Arlene Goldbard

I met Arlene during Gov. Jerry (Moonbeam) Brown's administration. I'd been drawn by his radical new California Arts Council's commitments to social engagement and cultural diversity in the arts, but was depressed to see how like Bunuel's "Viridiana" (which I saw at the Chicago Latino Film Fest, en route to California from Washington, DC) that agency -- and Brown's administration -- turned out to be: old-fashioned cronyism in reverse.

There was one exception: the Council had contracted with a leading artist-activist from San Francisco, Arlene Goldbard, to create a statewide network of artists and community organizers committed to their espoused values. Unlike much of the CAC's own work, Arlene's independent agency -- Cultural News & Services -- was truly committed to the empowerment of creative community members to transform culture in their own communities.

We could not imagine, in 1976-77, how terribly worse the conditions for social change could get in the United States and, through our influence, throughout the world. But seeing what Arlene has done since has inspired me in so many ways to understand that intelligence need not mean succumbing to cynicism; that activism in its most enduring sense is fueled by a deep sense of humor and spiritual connection; and that it is when we are most sorely tested that the depth of commitment and optimism will emerge.

Arlene's work as a consultant, writer, speaker, teacher and organizer has supported the persistent, independent work of activist groups all over the U.S. and around the world. See for yourself, by visiting her Web site at www.arlenegoldbard.com. There you'll also find references to some of the many other projects in which she is and has been engaged.

There have been books decrying the death of the public intellectual -- free of the academy, yet engaged in the life of the mind and of the public, broadly defined. Arlene is proof that these cynics are wrong. Please name her your exemplar of the Intelligent Optimist!

And thanks very much for your excellent magazine!