After The Nudge Podcast | The Art of Caring | Toyota
Welcome to After the Notes podcast. I am one of your hosts, J.R. Smith. And I’m Soledad O’Brien. On this podcast. We talk to some of the most outstanding community organizers. All have received a nudge from Toyota in the form of a $10,000 micro grant. Our guest today is Siddiqa Shabazz.
She is the executive director of Culture Club Collaborative. It’s based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Culture Club serves the Twin Cities homeless youth by providing them with a safe space to experience art programs for exposure and self-development, art and expression. So nice to have you. Welcome. Thank you for having me. I appreciate being here.
Thank you. Pleasure’s all ours. So let’s hop right into it with the maybe a definition. What does Culture Club exactly do? So Culture Club Collaborative. We are an arts organization working with the youth, experiencing homelessness. So we basically create a multidisciplinary art engagement with our youth. It’s very immersive.
It’s not just and these are fine, but it’s not just like a bunch of art activities like, Oh, let’s go out and make, you know, pottery or something. You know, we do do that, but it’s like not a one off thing.
So basically what we do is we hire local teaching artists to come in for anywhere from a month to like three months or more, to do really like immersive art with our youth. So we’re teaching them skills around collaboration, communication, self-expression. It’s therapeutic and is also getting them in contact
With an artist who’s this is their life, This is how they’re making money. So if they want to pursue that type of career, then they have a connect there. So it’s also building skills around employment. But we’re not here to make every youth we work with into an artist.
We have plenty of those, but we are using those skills that they learn through art that they can take anywhere else, like communication, how to present themselves. You know, things like that. And not just communication around jobs, but with other youth, with family, with friends. You know, all of those things.
So that’s what we’re really doing. Know, we’re really putting the sugar in the medicine. Where does your passion come from with this? For the art of it all, with you and expressing it to I want to express it to the kids and showing them a different way or a different path.
Well, I’m an artist myself. I do theater around the Twin Cities. I study theater. I’ve been a theater like I was one of those obnoxious theater kids in high school. Like, just doing the most. So, like. Art has always been a place for me around self-expression.
I mean, I am one of seven growing up, and I’m towards the end and you. Know, that’s why you’re a theater kid. Oh. Much that represents. That. And so and so, you know, it really gave me a voice and learned it taught me how to communicate with people.
It really taught me a lot about myself. Theater did. And so I feel like any type of art and we do a range of art there. You know, we do murals like I mentioned pottery. Spoken word, open Mike. Right now we’re doing sewing where it’s going to end in a fashion show
In December. So they’re learning those skills and branding and all of that. So we do all different types of art, but and I know how much has helped me and a lot of these youth, they’ll come in and they are feeling anxious, depressed, upset. You know, they’re in survival mode all the time.
I mean, they sleep in shelters on the street with friends they have. A lot of them are from out of state. They’ve lost connection and community with those that were supposed to provide that safe place for them. You know, just as when they were little.
And mind you, we’re working with like 16 to 24 year old. So they’re still young. They are true youth. You know, a lot of them have left high school and things like that. And so I know what it’s done for me. And when they step into the room, all of that is gone.
The channeling get through their art. They are always, always, always. We check in all the time and if they’re feeling like a five, they are always feeling a lot better than when they came in ninth and 10th. And they just it’s a place for them to release
To get it out, to channel of a healthy way, to channel any of the negative feelings that they have going inside of them. How many young people are we talking about? Because obviously homelessness, I mean, it’s literally a headline in almost every single major city in America at this moment.
You’re focusing mostly on young people who are homeless. What numbers are you looking at in Minneapolis? You mean just on the street or that. We work with? Maybe both. I’m curious what the numbers are. Um, there’s about oh, I do know this on the street, roughly
About a thousand youth on the street every night. Wow. Roughly. Maybe even more now, actually, especially after COVID and, you know, 20, 20, all of that. And we work personally with anywhere from like 300 to 500 kids through the year. A lot of them are re-occurring, which is great.
A lot of them just come and hang out maybe for the day. Sometimes it’s very sporadic because they are transient youth. And so, yeah, we work anywhere from 3 to 500 a year, which is great. It’s like, Please come and it’s completely free. What we offer.
So we always provide food as much as we can. We provide stipends for our youth. So we’re working on the project, a mural or putting on like any community event. We’re paying our youth as well for their time. And this is, you know, they can go and get a hot meal later on.
Maybe they can like stay at a hotel or something. You know, those who have cars, you know, put gas in the car. We have a lot of young parents. We provide daycare for them as well so they don’t ever have to choose to do this or that.
You can do it, but you can do both. You can have it all, you know, And it’s just all about providing access to our youth as well. How do you how do you change that perception of people to want more people like yourself to help the youth and help
Homeless people, homeless people in that situation? Because there’s a lot of there’s a stigma around it where people are looking down upon the next or just lack of a better word, not as empathetic with the with the homeless. And how how do you view that? How do you try to change people’s minds?
