ABOUT
SHIFT is a multi-layered educational organization that creates intentional space for concrete societal change through individual engagement with assumptions and biases.
We believe that SHIFTing occurs when we are able to recognize our full humanity. By engaging with the arts, workshop participants are encouraged to connect both emotionally and intellectually with what are often perceived as intimidating topics.
Although our workshops and trainings were primarily designed for leaders and facilitators working within an educational context (i.e. educators and administrators, teaching artists, counselors, program coordinators, youth workers, etc), after reflecting on the dynamic range of clients we have served since 2015, we have expanded our offerings so that we may support a wider variety of communities working in complex and ever-changing contexts.
Through customizable activities and media, we engage participants with multiple learning styles and varying degrees of experience with anti-oppressive frameworks.
WHO IS SHIFT
@Fershow Escarcega
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Vivianne A. Njoku (she/her) is a multi-media artist and educator based in Mexico City, MX & Brooklyn, NY. In addition to her work as a video artist, musician and performer, since 2008 Ms. Njoku has instructed youth and adults in video production, music, and conceptual, social justice-based art.
Ms. Njoku holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the Johns Hopkins University, a Masters Degree in Art Education from New York University, and is licensed through the state of New York as a Visual Arts Instructor for all grades. She has collaborated with a number of non-profit organizations, including the Tribeca Film Institute, Reel Works Teen Filmmaking, and Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls.
In her capacity as a public school teacher she taught film and media at the International High School at Union Square (serving recently arrived immigrant youth) and Frank Sinatra School for the Arts.
In addition to her youth work, Ms. Njoku has led workshops internationally, focusing on the ways that youth workers and creatives can use art as a means of discussing issues of anti-oppression both in and out of classrooms.
Most notably she has worked with educators through Harvard's AiE Conference, the African Film Festival, Ifetayo Cultural Arts, The New School, NYU, Rutgers, and the NYC Department of Education.
In much of her professional work, Ms. Njoku has created positions and systems in order to address the necessity of intentional communication between organizations and the communities they aim to serve.
Recently, Ms. Njoku taught and served as the Program Collaborator in the Art Education Graduate Program at NYU Steinhardt. Her current work involves coaching educators and designing and producing Network gatherings of all shapes and sizes within Eskolta School Research and Design.
The common thread in Ms. Njoku’s past and present work is providing community members of all ages with the tools to empower themselves to become mindful and engaged humans who strive for a just, equitable society. Ms. Njoku views SHIFT as a means of synthesizing her work of the past decade, and deepening her commitment to critically resistant arts education.
Consultants and community partners who possess specific skills and expertise round out the SHIFT family, since each workshop and/or facilitated discussion is fully customized for it's unique audience.