In comparing my work to what's happening around the world with grassroots movements like Occupy Wall Street - I find it difficult to see any connections. As I follow news about Occupy Wall street (on the Daily Show, etc.), I can’t see how I relate to folks that conduct meetings like they are straight out of a Jacob Two Two story. Words are spoken into a loud speaker and echoed by the crowd to create a ‘human microphone’; every phrase is spoken twice just like Jacob Two Two, the Mordecai Richler character who has to say things twice just to be heard. The hand signals Occupiers use to communicate their feelings on any given subject seem flakey not to mention un-organized, time consuming, and inefficient. I have little faith that they can accomplish anything with the lack of a single focus.

I've never been the part of a movement, I have no reference point; I just feel it’s too much discussion and not enough action. I need more doing, less waiting for consensus, more action. I watch – frustrated. I watch – disappointed. I watch - searching. I stop watching – anti-climactic.

And then I come across one of those Facebook shared video blogs, it’s a Hip Hop Guy.  O.K., I'm watching, listening. He explains his skepticism, a visit to Occupy, a turning point, his acceptance, and then his transition to full supporter and believer, based on inspiration! He is inspired by the demonstrators, inspired by their hope, inspired by their sense of community, inspired by their sacrifice, inspired by their patient determination.

Inspired. Inspired! That's the word I need, that's the feeling I need, that's the visceral connection I need in order to relate. O.Kl, I get that, I’m behind you…..Occupy your hearts out! 

So why does this resonate with me? Well, because as a teacher, boss, community builder, and a mom, I am in the business of inspiration. Here is a brief summary of how I (accidentally) got into this business. 

Rewind 20 years: I am a recovering addict, I am alone, I am isolated, I have no community. For selfish reasons, I begin to build a network. I rejuvenate a dance studio, a dying not-for-profit, so that I can begin to surround myself with kindreds, and to dance, for me.

Over the next 20 years, I am inspired: I start a scholarship program, inspired by the stories of children without the means to pay for classes. I further my education and earn my dance degree, inspired by a passionate dancer. I open my own business, a dance studio, inspired by the gifts of knowledge my professors offer.

I am inspired to start a non-profit youth company, Extremely Moving Youth Society, to give young dancers a place to express themselves. I am inspired by my son to start Breakdancing Yukon Society, an organization that uses Hip Hop to engage youth. I am inspired by my growing community of kindreds to start an arts-based intergenerational community centre that offers pay-what-you-can programming.

Finally, I am inspired by the children that I have been teaching for the past 10, 12, 15, or 20 years and their growing willingness to get behind these projects. They want to help, they are helping: volunteering, organizing, renovating, grant writing, sitting on boards. We are getting things done together – inspiring each other. It is a cyclical flow of inspirational infinity. 

So I get it, this is how Occupy will make change – by inspiring change. It will take time but it is happening. Ideas become reality as long as we continue to inspire because sometimes our job is not to be the “doer”, sometimes our job is to inspire the “doer.” 

No more cynicism from me, just an acceptance that change can happen over time and will as long as people are feeling ……inspired!

BIO

Andrea Simpson-Fowler has been dancing her whole life. Transplanted unwillingly to the Yukon at the age of 11 she was devastated to realize the lack of places to dance and people to dance with. A difficult time followed as she struggled as a teen and began a long battle with drugs and alcohol. After a successful turn in a rehabilitation program, she was inspired to pursue a dance degree at Simon Fraser University. Upon her return to Whitehorse she began to develop her philosophy of teaching life skills through dance, and she focused on the phrase, "Dancing Through Life". In 1999 she opened Leaping Feats Creative Danceworks, and with an innovative approach to dance instruction, she began to train dancers in the genres of tap, ballet, creative modern, jazz, contemporary, breakdance, and hip hop, while focusing on  the idea of life skills through dance. In 2000 she founded the organization, Extremely Moving Youth Society, a non profit that offers a professional dance training program for children age 11 and up. As Artistic Director of  Extremely Moving, she spearheaded the professional training program (an intensive  program for 36 kids, in three levels (ages 11 - 18). She also headed the Repertory Development Project, where high profile Canadian Choreographers visit the Yukon to Choreograph and teach people of all ages and levels. In 2004 she was part of a group of parents that founded Breakdancing Yukon Society, which focuses on the development of the Hip Hop Community in Yukon.  As Artistic Director of BYS, Andrea developed Recreational Hip Hop Camps, Street Dance Intensive (with internationally renowned faculty), Cypher for Change (a national B-boy/girl Forum), Yukon Energy: Klondike Heat, a national breakdance battle, and the Young Emerging Artist Development Project. Currently Andrea is working on a Community Centre, The Heart of Riverdale, which will offer recreational programming for all members of the community, and aims to be an intergenerational hub of activity in our city.

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