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Sharia Benn: The way you deal with communities of shade that come to your present, the way you greet us within the foyer areas, you have to be in contact with your individual biases and simply opening your doorways and saying, “We’ll low cost tickets as a result of we would like all communities to return.” Issues like that, I am like, “What makes you suppose we will not afford the tickets? Why do you suppose it is the ticket value that stops Black of us from coming from in our neighborhood?”
Yura Sapi: You might be listening to Constructing Our Personal Tables, a podcast produced for HowlRound Theatre Commons, a free and open platform for theatremakers worldwide. I am your host, Yura Sapi, and I am the founder of assorted organizations and initiatives, together with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a six-hectare farm and meals sovereignty undertaking, an LGBTQ+ therapeutic and artwork area. And I’ve helped quite a few creatives, leaders, and different founders unleash their excellence into the world by way of my packages, workshops, and training companies.
On this podcast, I am showcasing the excessive vibration options for you as a visionary chief to implement into your individual apply and thrive. Keep tuned this season to listen to from different founders who’ve constructed their very own tables for his or her communities and for the world on this evolutionary time on earth. You might be right here for a purpose and I’m so honored and grateful to help you in your journey, so keep tuned and revel in.
“Why do you all want your individual theatre firm?” Think about being mentioned that. Or possibly it sounds acquainted to you. That is what Sharia Benn and I get into in right this moment’s episode, diving into the historical past, current second, and future manifesting of Sankofa African American Theatre Firm. Think about somebody questioning the significance of theatre corporations which can be based, created, owned by Black, indigenous, and other people of shade. That is precisely why the Constructing Our Personal Tables podcast exists as a result of we’re showcasing the impacts, the advantages, that so many have skilled from having the ability to create our personal areas, not solely due to the enterprise context. While you take a look at what it means to have a Black-owned enterprise, a Latina-owned enterprise, an Indigenous-owned enterprise, Center Japanese-owned corporations. After we actually take a look at past the enterprise case, which it’s—we all know we see minority women-owned enterprise certifications that quite a lot of the for-profit trade works off of and actually is ready to uplift by way of what it means to be supporting these corporations and the impression that it may make on our communities.
Past the enterprise facet of all of it, quite a lot of us, if not all of us, actually, who do one of these work of making our personal organizations are additionally pushed by a bigger imaginative and prescient and calling to actually have an effect on change by way of the work of our illustration, not solely on stage, however within the totally different features of manufacturing, in the best way that audiences are affected, altering the funding fashions, donors, designers, and administrators, and all the individuals which can be part of making an arts occasion occur. That is why this podcast is so essential as a result of we’re actually gathering this coalition of people who’re making a collective impression by way of our particular person native work.
In right this moment’s episode, we dive into this with Sharia. We talk about a few of these irritating, difficult features of doing one thing that nobody has achieved earlier than. We talk about the challenges of stereotypes of limiting beliefs, of conditioning of society, and a few ways in which you may overcome them in case you begin to really feel them creep in and grow to be part of who you’re. And it was simply such an inspiring, uplifting dialog that actually helps us carry forth the ability of what it’s we’re doing on this act of constructing our personal tables of making our personal areas and having company in an area, nationwide, and even worldwide dialog round what it means to be an individual of shade producing, creating, main in communities and areas in international locations the place the dominant just isn’t that, the place the ability has been held in numerous areas for thus lengthy.
It is such an honor to introduce you or additional provide a platform so that you can get to know Sharia Benn, founding father of Sankofa African American Theatre Firm, which exists to interact and enrich the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area round African American views on these related problems with the human expertise by way of thought-provoking theatre that displays the identical creative excellence. Sharia has been engaged on one thing huge on this very particular neighborhood of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is simply so thrilling to get to highlight and perceive extra about her journey, type of pulling again the curtain a bit on among the very actual life truths of what it means to construct some of these actions of change.
