Cara Lisa Berg Powers
Executive Director | Transformative Culture Project
Roxbury, MA, UNITED STATES
Innovative Solutions for a Changing World
Media
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Biography
Cara is an innovative strategic thinker working across a variety of disciplines to build the capacity of communities to create meaningful and lasting change. Before her current role as Executive Director of Transformative Culture Project, Cara founded the Youth Media Institute at Project: Think Different and also ran Digital Media programming for the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC). She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Change in addition to a MA in Transformative Media Arts and a BA in Screen Studies and Urban Development/Social Change.
In addition to time spent on the Adjunct Faculty at Wheelock College, Worcester State University and UMASS Boston, Cara has guest lectured at Northeastern University, MIT, Simmons College, and Amherst College. She has produced programming for MTV & NBC, and has provided training in media and social change to non-profit leaders like Oxfam and Facing History & Ourselves. Cara has also presented at several conferences, including the Women, Action and Media Conference, the Be the Media Conference, the National Conference for Media Reform, and the Action Coalition for Media Education Conference. She is the recipient of the Empowerment Award from the 2008 Media That Matters Festival, is featured in No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power by Gloria Feldt.
You can read her work in the Kinder Braver World Series, published by Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Her writing has also been featured on Kveller, The Establishment, and on Facing History and Ourselves. She sits on several Boards and Commissions and plays Roller Derby as Surely Chis'l in Worcester, Massachusetts where she resides with her husband and daughter.
Industry Expertise (3)
Political Organization
Education/Learning
Media - Broadcast
Areas of Expertise (5)
Arts and Culture
Youth Development
Media
Policy
Arts and Education Activism
Education (3)
Fielding Graduate University: EdD, Educational Leadership and Change 2013
Goddard College: MA, Transformative Media Arts 2008
Clark University: BA, Screen Studies, Urban Development and Social Change 2005
Links (2)
Testimonials (7)
Sophia Lafontant, Senior Alliance Advisor | Oxfam America
“Cara knows the power and weight of words; through her arts activism she sparks interest and moves people to action.”
Jaime Adler, Health Communication Specialist | UNC Chapel Hill
“Cara is one of the most dedicated and fearless activists I know. I was reminded watching Cara's actions how passion and motivation can truly make a difference in people's lives and in the community.”
Colin Rhinesmith, PhD Candidate | University of Illinois
“Cara is a passionate and dedicated educator and community organizer. She has a proven commitment to empowering youth and adults with the communications tools needed to tell their own stories, in their own words.”
Colleen Kelly-Poplin, Academic Services Coordinator | Emerson College
“Working beside Cara Lisa Powers was one of the most humbling experiences of my career. Cara lives for her work. Who else can rattle off what's happening with the FCC or the names of all Hip Hop artists since its advent as if she were reciting her name? She's impressive.”
Toni Blackman, Hip Hop Ambassador | United Nations
“By Any Media Necessary is a new weapon available to those fighting in the trenches and taking a stand against society's ills. Bring it on!"
Gail Dines, Chair, American Studies | Wheelock College
“It is about time the people got to have a say in the type of culture we want for our communities, families and children. By Any Media Necessary is a great way to interrupt the power of the corporations by educating people how to use media for progressive social change.”
Gabriel Mugar, Founder | Press Pass TV
Those who have had the pleasure of working with Cara know the passion and commitment that she brings to the table. No matter how big or how small the task, Cara consistently brings a touch of innovation to her work.
Event Appearances (1)
Exploring Respect in Reporting
The Uptake Symposium Twin Cities
Sample Talks (1)
The Uptake Symposium
http://theuptake.org/2015/10/22/exploring-respect-in-reporting/
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
Fees
Articles (1)
How Participatory Action Research Can Promote Social Change and Help Youth Development
Harvard University2016-09-02
The Kinder & Braver World Project: Research Series (danah boyd, John Palfrey, and Dena Sacco, editors) Brought to you by the Born This Way Foundation & the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and supported by the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Social