About Genesis at the Crossroads

Our Mission
Genesis at the Crossroads (GATC) bridges cultures in conflict through the arts – namely to create and implement innovative artistic, arts-education and humanitarian programs worldwide.

Our Vision
In a world that faces continuing conflict and resulting tragedies, GATC asserts that cross-cultural artistic expression serves as a catalyst for inter-ethnic discourse and global understanding.

We are a 501 (c)(3) Chicago-based international not-for-profit organization (NGO.)

Genesis at the Crossroads Charter

Our Values
We believe that everyone has a voice in world peace, and that in order for true peace to be achieved, every voice needs a safe place for expression and communal comprehension.

We believe that the arts transcend cultural differences and barriers to understanding.

We believe that the arts offer immediate and enduring access to our shared humanity.

We believe in both the creation of opportunities and infrastructures for the development of new work, and the presentation and preservation of existing artistic product.

We believe that effective arts education can equip young people with communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills.

We believe that creative self-expression is vital to the intellectual and emotional growth of young people.

We believe that active participation in philanthropy is not only essential to being a well-rounded citizen locally, but also critical to positive forward momentum in the peace process globally.

 

THIS IS WHO WE ARE; THIS IS WHAT WE PROMISE TO DELIVER:

1) Arts-Diplomacy TM based on partnership and exchange
To bring together ethnic artists to share their talents and collaborate across deepened religious and socio-political lines to create, perform, and bring to fruition new vocal, instrumental, dance, documentary film and visual works of art. To create programs that support bilateral cross-cultural exchange.


To mastermind engaging events that unite ethnically diverse audience members and students as they discover their artistic self-expression and celebrate their varied cultures.

To jointly discuss and process a complex set of emotions involved in observing and working with adversarial cultures in creative exchange.

To explore the transformational power of art that allows an opposing culture’s stirring performance/artistic work to profoundly move the human spirit, and thereby compel individuals to shift their thinking to an altered paradigm that favors and fosters collaboration.

To exemplify a model for cross-cultural collaboration through artistic expression that bridges emotional and perceptual divides and enhances communication.


2) Innovation
To stimulate creativity through stellar, award-winning international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary artistic disciplines.

To contribute novel commissions to the existing body of artwork.


3) Education & Leadership
To nurture and develop new world leaders in conflict resolution.

To create educational products including books, CDs, documentary film and peace curricula through an evolving array of educational institutions, not the least of which is the Genesis International High School slated for opening in 2014. To further enrich and empower other schools and college campuses worldwide with GATC arts-education, master classes, and roundtables linked to performance programs all teaching peace. (Such interactive programs will incorporate social and emotional learning skills.)

To discover and cultivate artistic brilliance whenever and wherever possible.


4) Artistic Preservation
To record and safeguard art for posterity’s sake.

To showcase rich and diverse cultures and their heritage.

To share these legacies through CD compilations, broadcasts, documentary film and other evolving digital media via the internet and its wide array of global social networks.


5) Humanitarian Aid/Efforts
To make a profound difference for others less fortunate and to enrich their lives.

To give youth the opportunity to learn and express philanthropy to other disenfranchised youth in challenged circumstances.

To link American children to those all over the world and vice versa.


6) Global Impact
To create compelling and inspirational artistic work that is far-reaching, stretching to remote corners of the world.