Communities across the country are desperate for leaders who know how to listen, tell stories, build coalitions, and imagine something better. Despite these being artist skills, they seem to be absent from elected office.
Dr. Quanice Floyd and Tom Tresser will walk participants through the civic landscape, where decisions actually get made, who makes them, and how to get a seat at the table. The session includes a culture-wars history exercise, a live Leadership Assets Inventory (mapping your network, public profile, fundraising ability, and storytelling skills), and a mock candidate rally. Along the way, participants will see how creative practices like iteration, empathy, and rapid prototyping translate directly into civic leadership.
This is a workshop built on the belief that artists' values like care, imagination, community, equity, belong in public life at every level, from school boards to city hall. Whether you've never thought about running for office or have always wondered if you could, this session is for you.
