Cynthia Cohen: Conflict, Creation & Peacebuilding

Change the Story / Change the World

Join us in a deep dive into the transformative power of art and conflict resolution with Cynthia Cohen. From powerful personal stories to groundbreaking projects, this episode is a testament to the power of creative peacebuilding.

In this episode we explore artmaking and peacemaking as mutually supporting, synergistic community assets. Our conversation, with activist, writer, educator, and filmmaker Cynthia Cohen delves into her extensive career in arts, culture, and conflict transformation, highlighting her collaborative projects like 'Acting Together' and 'A Passion for Life.' Various global artistic and peace-building efforts are examined for their impact on communities. Throughout, themes of creative engagement, humility, ethical practices, and the critical role of storytelling in peacebuilding are intricately explored.

00:00 Introduction and Tribute to Bernice Johnson Reagon

00:38 Creative Peace Builders: Voices from Around the World

05:40 Cynthia Cohen's Work and Philosophy

08:55 A Passion for Life: Personal and Professional Journey

13:42 Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas in Peacebuilding

15:39 The Role of Arts in Conflict Transformation

22:11 Act Two: How Does Peacebuilding Work?

37:45 Community Responsibility and Indigenous Involvement

38:20 The Influence of Cultural Workers

39:40 Mentorship and Personal Growth

40:02 Artists as Community Members

41:15 Core Principles for Community Impact

43:13 Challenges in Human Communication

50:20 The Role of Arts in Conflict Transformation

53:48 Personal Reflections and Influences

57:28 The Power of Storytelling and Listening

01:07:48 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations

As director of the program in Peacebuilding and the Arts, Cynthia Cohen lead action and reflection research projects, and wrote and taught about work at the nexus of the arts, culture, justice and peace.

BIO

Cynthia Cohen directed the Brandeis University/Theatre Without Borders collaboration "Acting Together on the World Stage," co-edited the Acting Together anthologies and co-created the project's documentary and toolkit. She is a senior fellow at IMPACT, Inc. [https://impactart.org] a global nonprofit organization responsible for the dissemination of Acting Together resources. Cohen has written extensively on the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of peacebuilding, including the chapters "Creative Approaches to Reconciliation" and "Engaging With the Arts to Promote Coexistence" and an online book, "Working With Integrity: A Guidebook for Peacebuilders Asking Ethical Questions."

Prior to the Acting Together project, Cohen directed the international fellowship program Recasting Reconciliation Through Culture and the Arts, which produced an anthology by that name. In addition, Cohen has worked as a dialogue facilitator with communities in the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Central America and the United States. Before her tenure at Brandeis, she directed a community-based, anti-racist oral history center in the Boston area.

Acknowledgements:

The audio clips that open the episode are come from the Trailer for the documentary film Acting Together on the World Stage co-created by Cynthia Cohen and Allison Lund of Progressive Pictures.