Episode Details

What can we learn from artists who survived the chaos of 1980s prisons—and how can their lessons help us resist authoritarianism today?

From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where artivists share and learn the skills and strategies they need to thrive as creative community leaders. My name is Bill Cleveland. 

As censorship and threats escalate for activist artists and community leaders, navigating today’s polarized world demands more than passion. This episode draws powerful insights from prison arts programs to help creatives and organizers thrive amid rising societal conflict and control.

• Discover 11 practical rules for building credibility, resilience, and respect in high-stakes, divided environments.
• Learn why sustained relationships and long-term commitment are the foundation for real, transformative change.
• Gain essential strategies for navigating us-versus-them traps, telling bold yet responsible stories, and protecting mental health in toxic climates.

Listen now to unlock time-tested survival strategies that can empower your activism, deepen your community work, and sustain your creative mission.

Notable Mentions

1. People

Bill Cleveland: Host of Change the Story, Change the World. Director of the Center for the Study of Art and Community, he draws on decades of experience working with artists in prisons and conflict zones.

Jim Reeves: Author featured in previous episodes, discussed teaching and writing inside prisons.

Noel Raymond: Theater director and cultural leader, spoke about operating arts organizations under political duress.

Vern McKee: Incarcerated artist, president of Vacaville Prison’s Art and Musicians Guilds, who developed the core “Verne’s Rules” that guide arts engagement in high-stakes environments .

2. Events

California’s Arts-in-Corrections Program (1980-90's): A transformative initiative bringing arts education into state prisons during the 1980s, led by Bill Cleveland. A current program under the same name is being operated by the California Arts Council and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is carrying on the program

The Troubles (Northern Ireland): A period of political and sectarian conflict (late 1960s–1998) cited for comparison with the U.S. authoritarian climate.

Khmer Rouge Regime (Cambodia): Post-genocide rebuilding efforts included cultural recovery, referenced here as a parallel to U.S. challenges.

Serbia under Slobodan Milošević: Cited as a reference point for und