About Us « Crossroads Institute

About Us

Founded in New Orleans, LA, in 2001, Crossroads Project for Art, Learning & Community works with children, youth and adults throughout the United States to spread knowledge and build capacity regarding the use of the creative arts for learning and social change.

For the first five years, Crossroads Project was focused on completion of a ten-year effort to research, create and publish our seminal publication, Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts (New Village Press, 2005). Since then, we have focused on expanding use of the Beginner’s Guide as a resource for universities, schools and community organizations throughout the U.S. and the Americas, and developing a model program for at-risk youth in New Orleans that is based on the Guide.

2009 Members of the Crossroads Team

Bryan Graham, Designer (link) – Award-winning web and graphic designer with non-profit clients in museums and arts service organizations in New Orleans and throughout the U.S.

Lily Keber, Documentarian – World-travelling video producer with extensive training from Cannes Student Film Institute and Appalshop Arts & Media Center in Kentucky.

Keith Knight, Documentarian (link) – Creator of nationally syndicated comic strips K Chronicles, Th(ink) and Knight Life; winner of prestigious Harvey Award two years running.

New Village Press, Co-Publishers (link) – Their non-fiction books profile innovative solutions to seemingly intractable social, environmental and economic challenges.

Janet Rassweiler, Educational Consultant – Widely respected educator, former Program Director of NYC Young Audiences and a faculty advisor with Bank Street College of Education.

Mat Schwarzman, Director – 1985, Sharing the Arts, Camden, Elmer and Vineland, New Jersey; 1985, Big Small Theater, Philadelphia; 1989, Arts & Social Change Program, New College of California, San Francisco; 1995, East Bay Institute for Urban Arts, Oakland, CA. Received Doctorate in Integral Studies with a Concentration on Learning & Change in Human Systems, California Institute for Integral Studies, 1998.

PLUS the youth and adults of Creative Forces in New Orleans (link to CF Gallery) who function as instructors and organizers for many of Crossroads Project’s trainings and professional development activities.

About Us

2009 Members of the Crossroads Team

List of Funders & Partners Since 2001