CREATIVE ACTIVISM:
Raul Valdez with Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program

Friday July 25, 2014
Valdez Art Studio - Austin, Texas

The Iraqi Young Leader Exchange Program (IYLEP) worked with Raul Valdez (muralist) on their last site visit in Austin and Central Texas.

The IYLEP is a federally funded project and facilitated with the help of the University of Texas International Office. The students spent the month of July in Austin and participated in four weeks of leadership training which focused on the thematic topic of Law and Social Justice.

Mr. VALDEZ introduced the 21 Iraqi students to Creative Activism through the media of painting.

Valdez encourage the students to:
"consider a serious idea or message that you wish to deliver to your friends, to those you do not consider to be your friends, to Austin, to Texas, to the Iraqi people and the the people of the United States, ultimately to the people of the world. Give yourself some time to think and come up with the most positive message you can conceive."

The Valdez Art Studio gives a big thanks for their support to:


Angela Branigan, who serves as the Assistant Director of International Student & Scholar Support Services and

Emily Pulley, a program coordinator at the International Office.

Raul Valdez had help from ADRIANA MJ GARCIA ( artist, muralist and scenic designer from San Antonio Texashttp://www.adrianamjgarcia.com/ )

Thanks to Raul Valdez and all the students.

UT International Office
http://world.utexas.edu/

Raul Valdez - muralist
http://www.raulvaldez.net/

More info:
The Art of Learning by Jordan Schraeder
http://world.utexas.edu/features/artoflearning


...Lessons of a Lifetime by Carola Guerrero de Leon
http://www.readthehorn.com/news/campus/97843/iraqi_students_participate_in_social_justice_program_at_ut_learn_lessons_of_a_life