THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Neptune Brigade, A Cultural and Artistic Association's mission is to create artistic, economic, social, environmental, cultural, and communal opportunities for all residents through key partnerships with local artists and performers, policy makers, businesses, and community development professionals in the arts and culture sector of Lisbon, Portugal.
For disconnected, marginalized, or seemingly voiceless communities, arts and culture imbue expressors and consumers alike with an understanding of the past and visions of a shared, more equitable future. In these communities, which often house low-income residents and people of color, culturally reflective arts serve as both mirrors and windows of identity. They allow for shared moments of pain, joy, healing and pride which are critical in inspiring the sense of unity that binds strong communities together. And when given fertile ground to reach, inspire and empower local residents, arts and culture also become tools for equitable development. They facilitate in the shaping of infrastructure and transportation; provide greater access to healthy food; and by invigorating a fortified communal identity they foster a shared sense of possibility that leads to a strengthened, vibrant local economy.

Neptune Brigades' Ten Tenets: Ten core things the Neptune Brigade's Artistic and Cultural Association implements to promote culturally responsive instruction.

1.Validate the participants' cultural identity in our workshops' (Dance, Art, Music, Film, etc.) practices and instructional materials by utilizing well versed mentors, textbooks, designing bulletin boards, and implementing workshop activities that are culturally supportive. This may mean using supplementary resources that don't perpetuate stereotypes or inadequately represent certain groups.

2.Acknowledge participants' differences as well as their commonalities and respond to their individual strengths and weaknesses.

3.Educate participants about the diversity of the world around them so all participants learn to relate positively to each other regardless of cultural and linguistic differences.

4.Promote equity and mutual respect among participants in ways that (a) ensure fair treatment across all groups and (b) carefully monitor behaviors that are traditionally rewarded to ensure they're not culture bound.

5.Access participants' ability and achievement; validly using appropriate and varied instruments and procedures that accurately reflect what participants do know (not just what they don't know, e.g., mainstream language and culture). Everyone has a voice!

6.Foster a positive interrelationship among participants, their families, the community and school, based on respect for the knowledge participants bring with them to Haven. Tapping into community resources, participating in community events, and valuing the contributions of families and community strengthen this bond

7.Motivate participants to become active participants in their learning through reflection, goal-setting, self evaluation, questioning, using feedback, and tailoring their learning strategies.

8.Encourage participants to think critically by teaching them strategies for analyzing and synthesizing information and for viewing situations from multiple perspectives.

9.Challenge participants to strive for excellence as defined by their potential to learn, regardless of their past history of failure.

10.Assist participants in becoming socially and politically conscious so, they can be contributing, responsible participants in Haven, their community and society.