Using the Arts to Empower - Shirley Mae Springer Staten

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Shirley Mae Springer Staten has called Anchorage, Alaska, home for over 45 years, dedicating her life to building bridges across race, class, culture, and generations. As an artist, educator, speaker, and cultural connector, she is known for her exuberance, compassion, and commitment to community and global understanding through the arts. In 2015, she founded Keys to Life, a nonprofit focused on cross-cultural connection through storytelling, artistic expression, and community gatherings. As executive director, she has led initiatives such as the Anchorage Cross-Cultural Summit, Camp Kaleidoscope for youth, Winter Voices, and the What Is the Meaning of Homea project designed for unhoused community members. Her work also includes projects with incarcerated parents and underserved youth, including the Hidden Roots documentary and the Eyes Closed exhibit. Shirley Mae has coordinated statewide cultural and educational efforts, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Alaska Native Heritage Center conferences, and the Alaska Humanities Forums educator immersion programs. She has also contributed to museum and Smithsonian exhibits, led international youth travel programs, and created arts-based educational performances.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wfcgkjq90mtzwvleek876/ShirleyMaeSpringerStatenSlides.pdf?rlkey=nq4letmwp5pmw5v3q6ru3940m&dl=0