Faculty

Profile

Karla Robinson, a community-based artist, cultural organizer and arts educator believes deeply in the arts' ability to transform culture and community. She is faculty with the Gural Scholars Program at The New School and the John DeWitt Gregory Poet-in-Residence at The Bronx Academy of Letters.  Karla uses poetry, installation and facilitation to support people caught at the intersection of multiple state institutions and brings 15 years of direct service experience with people of all ages in incarceration, community and educational settings. She also provides professional development and coaching for artists and educators and has crafted pedagogy and curriculum for several non-profit organizations. Her multi-media work includes ”Land Witness” featured in Abolition Now! at Asian Arts Initiative and “Anxiously Awaiting Your Return: A Love Letter Altar to Children Detained Across Bridges and Boroughs,” a participatory public altar installation funded by the 5 Boro Justice Project. 

Gural Scholars
Karla teaches the fourth year Gural cohort. This course is an opportunity for deep reflection and integration of key learnings as Gural Scholars prepare for graduation. Being a social justice practitioner within a climate of white supremacist anti-black racism, patriarchy, transphobia, queerphobia, anti-poverty, anti-immigrant narratives requires a carefully crafted intentional practice. Art is an integral part of social movements with unlimited potential to educate, incite, mourn and inspire. This course utilizes the poetics of Black feminist thought leaders to explore collaborative, experiential environments focused on collective liberation.