Steph Johnson says there's a perception problem when it comes to homelessness.

The local jazz musician founded Voices of Our City Choir in 2016. In the beginning, Johnson simply wanted to provide an artistic outlet for people sleeping on the streets. She found a rehearsal space and invited homeless people to sing with her once a week.

The project, though, has since morphed into an advocacy group that works to humanize homelessness, build empathy for people experiencing it and advocate for change.

In a new episode of Culturecast, Voice of San Diego’s podcast covering arts and culture in the region, I talk to Johnson and three choir members about how the chorus has become a powerful voice for homelessness in San Diego.

Steph Johnson says there's a perception problem when it comes to homelessness. The local jazz musician founded <a href="https://www.voicesofourcity.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voices of Our City Choir</a> in 2016. In the beginning, Johnson simply wanted to <a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/nov/23/homeless-choir-finds-healing-through-music/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provide an artistic outlet</a> for people sleeping on the streets. She found a rehearsal space and invited homeless people to sing with her once a week. The project, though, has since morphed into an advocacy group that works to humanize homelessness, build empathy for people experiencing it and advocate for change. In a new episode of Culturecast, Voice of San Diego’s podcast covering arts and culture in the region, I talk to Johnson and three choir members about how the chorus has become a powerful voice for homelessness in San Diego.

Culturecast is Voice of San Diego's podcast about arts and culture in the San Diego region. In the first season, host Kinsee Morlan will zero in on Barrio Logan and the tension between the locally driven DIY arts renaissance and the new wave of outside developers setting up shop in the neighborhood.

A local arts and culture podcast from Voice of San Diego

San Diego Culturecast

Steph Johnson says there's a perception problem when it comes to homelessness. The local jazz musician founded  in 2016. In the beginning, Johnson simply wanted to  for people sleeping on the streets. She found a rehearsal space and...

Homeless Choir Sings for Change

A quick announcement about the future of Culturecast. 

A quick announcement about the future of Culturecast.

A quick announcement about the future of Culturecast.

An Announcement

A Comic-Con center is starting to take shape in Balboa Park. In a Q-and-A, Adam Smith, the organization's new director, and David Glanzer, a long-time Comic-Con staffer, talk about what we can expect from the new home of popular arts.

A Comic-Con center is starting to take shape in Balboa Park. In a Q-and-A, Adam Smith, the organization's new director, and David Glanzer, a long-time Comic-Con staffer, talk about what we can expect from the new home of popular arts.

Comic-Con's New Balboa Park Digs

In this week’s Culturecast: Border art.

Though Trump’s aggressive border policies provoked an international conversation that lasted throughout 2017, for many of those involved, the border remains just a faraway political concept.

For the Californians and Mexicans who live near it, though, the border is a very real place.

That was driven home throughout the year as local and foreign artists used the border as a canvas on which they expressed opinions about Trump’s policies.

2017 has been a busy year for artist making work at or about the international border fence.

I asked three local artists and curators to join me to talk about border art in a roundtable discussion.

Alessandra Moctezuma, an artist who runs the gallery at San Diego Mesa College and who recently curated the “unDocumenta” border show currently on view at the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Jill Holslin, and artist, border activist and teacher at San Diego State University who recently took part in a big border art intervention.

And Perry Vasquez, a professor at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, the director of the art gallery there, and an artist who’s made iconic border art and curated shows by border artists.

In this week’s Culturecast: Border art. Though Trump’s aggressive border policies provoked an international conversation that lasted throughout 2017, for many of those involved, the border remains just a faraway political concept. For the Californians and Mexicans who live near it, though, the border is a very real place. That was driven home throughout the year as local and foreign artists used the border as a canvas on which they expressed opinions about Trump’s policies. 2017 has been a busy year for artist making work at or about the international border fence. I asked three local artists and curators to join me to talk about border art in a roundtable discussion. Alessandra Moctezuma, an artist who runs the gallery at San Diego Mesa College and who recently curated the “unDocumenta” border show currently on view at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Jill Holslin, and artist, border activist and teacher at San Diego State University who recently took part in a big border art intervention. And Perry Vasquez, a professor at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, the director of the art gallery there, and an artist who’s made iconic border art and curated shows by border artists.

In this week’s Culturecast: Border art. Though Trump’s aggressive border policies provoked an international conversation that lasted throughout 2017, for many of those involved, the border remains just a faraway political concept. For the...

Homeless Choir Sings for Change

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