The perception of that? Yes, that is very true. A lot of our youth are appeals to you as well that we work with, that come through our doors. And people of color for everybody who doesn’t know people. Yeah. Yes. And it’s unfortunate because we also work with a lot of males.
And so it’s unfortunate. Like you see them out and you think, oh, I’m going to get jumped on not to get robbed or whatever, you know, what have you. And it’s sad because a lot of the time it’s either that or they’re not seen. So what we do is we provide a platform.
We’re not here to save them. I mean, I guess there is help in some way, but I don’t even like to use that word. We’re here to support them. So what we do is we provide a platform for them to use their voice.
So right now we’re also building a podcast call for the culture as well. And so this is a place where they can really share their feelings, their insights, their experiences, because it’s humanizing them. And so that’s what we’re putting out into the world. These are human beings.
They have feelings, they have dreams, they have desires. None of them want to be in this position. And that’s why we say they’re experiencing homelessness, because it’s just an experiences does not define you. This is what you’re going through now. We’re here to support you to go and get like housing stability
And things like that. So I think it’s really giving them a voice, going out into the community as well, connecting them with other organizations and partnering with other organizations, partnering with the city, and just having them really have a true platform to share who they are.
Because then it’s like maybe that stigma slowly, slowly is like getting taken away. They are kind of referred to this in his last question. But I think I think people sometimes really hate poor people or people who are struggling. They just I don’t know how to put it any different way.
Like they they lack the empathy and and sometimes I see that translate into they don’t deserve art, they don’t deserve music. Let’s put them in a program, get them a job, get them house, you know, but not like things that are beautiful or things that are expressive that,
You know, they don’t they shouldn’t be focused on that. That’s fluff. Yeah, that’s not important. Yeah. And unfortunately, that is what a lot of people see. It’s like, oh, I don’t want to see it or No, get out work, you know? But it’s like, what about nurturing those things around?
Like empathy that they can share and show through their art, nurturing their voice like you. I remember growing up, I was always told, Go to college, go to college, go to college. Okay, I went to college. But before that I was like, wait, so how do I get there?
And I feel like through the arts, that’s what we’re doing. We’re teaching them how to get there. So if they want to go out and get that job, if they want to have like positive relationships, we, you know, social justice, all of those things, we’re doing that through our art.
So if you are saying, hey, go out there, get a job, just do this, do that well, we’re showing them how to do that. We’re giving them those tools, we’re building those skills. And this is just the pathway for them to be contributing like human beings to being great human beings,
To be focused on their community and bringing positivity and light to their communities, but not just that for them. You know, it’s also just for them. It’s okay if they want to create something and keep it for themselves, why not? Who wants to turn from a beautiful thing? You know?
Who wants to turn away from that? And so and there’s also receiving or they’re also acknowledging the beauty in themselves. One thing you said that really resonates with me is like you’re you’re supporting them. You’re not helping them. It’s much more of supporting you.
Like, you know, much more service in building up their self-esteem, in their own courage to go out and do the things that they are, quote unquote, supposed to be doing or need to be doing for the next person. XYZ. And I think that’s very admirable because a lot of people are getting
Just like, Oh, no, you just do this. All you got to do is go get a job, will fill out this, go do that. And it’s like if they’re especially if their heart isn’t in it and so much of art is heart you’re you’re expressing your learn.
You’re like you’re really getting it like you said about yourself learning and you’ve learned so much from yourself with who you are. How I’m I’m sure you see it time and time again. What is that vision like to see a kid open up and truly find themselves and and receive
That because you’re giving that blessing like this? You know, it’s a beautiful thing. I worked with youth. I kind of fell into like youth work. I like I’m originally from California. Oakland, right? Oakland. Yes, that’s right. They was not originally, but I got to live there for a little bit. I love.
You. Still with a lot of warriors. I’m sorry. Warriors, man. Oh, careful how you answer this. Yes. Oh, that’s okay. We should give you a nudge anyway. And mine is, by the way. Okay? Yeah. Oh, we derailed. You got one. Oh. Oh, oh, I remember now.
Okay, so I kind of fell into youth work when I moved to Minnesota. That was like 12 years ago. And a lot of the youth, the youth that I love working with are those who I mean, those are like, Yeah, I’m glad to be here and let’s do it together.
That’s great. That’s easy. But I like working with those of you who are kind of shy, a little closed off, who just don’t know where to start and the buy in for me when I’m working with youth is like, the stakes are so low, very low. You just have to say your name.
