Ep 7: Freedom is a Practice and Hope is a Discipline with Dr. Knucklehead

<p><strong>During this episode of </strong><em><strong>Why Change?</strong></em><strong> co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss creative approaches to justice in their work. Jeff interviews Amir Whitaker - a.k.a. Dr. Knucklehead - about his work as an artist, activist, and attorney delivering on the promise of arts and cultural education to California’s young people while maintaining his practice as a musician. This episode examines different approaches for creative social justice projects led by intergenerational teams of youth and adults &nbsp;balancing self-care and artistic practice as healing throughout the process.</strong></p> <p><strong>In this episode you’ll learn:</strong></p> <ol> <li><strong>How you can cultivate the conditions for young creatives to pursue social justice;<br> </strong></li> <li><strong>About multiple arts-based, youth-led social justice projects in Los Angeles and Chicago; and<br> </strong></li> <li><strong>Why your artistic practice can be healing.</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Please download the transcript </strong><a href="https://creative-generation.org/podcast-episodes/freedom-is-a-practice-and-hope-is-a-discipline-with-dr-knuckelhead"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p> <p><strong>ABOUT AMIR WHITAKER: </strong>Amir is an educator, author, civil rights lawyer, and musician. He is the founder and director of Project KnuckleHead,<strong> </strong>a nonprofit organization empowering youth through music, art, and educational programs since 2013.</p> <p>Often referred to as “Dr. KnuckleHead,” Amir was introduced to the criminal justice system as a child when he visited both his mother and father in prison. At age 15, Amir himself was arrested and entered the juvenile justice system. Problems at school eventually led to him being expelled. Despite these hardships, Amir went on to complete five college degrees.</p> <p>As a lawyer referred to as a “civil rights and education stalwart” by the Daytona Times, Amir has negotiated settlements and policy changes that have improved t