“Hate is what grows in the absence of love.
Love is what grows in the presence of action."
08. Resilience, Art & Advocacy
Coty Raven Morris
2024 Music Educator Grammy Nominee, Prof. Coty Raven Morris is a versatile musician and educator at Portland State University, takes us through her early life in New Orleans and how the loss of her mother and grandmother shaped her passion for music and social justice.
She discusses the healing power of music, the importance of sharing authentic stories, and her non-profit, Being Human Together, which seeks to normalize difficult topics through music and connection.
Episode Themes:
Healing through art — music and writing as tools to process grief and build resilience
Storytelling as testimony — sharing personal histories to connect, teach, and transform
Process over product — valuing rehearsal, relationship, and the messy work behind visible success
Play and creative practice — protecting play, experimentation, and gathering ideas as part of authenticity
Rituals of care — creating deliberate practices (oaths, community rituals, camps) that sustain wellbeing and growth
Resources:
Listen to “Who I Want to Be”
Questions for Artists:
How has creative expression helped me process old wounds?
What small artistic act could I try this week to tend to those wound?
When did I last play with an idea without judgment? What happened?
Which ideas can I start playing with now with no pressure to succeed?
Want to dive deeper into your own personal artistry?
Click here to the download the journal prompt