BY ALEJANDRO BRUNA
ALL PICTURES BY ANNA VILARRÚ
Fresh off her In-School 5 Day Workshop in Berlin, the Founder, and Director of Breaking Walls finally got a moment to talk about her Community Service Award awarded by SXSW. The Individual Award honors the difference one person can make in a community.
Not many people know a lot about Fran Tarr. I met her while preparing the seventh annual summit done by Breaking Walls, as it would take place in Santiago, Chile. She soon became a mentor and close friend, inspiring me with her work, as she has made an impact on a global scale, helping young artists around the world find their voices and carry out projects that contribute to a better, more accepting and peaceful world.
Breaking Walls at the Centro Cultural de Recoleta, in Santiago, Chile
Launched in 2011, Breaking Walls is a U.S.-based international youth empowerment movement that fosters global dialogue among the leaders of tomorrow by creating artistic, educational and community-building opportunities for youth to become empathetic, system changing leaders. Through Breaking Walls, Fran has made an impact in challenging concepts of diversity, committing to diminish the divide by including young artist of different race, religion, sexuality, social background and political thinking.
Fran in the middle of explaining a writing trigger activity prior to starting putting together the script for the final performance.
Fran’s work focuses on connecting young people at a global scale, uniting a vast mixture of races and nationalities, where young people explore their imagination and share life experiences with their peers. Through creative writing, performance and peace-building activities, they are united and become part of an international family. And although her work is based in Brooklyn, the young artists from there are also representative of diversity, as some of them are recent immigrants to the U.S. from Brazil, Burkina Faso, and Togo. This work was recognized by SXSW, choosing Fran as one of the six individuals for her outstanding commitment to community service. The awards were created in 1999 to celebrate the life and work of SXSW Interactive co-founder, Dewey Winburne.
How do you feel about winning the SXSW Community Service Award? For many situations, I’ve discovered that I’m on a parallel path. This award has made me feel both honored and humbled. Viewing the other participants it was a great honor to chosen along with them. And I’m excited to go to the film festival!
What do you have in mind to use the grant for? The grant will go to our 2019 Summit, which will take place in Tangier, Morocco. It will be used specifically to ensure that we have a safe and clean hostel for everyone to stay in, because that will be the foundation for the entire experience.
“You must be comfortable in your role if you want people to follow your example.”
Fran after meeting Civil Rights Icon and Director of the Martin Luther King Foundation for Non-Violence. Photo credit – N/A.
What are the next projects for Breaking Walls? The next project for Breaking Walls is the partnership with Lend Yourself to Life Foundation at the Dwyer Center in Harlem for two reasons: one being we can connect with different kind of kids in New York, and secondly because this partnership is fully funded by United Nations Development Program.
What do you have to say to the people who would like to follow your example and make a difference in the world? What’s your advice? The reason I’m successful is that I see myself as a guide rather than a leader. I know I am both but being a guide is simpler, easier and less of a burden to be both. It is easier to ask young people to trust themselves, to trust me. You must be comfortable in your role if you want people to follow your example, that is my advice to young adults.
The award will be presented in March 2019 in Austin, Texas, starting off an exciting new year of projects that still need a lot of help. As explained by Chief Brand Officer Jann Baskett, over the past 20 years SXSW has awarded nearly 200 exemplary individuals and organizations with grants and access to the event to help further their important work. “The recipients selected for the 2019 Community Service Awards are using their creative talents to change the world for the better, and we’re honored to celebrate and amplify their efforts at SXSW.”