You don’t have to say how you’re feeling or anything like that. Oh, we’re doing a writing activity. You are free to share. Just share one sentence. And as time goes on, they’re sharing more and more and they’re boisterous and they’re happy and they love it like this is, you know, and
And again, it’s they have a place to say how they’re feeling and to share who they are. And literally be just who they are. There’s no judgment or anything like that. Just be who you are. And that’s enough. And to see you’ve come through from all different walks of life, whether they’re experience
Homelessness, whether they have home, you know, stability or what have you. And to see them just open up and shine, it’s a glorious thing is really beautiful. And sometimes all you have to do is just give them permission to say, Yeah, you could do this. Oh, you don’t know where to start.
Okay, let me support you in that. And like, we’ll do, like, art activities around, like painting. I’m not a painter. I mean, I’m not a painter either, but I can grab, like, the colors I like and just put it on the canvas. You could just do that. That is it.
And by the end, they have this beautiful master piece, and it’s like, I thought you were in a patient world, you know? So it’s beautiful to see them, like, just grow. And and that’s and it’s funny because sometimes you don’t get to see it, right?
I’ve worked with you, you know, like I said, for the last 12 years. So I remember working with you even 12 years ago, and it’s like, Well, I make a difference in your life, I’m not sure. But and sometimes those are ideas that some I will never know.
But then I see some like five years later, they’re like mystical, delivered. I’m doing this now and I love doing that. I’m like, This would be helpful because I remember. When you wouldn’t even make eye contact with me when you were sizing me up like,
What are you doing? Why are you coming here? I don’t even want to be here. Whatever it was like, No, before you even experience or even try the thing. And so it’s really beautiful to see that. And with the youth that I’m working with now, I kind of see that more and more.
For example, we have one youth dads who kind of just came in and was just quiet all the time, just sitting back, going through a lot, young parent, you know, going through all of those things. And we started doing open mic. Turns out he can like really make
Great music and he’s like this radical. I want to do like more like things for the community event organizing and every year we partner with Hennepin Theater Trust and we do this thing called the Outside Vibe, and it’s like every other week over the summer, from June to August.
And I was like, All right, well, you want this opportunity, How about your host? And he loves it. Now he’s on his own hosting his own events every weekend. He’s doing his thing. He’s got his own production company that, you know, making music for like beats and stuff for like local artists.
So sometimes you really do just see it right then and there and it’s amazing and it’s like, Yes, go and do that. What else can I do to help support you? You know, it’s incredible. I love that you invest in literally the exact people that so many other people
Walk by and kind of walk like around to get away from them. What I mean, you’re working actor. What what from your work has led you or inspired you or advised you and what you’re doing now? Is there anything that being in your as a working actor that you think
Adds value to what you’re doing in this job? I think so. And I think it’s it’s not that it’s not the acting that’s really doing anything. I think it’s my approach. You know, I’m always meeting kids. Exactly where they are. Sometimes I might need to go a little further, which is totally fine.
I’m willing to do the work that’s easy, you know, But I think through theater, it’s probably brought out more warmth, understanding of people, you know, that you have to understand characters, whether they’re, you know, the villain or the good guy. It also has allowed me to just be myself.
And it’s like, I’m coming in like I come in like a wrecking ball all the time. Like it’s, you know what I’m saying? There’s really hopefully a lot a. Lot of gray area with me is like, you get here or sometimes I’m here and that’s it.
And most of the time I am here. So I really just try to be like super welcoming. You learn that theater games, you learn how to read people’s energy and just kind of meet them where they are. So I think getting some of those aspects of theater really has helped a lot.
And this may be to my ignorance only just because I’m not, I’m just not aware or not as informative on it. But like being is different for someone who’s homeless and beautiful Miami, somebody so homeless and Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it’s cold, it’s freezing. I play games out there.
I’ve been to the skywalk, I’ve only walked through the skyway. Like. I don’t go outside when I go over there. So for homeless youths experiencing this cold, like what is the how does that push them inside or how do like, how does that work? Because I’m sure it’s because places get overcrowded like.
Well, what’s great about Culture Club is we’ve been partnering. So Culture Club’s been around for 30 years and we’ve partnered with Youth Link that whole time. And so Youth League provides a lot of other services. So we’ll do the art and therapy and things like that.
But Youth Link provides like housing can give lives basic need. They also provide food along with us showers, and they provide a place for you to go to like five days a week as well. So what’s great is that they can come in and get a hot meal, do laundry, get a shower,
And also help in finding places for them to sleep, whether it be shelters, whether it’s finding like apartments and things like that. So, yes, the summers are harsh and we think about that. We’re thinking about what we are providing as culture club for them
To get through the winters that say Summers I met Winters. The winters are harsh, the summers are humid. But we do harsh winters. And we also think about it’s dry out, the skin is cracking. Let’s teach them how to make their own body butters things that really make, you know, hand-sanitizer
Things to candles, things to really make them feel homely, to feel like, okay, I’ve got some something here. You know, I’m just not without anything. And blankets, you know, crocheting like all of those things. And they’re drawn in because it is a welcoming place.
