Moore College

Convocation speaker Risë Wilson, Director of Philanthropy for the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in New York City, told students that all change begins with a vision – personal change and “large-scale pattern breaking” change. Solutions emerge “from critical and creative thinking.” “The ability to think this way is a skill…you have the capacity…” she said. “How do you foster visionary thinking? You make art and become a change maker.” Referencing her work with The Laundromat Project - a project she founded which brings socially relevant and socially engaged arts programming to laundromats in neighborhoods – Wilson said it’s important to bring art to where people already are. “I’ve learned that making art in your own backyard is a deceptively simple act,” she said. “There is power in applying art in your own community.” She told students that over the next two to four years they should ask themselves: What am I ready to tackle? How can I remain gentle with myself? How can I milk every minute of my educatio