NCID-1768
Durell Deon Cooper
Founder and CEO
Cultural Innovation Group, LLC
Education/Degree:
1 Theatre (New York University)
About
Durell Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Cultural Innovation Group, LLC. He is one the nation's most sought after cultural strategists, specializing in systems change and collaborative thought leadership. Prior to founding Cultural Innovation Group, LLC , he was a Program Officer at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) during the rollout of the NYC Cultural Plan. He also worked at Lincoln Center Education recruiting and training teaching artists as well as several community engagement initiatives aimed at increasing equity and inclusion in NYC public schools. Durell is a 2018 Graduate of Stanford's Impact Program for Arts Leaders (IPAL). He"s also the creator and host of the web series, Flow. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctorate at New York University.
Current Work
Cooper's research is focused on understand ways to better utilize hip hop in traditional classrooms settings as a way to honor the lived experiences of hip hop involved youth. He is currently interviewing hip hop teaching artists around the country who utilize hip hop in their classrooms to better understand their methods and strategies. His study will culminate in a film that documents the experiences of those teaching artists and their hopes for the future. He has recently published: Tear the Walls Down: A Case for Abolitionist Pedagogy in Arts Education Teacher Training Programs.
Research Area Keyword(s)
abolitionist teaching, anti-racist, culturally relevant, liberation, ratchedemic