It’s a place where they can come in out of the cold and be there for several hours, several days of the week. And we’re consist. And that’s a really great thing, too. We’re not just, okay, we’re just going to be here, we’re not a pop up, we’re consistent.
So they have a place that they feel like home and a lot of the time I’ve heard so many youth be like, Oh, this feels like family. So even with my staff, we’re very small. Organizations are only four of us running this thing. And we come in, we
Hug each other, are our staff, we hug our youth, we bring them in. And I think that really helps you get through these harsh winters, too. You were nominated and voted on online, got a ton of support, and then Toyota gave you the nudge. It was a $10,000 micro grant.
Talk to me a little bit about the impact of that money. What were you able to do with it? Oh, thank you, Toyota. Where’s my karma? No, after. After. I love it. Of course, my karma. What was great? It’s like I said, we’re a small organization. Our budget is like tiny.
Any little bit helps. We can always use money to do something. And so what we did with these funds is we started our open mics again, which was really great. We did actually a few things. So one of the things is we use part of it to do our open mics again
Where you’ve come in and they’re doing, you know, poetry. Sometimes they’re just doing speeches, sometimes they’re just talking about their day, sometimes they’re doing stand up music, whatever. All they have to do is get on stage, keep it clean, and just share. That’s it.
And we were able to provide stipends for them through it as they came on stage. I was like, That’s okay. If you want to get on stage and just say just a little bit about yourself, what you did today, share a piece of art that you created. Great.
All you have to do is just be yourself. So we’re able to provide stipends for them for that. Like I said, we’re working on a fashion show this year, but last year it was our first time doing that as well, doing sewing.
So we were able to have a teaching artist come in, teach our youth to make original clothes, make their own clothes, think about branding, what they like to wear, what they want people to see, and so we were able to use part of it, too,
To put on this fashion show, which was great because they went through the whole thing, they picked their models, they, you know, learned how to do all the fittings. You know, we went to the venue and they were able to like see that we had you come and perform and show original art.
We had a deejay. It was like a huge thing. And some of them were like, This is. The best night of my life. And then we were able to also buy them clothes so they can dress nice and just feel good about themselves
As they go and present themselves, you know, to all these people, strangers and whatnot. So we did that as well. And it was excellent, just beautiful. Let me ask one last question, if that’s okay. So. So where are you going? I mean, actually a better one.
So with the public watching this might say what a great organization to support. How is the best way for them to support you? All of the ways, all of the things Obviously donating is gonna go a long way because all of our the majority of our budget go towards the youth, towards
The organization, like towards on the programing that we do. So donating is going to be great but not just donating money supplies. Like I said, we’re an arts organization. Any type of supplies, we’ll figure it out. We’ll do something with something, you know, time if you want to come and volunteer
Donating your time if you have a special skill. So we hire teaching artists, like I said, and even though all of us are artists who work at Culture Club, it’s hard to like teach and run the thing and you know,
But if you are an artist and you like, you know what, it would be great to bring this like art skill to a culture club that partnering with us so would be great because we are we want to create more community and create tribes for our youth as well.
So partnering with us would be great. So yeah, those are just some of the ways excellence. Amazing. I mean, I’m just, you know, I love a person who sees the humanity in young people who I think just a lot of people forget about and would like to forget about.
So congratulations for you and your team for what you’re doing is. Absolutely congratulations for sure. Thank you for coming and sharing your story. Let everybody know the website though, and your socials so we can follow, donate and thank you. Yeah. Culture Club dot org is our website. With today’s.
Culture with the K Club. With the K you can find us on like Tik-tok, Facebook, Instagram at Culture Club with the K, culture with the K and Club with the K. So just culture club. Thank you and thanks to all of you for following after the Nudge podcast. We appreciate it. Thank you.
Soledad O’Brien and J.R. Smith spend time with Siddeeqah Shabazz of Minneapolis’s Kulture Klub Collaborative. Kulture Klub Collaborative is a unique community program that provides arts exposure and various modes of support for teens in the Twin Cities who are experiencing homelessness. See Terms & Conditions at AfterTheNudge.com: https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/after-the-nudge/after-the-nudge-term-and-conditions-2023.pdfCollaborative
Watch the first episode here: https://youtu.be/cjXa_vATOFQ
Subscribe for more Toyota videos: http://bit.ly/ToyotaSubscribe
Connect with Toyota USA online:
Visit the Toyota WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/ToyotaSite
Like Toyota on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/ToyotaUSAFB
Follow Toyota on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/ToyotaTwitter
Follow Toyota on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ToyotaInsta
In this of the After The Nudge Podcast, Soledad and J.R. Smith meet with Siddeeqah Shabazz.
#Toyota #AfterTheNudge #ToyotaNudge
