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HARK! Community Engagement Through The Art of Listening

April 6, 2018

Listening As An Act of Social Justice

We lucky Tusconans often take for granted how incredible Tucson really is. From our immaculate HRC score to our many wonderful rankings as The Best Place to Live in Arizona, it’s easy to under appreciate the amazing utopia our community has managed to build in Tucson. Thankfully, we have wonderful organizations like the YWCA Southern Arizona that keep pushing the envelope. Join in with HARK! – an arts based community engagement project helping Tusconans bridge the communication gap!

What is HARK!?

HARK! is a collaboration between the YWCA Southern Arizona, Taproot Productions and local artist Euginia Woods. It consists of a series of public and private listening events which teach the practice of “mindful listening”. The overall goal is to reduce our current political and social polarization by building dialogue on key issues that concern us all.

HARK! creates safe spaces for people to cross the social, political, racial, and gender-based borders that often define and contain us. We are then invited to participate in an informative conversation on identify and civic responsibility within a fractured culture.

What Can I Expect at a HARK! Event?

This is Not a HARK! Approved Mindful Listening Technique

At a HARK! event, trained artists will provide training into “mindful listening techniques”. These techniques, once applied, provide participants with chances to speak out in a safe and receptive environment. You are free to share your unique visions for justice and collective wellness.

At some HARK! events, participants are provided with basic training in mindful listening techniques. You will then take turns asking questions and listening to each other, giving everyone in the room a chance to be heard without judgement.

How Can I Get Involved?

HARK! has staged community listening events in various locations across the city!

Pop-up Listening Pods:

YWCA Southern Arizona,
Frances McClelland Community Center (Bonita Ave.);
Tucson Meet Yourself;
Chuck Ford Lakeside Park;
the Ronstadt Transit Center;
Casa Libre on 4th Ave;
Quincie Douglas Center,
Active Adult Program;
Women’s Resource Center at the University of Arizona;
and the Hopi Foundation – Owl and Panther

HARK! Performances:

The HARK! artistic team, led by Director Eugenia Woods and Choreographers Kimi Eisele and Natalie Brewster Nguyen, are gathering what they learn during the listening sessions and arranging it into an artistic performance. Performances will run April 19 – 29, 2018.

Preview: Thursday April 19th at 7:30pm

Opening: Friday April 20th at 7:30pm

Regular Performances: Saturday April 21, Thursday April 26, Friday April 27, and Saturday April 28 at 7:30pm

Sunday Matinees: April 22th and April 29th at 2pm

Tickets: General $15, Student/Teacher/Military/Senior $10

YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ 85745

Find the Full HARK! Calendar at the GayTucson Events Calendar!

To learn more about HARK! visit https://www.taprootproductions.com/hark
https://www.facebook.com/events/930315347132035/

http://www.ywcatucson.org