We had the good fortune of connecting with Libero Antonio Di Zinno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Libero Antonio, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My business?

I’m an artist, educator and a storyteller.
My current task is the very plum gig of writing the culture and fundraising for ECAA Social  Impact Atelier – a groundbreaking new entertainment design (illustration, animation and game design) Art Academy here in downtown L.A.
In the current pandemic reality today we are seizing upon this challenge to act as agents of change to bring opportunity in the higher education space.
Disrupting the previous paradigm for visual arts academies where the traditional elite models are most often based upon generational wealth (the ability to pay elite level tuitions) at the Emile Cohl Atelier for Social Impact we are recruiting based on artistic promise and inclusivity.
There are unfortunately precious little scholarships for BIPOC in this space and we are deliberately seeking to flip the script by nurturing, cultivating the next generation of diverse storytellers with an eye to HBCU’s and beyond.
As President Obama writes in his book PROMISED LAND, storytelling can play as an essential tool of ‘radical empathy’ to remind people of what they have in common — the shared dreams, frustrations and losses of daily life which at the end of the day may transcend perceived political difference.
By creating industry partnerships building a board of rock star influencers and VIP’s from Sports, Music and Entertainment we are planting the seeds early in a K-12 arts education pipeline to directly addresses the development of the next gen of authentic storytellers in rich and poetic cultural narratives that are authored from the overlooked and underserved.
This practice of giving voice not only elevates the level of discourse culture wide but serves to challenge the long term establishment of white privilege that has dominated animation, television and cinema for generations.
This is what empowerment looks like. This is a change to status quo. This is good for everyone involved.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve gotten here precisely because of all the great teachers I’ve had in my life whom have shown a generosity of spirit that took a chance to invest in me long before there was a body of work as evidence to see if I had any talent.

As a teacher myself I feel deeply motivated by this debt of gratitude to return this kindness to my own students in a lifelong attempt repay those who have themselves in many different ways done their part to liberate me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Venice. Menotti coffee on 56 Windward is the bomb – a mom and pop shop that kills it every day. Anyplace that spins a turntable with brilliant vinyl disc collection already has me dialed before I’ve even hit my cup of joe. GREAT WHITE at the Venice Circle is hands down the best brunch place in DogTown. See for yourself!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Certainly in my story there are Jedi Masters and Jedi Knights as mentors and colleagues who have helped put me into the position I am now.

One magnificent example is the venerable veteran, Errol Gerson of the Art Center College of Design who for nearly 50 years teaching business and entrepreneurship. Gerson is a champion of emerging artists of all disciplines and as such continues to touch the future through ‘… being a river to his people! (Laurence of Arabia reference very much intended).

Honorable mention is his protege and my dear friend Adam Mefford who pulled me into this start up Atelier because he thought I might have something valuable to contribute for the greater good.

Website: https://www.cohl.art/about-emile-cohl/
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/dizinno/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dizinno/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dizinno
Other: https://vimeo.com/dizinno

Image Credits
Photos by Di Zinno 2020

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