Truth In This Art Podcast - Your Source for Conversations with Artists, Innovators & Cultural Leaders

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Ready to explore? Tune in to 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, hosted by host Rob Lee and accompanied by today's guest Raasin McIntosh, a dynamic figure in the world of arts, sports, and community empowerment. As the Director of Parks & Placemaking for Downtown Austin Alliance and an accomplished Olympic hurdler, Raasin's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From her time as a University of Texas Track Star and Olympian to her transformative experience competing before thousands of fans in West Africa, Raasin's passion shines through. With a commitment to creative placemaking, she founded Raasin and Sun, a visionary endeavor that blends arts, community initiatives, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Raasin's journey has led her to Austin, where she champions the use of creative placemaking as a powerful tool for community development and empowerment.

ABOUT RAASIN IN THE SUN
Raasin in the Sun is an Austin based Nonprofit organization who's work focuses on cultivating resilience through art and environmental initiatives

Within this segment, we dig into:

• The world of creative placemaking as we explore how underutilized spaces can be transformed into vibrant canvases that foster collaboration, address challenges, and forge connections among people.
• Join us in this enlightening episode as we unravel the complexities of creative placemaking. Discover how the challenge lies in conveying its worth to others and securing essential funding and policies that pave the way for impactful transformations.
• Embark on a journey that unveils the omnipresence of art and its role as a catalyst for change. Delve into how art, in all its forms, holds the potential to transcend barriers, serving as a potent vehicle for self-expression and societal transformation.
• In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the importance of recognizing and addressing trauma within the creative industry. Discover how this awareness shapes impactful experiences, fostering healing and meaningful connections through artistic expression.
• Join us as we take you through the fascinating voyage of creative projects. Uncover how the process from inception to completion is where true impact and community engagement thrive, igniting discussions, connections, and lasting transformations.

Don't miss this impactful conversation with Raasin as she discusses her career path and the importance of creative placemaking in community development. Raasin shares her background growing up in Houston, Texas, and how her father's influence as an artist sparked her interest in the arts. She also talks about her journey as a track and field Olympian and how it led her to Austin, where she shifted her focus to arts and community initiatives. Raasin explains the concept of creative placemaking and the challenges she faces in explaining its value to others. She emphasizes the need for funding and supportive policies to make this work easier. Raasin also discusses the impact of art on people's lives and the importance of understanding and addressing trauma within the creative industry.

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Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard.

Episode illustration by Alley Kid Art.