Beyond Climate Anxiety: An Arts Based Model for Systemic Change

Slam Out Loud builds SEL skills — agency, imagination, curiosity, and emotional awareness — using the visual and performing arts. The model is systemic, utilizing the existing art period. Educators deliver this in classrooms across four cities, while partnerships with state governments embed it into curriculum, training, and measurement at scale. SOL has built these skills with 700,000+ students in person and over 5 million digitally, measured through competency-based assessments rather than self-report. SOL also identifies children with a long-term interest in the arts and guides them toward mentorship, platforms for their work, and pathways into creative careers. They have recently completed a randomized evaluation of our SEL-first, arts-based climate curriculum across more than 3,300 children. The early findings suggest that emotionally safe and creative approaches can help children move beyond climate anxiety and helplessness towards knowledge, self-efficacy, and action. 

Speakers: Jigyasa Laboo and Mrdiula Reddy (Slam Out Loud)

Time: 15:00-16:00 CET