
Maurice Lewis, 25, Oakland
Art in Action Camp Participant ‘05