The Women in Power Spaces (WiPS) Initiative by the North Orange County Community College District addresses the systemic and persistent barriers female-identifying individuals face to advance social justice and gender equity for all.

An unexpected result of planning this year’s Women in Power Spaces Convening has been the team’s immersion into the Southern California art scene.

It started innocently enough: Seija Rohkea, Gallery Technician at the Fullerton College Art Gallery, suggested that the committee connect with local artist Jason Keam to commission some original pieces for the event. Jason is a Long Beach based multi-disciplinary painter and community builder with a background in animation and visual effects. Jason’s work is bright and infectious, completely informed by his love of the vibrant energy of California, skateboarding culture, and animated American TV shows.

In collaboration with TED Talks and POSCA creative tools, Jason presented the community sculpture "We Rise By Lifting Others" on a multi-city installation tour, which sought to bring “together individuals from diverse communities and cities” and “connect the dots and draw each other closer, creating a ripple effect of creativity and inspiration.” As we talked to Jason about his work, it was clear how intricately connected art is to notions of community pride and activism.

These conversations inspired us to create the “Art x Advocacy + Identity” panel at the upcoming 2026 WiPS Convening. This panel will explore the intersection of the arts and advocacy with artists reflecting on how their work balances personal expression with public impact. Larger themes will include how art can influence civic engagement, public policy, and community change as well as its role in identity, healing, and connection.

Moderated by Elvia Rubalcava, Executive Director of the Fullerton Museum Center, the panel will showcase the art, advocacy, and experiences of experiential artist Ragni Agarwal, multidisciplinary creator Carla Jay Harris, art therapist Sara DeSmet, and USC professor Amelia Jones.

In the same spirit, I highly recommend visiting the Skirball Cultural Center in LA to see their Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976–86 exhibition. Featuring more than 500 objects and pieces of ephemera, Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos “brings the history of punk music into sharp focus—from handmade flyers, zines, buttons, and posters to early clothing by fashion designers Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren. These iconic garments, alongside photographs, video, film, and other artifacts, anchor visitors in the visual and material world of punk while opening space for lesser-known stories. This exhibition is more than a celebration of a music scene. It is a deep dive into how a generation of misfits challenged the rules, reimagined community, and helped reshape culture from the margins.”

Listen to the punk playlist on Spotify that was curated to accompany the exhibition.

 

Until next time,
Kai Stearns Davis, Leadership Committee Chair

She's Birdie is one of our sponsors at this year's upcoming Annual Convening. 

Currently, 1 in 3 women in the U.S. is assaulted in her lifetime. This means 1 in 3 of our daughters, sisters, and friends. We’ve partnered with She's Birdie to giveaway five of their incredible personal defense alarms!

Winners will be contacted via the email tied to their newsletter subscription.

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