Transformation Series: Black Art Movements and Transformation

Black and African Diasporic art has existed as an invaluable thread in art’s tapestry since humans began to create for beauty, mind, and spirit’s sake. Not only is Black art invaluable and essential, but Black artists and their art have pushed art making and art viewing into deeper depths, exploring history and personal narrative, community and identity, consciousness and transformation.

Join Dr. Kathy Littles, Provost of CIIS, for a conversation with Rachel and Shirley on Black Art Movements, their role in visualizing truth, spirituality, beauty, and consciousness, and the transformational power of Black art.

What is the Transformation Series?

The Transformation Series is part of the Beloved Community Initiative's commitment to critically engage with the CIIS community by platforming inspiring voices. Designed to enhance our mission of cultivating courageous conversations, bridging divides, and building connections, we hope that this series will inspire hope and transformative action.

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About Our Speakers

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Rachel Bryant, M.A., is an educator, leader, and healer with more than two decades of experience in public and community mental health. She serves as Vice President, Community Engagement and Belonging at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), where she has helped teach, mentor, and launch the careers of hundreds of emerging mental health clinicians from diverse backgrounds. With a pedagogical and therapeutic orientation in Black, Indigenous, and Liberation Praxis, Rachel is dedicated to working alongside others to heal the soul wounds of poverty, violence, and addiction in our communities.

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Dr. Kathy Littles is the Provost of CIIS. She is a visionary academic administration leader with over two decades of experience in higher education, including extensive experience with leadership, inclusive of supporting university mission, vision, and values, and viewpoint diversity and effective dialogue. Previously, Provost Littles served as Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Senior Diversity Officer at Saint Mary’s College, Dean of CIIS’ School of Consciousness and Transformation, and Director of CIIS’ Transformative Inquiry Department.

As Provost, Dr. Littles serves as the chief academic officer, ensuring a multiplicity of exceptional learning, teaching, and research experiences for students and faculty. She directs and integrates the University’s diverse academic efforts and initiatives to nurture a flourishing community and enables CIIS faculty to excel in teaching and scholarship.
 

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Shirley Strong, M.Ed., M.A., is a social justice educator and advocate committed to increasing equity and inclusion in higher education and healthcare for underserved and vulnerable populations. She has worked in higher education, philanthropy and social justice for over 35 years, including eight years as Dean of Students and Director of Diversity at CIIS and five years as Chief Diversity Officer at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California. Currently, Ms. Strong serves as senior advisor to the Structural Competency Working Group (SCWG), a cross-section of health professionals who train health organizations to recognize and address structural racism in health care and to develop policies and procedures to improve health equity. She is committed to integrating spirituality with activism in the service of the Beloved Community, as envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other prophetic leaders.