Lisa is an EMMY-WINNING FILMMAKER and FOUNDER of CREATE2030
who brings ARTISTS and CREATIVES together with UN/NGO ACTORS
to amplify the power of ARTS and STORYTELLING to achieve the
17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
PREVIOUS CLIENTS AND PARTNERS:
ABOUT LISA:
UN/NGO CONTRACTED CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL
Lisa is contracted by leading UN/NGO agencies, brands and other entities to produce films and curate live artistic performances, creative workshops or partnerships in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
TEDx & KEYNOTE SPEAKER
As a pioneer and leading voice in the movement to engage professional artists and storytellers in the UN/NGO sector, Lisa is often tapped to keynote and speak at leading international conferences including the World Conference on Creative Economy, Women Deliver Arts & Film Festival, UNGA, HLPF and others.
EDUCATOR & WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
Lisa leads workshops and educational seminars at universities, international conferences, youth leadership forums and more on topics including narrative justice/responsible storytelling, artify your mission, climate storytelling and others.
TEDx & KEYNOTE SPEAKER
"Lisa's an excellent facilitator with a wealth of experience in filmmaking, storytelling, and social justice causes. Taking her workshop taught me about building characters and crafting compelling stories in an ethical and responsible way. I left feeling inspired by the power of storytelling to shift narratives and move the needle on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."
- Gretchen Gasteier, MPH, Former Global Health Corps Fellow
WATCH MY TEDx TALK:
"Shifting the Story"
Hi, I'm Lisa Russell!
I'm an Emmy-winning filmmaker, UN/NGO arts curator and speaker with a 20-year career that lies at the intersection of arts, social justice and global development.
Here's my story...
After getting my Masters in Public Health in 1998, I landed my first job in a war zone where I got to witness first-hand both the benefits - but also the harm - in how powerful the media was and started to analyze UN/NGO stories that were being told of vulnerable populations (especially women and young people.)
I decided I wanted to change the narrative of UN/NGO storytelling, using a human rights lens that prioritized justice-based storytelling over charity-based storytelling.
I launched my first independent, UN-sponsored film by jumping on a tour bus with the Grammy-nominated artist, Zap Mama, whose music was in my film. I engaged other artists in my work ever since!
Although I wear many hats - my goal is to engage artists in the SDG movement in a responsible manner - and do so by educating both artists and UN/NGO actors through workshops and professional development exercises how to do so that builds an inclusive and sustainable environment for artists and creatives to thrive!
"Consistently, youth program participants cite Lisa's workshop as one of their favorites because they realize how their climate story is a critical tool in their climate advocacy toolbox. Lisa's workshops enable youth climate advocates to craft compelling stories of how climate change threatens their present and future and foster a sense of urgency for individual and collective action on the climate crisis. Lisa is an engaging workshop facilitator with a wealth of experience and a deep passion for using the arts and storytelling as vehicles for social change."
- Karina Weinstein, FXB USA Youth Climate Advocates Program
JOIN THE CREATE2030 ROSTER AND COMMUNITY:
An international network of professional, diverse artists who are committed to using their voices and platforms for the social good.
ZUHURA THE AFRICAN LIONESS
Poet, Performer | Tanzania
SAMUCA
Dancer, Filmmaker | Brazil
ROXY AZARI
Poet, Writer | USA
CHIDIEBERE IBE
Medical Illustrator | Nigeria
ARTS ENVOY LAB TRAINING PROGRAMS:
A variety of live and recorded workshops, online courses and more.
WORKSHOP: Landing Paid Gigs at the United Nations
Learn how to find and apply to paid contracts with the United Nations with this 45 minute recorded workshop that also includes sample RFPs, technical/financial proposals and tips on writing a winning proposal!'
ARTS ENVOY TRAINING KIT: Changing the World with Your Art at the United Nations: In 7 Easy Steps
Want to get your foot in the door at the United Nations and don't know where to start? Check out our self-paced, comprehensive training kit that includes a 32-page ebook, workbook, planner and UN communications email list to jumpstart your career as a UN/NGO creator.
PRE-SALE: Arts Envoy Lab starting September 2023
Lisa leads workshops and educational seminars at universities, international conferences, youth leadership forums and more on topics including narrative justice/responsible storytelling, artify your mission, climate storytelling and others.
“The storytelling in global health workshop that Lisa gives to our Master of Public Health students every year is always a highlight. We get fantastic feedback from students on how much they learned about how to craft impactful stories to engage the audience and make their messages more meaningful. And the workshop is being delivered by an award-winning expert in this field! The workshop is something that I look forward to every year because Lisa’s expertise in this area is so impressive yet she is really easy to work with.”
- Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS, Keck School of Medicine of USC
SELECT NEWS:
- Delphi Economic Forum 2021 - The International Year of Creative Economy
- Geneva Solutions - The Art Amid Creating in a Global Catastrophe
- Slate Magazine - The Deeply Moving Video on Climate Change that Every World Leader Should See
- Forbes - A Teen Girl's Secret to Finding Real Power? Fix Something That's Broken
- The Lancet - Films that Deliver
- OkayAfrica - Celebrate International Women's Day with "Mama Creator" Creator'
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
As an Asian American woman who grew up in a low-income, immigrant household and was the first person in my family to attend college, I have been more comfortable in the struggle for equality than a beneficiary of it. Therefore, I have been an strong advocate for the inclusion of BI-POC and global south artists in my work (before DEI was a thing!) Throughout my years as a filmmaker and curator, I have used my privilege working in prestigious institutions to open doors for others to share their voices in important rooms and on major stages. I am a SheDecides Global Chamption, have been trained in the PBS/CPB Minority Consortium, and am a current member of Ava Duvernay's Array Crew for film/television members of diverse backgrounds and For(bes) the Culture, a growing community of diverse leaders. I provide free workshops and support to diverse artists, women and youth.
FIVE REASONS WE NEED TO ARTIFY OUR PLANET:
- Our world is in a crises and we need all hands on deck - especially creative ones - to help solve our world's greatest challenges!
- Both the creative economy and sustainable development are fields that are on the rise - working at the intersection is the sweet spot!
- Our economy and workforce is changing - you don't need a college degree, be a certain age, live in a certain region - to build a creative career at the United Nations and with the NGO sector!
- There is no better time to be an artist for social change!
Join the Create2030 Newsletter
Get access to news, events and opportunities!
Terms & conditions
Privacy policy