I do know you are going to be impressed. I do know you may get gems of knowledge and I am so excited to listen to what you suppose. So positively test in within the feedback, put up a score, write opinions, and let’s maintain this dialogue open as a result of that is actually the work. We’re all right here collectively making this actual. Most of all, get pleasure from this episode.
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Welcome to the podcast, Sharia. Thanks a lot for being right here.
Sharia: Thanks a lot for having me. I’m honored to return to the desk and speak to you, so thanks.
Yura: Yeah, such a wonderful desk right this moment to function Sankofa African American Theatre Firm. I’m beginning off this season checking in with of us to listen to about your origin story. So inform us about what’s that pivotal second that actually led you to go forward and forge your individual path and construct your individual desk?
Sharia: So my origin story is admittedly primarily based within the lack of illustration that I encountered once I moved to Harrisburg from Baltimore. So I got here to Harrisburg somewhat over twenty-five years in the past, and I got here for a job. In Baltimore, I labored within the insurance coverage trade. After I would get off from work, I might be capable of go and expertise theatre as an viewers member and likewise take part in it as an actor, so whether or not it was neighborhood theatre or the numerous different skilled theatres and cultural retailers, and I used to be included, and I noticed me.
After I moved to Harrisburg for a promotion, I got here into this place the place it is the capital of Pennsylvania. And once I would get off from work, there wasn’t something that linked with me to do culturally or within the theatre area. After years and years, I discovered one alternative and it took me to this theatre firm that was doing a February piece. I auditioned, I acquired in. And after that, each February they’d do a chunk, an August Wilson piece. So that they needed to do the August Wilson cycle. This was a white theatre firm. Yearly the Black forged would come collectively and within the inexperienced room discuss, “We should always have extra of this.” And after seven years of speaking about it, “Let’s cease speaking and let’s do it as a result of we’re worthy of theatre and illustration exterior of February.”
That basically was the pivotal second once I simply mentioned, “Let’s do it.” And I did not even know what it was. I simply knew that it was time to maneuver and cease speaking. I actually would say the spirit of Sankofa swooped down and turned on its wings, that legendary chook, and mentioned, “You recognize what? I’ve acquired you. You simply maintain on and we are going to fly to collectively.” That was the pivotal second for me.
Yura: Wow, that’s lovely. In order that was seven years with an thought of one thing type of brewing. How lengthy has it been since that second now?
Sharia: Seven years.
Yura: Oh wow.
Sharia: There’s significance in numbers. Seven is the variety of completion. Eight for me is the quantity related to new beginning. So we have been a theatre firm, Sankofa African American Theatre Firm, going into our seventh 12 months. It is taken seven years for us to realize credibility, belief in the neighborhood. It was all of the issues that I’ve discovered on the enterprise facet in insurance coverage, in my positions and profession span. I used to be in a position to carry into the creation and the birthing of Sankofa.
So beginning with intent and mission and imaginative and prescient all the way down to our identify, Sankofa. Coming from Baltimore, I assumed everybody knew what Sankofa was. After we first began, others in our founding committee are like, “What’s Sankofa?” They had been leaning in direction of naming the corporate issues like Voices of Shade and I step again and say, “No, I need to be very intentional about who we’re.” And so thus it isn’t solely simply Sankofa, nevertheless it’s Sankofa African American Theatre firm. We might have been Sankofa Theatre or simply Sankofa. I knew that it was a threat as a result of each time I write Sankofa African American Theatre Firm on a grant utility or request for sponsorship, there isn’t any doubt of our id. And forming the corporate previous to Floyd and We See You, White Theatre and people actions, it was a calculated threat, nevertheless it was additionally about belief and being true to our mission and imaginative and prescient of illustration and highlighting and specializing in African American tradition, expertise, historical past. It was actually essential for us seven years in the past to start out that journey and be the one African American devoted theatre firm on this area.
Yura: Yeah. Are you able to share extra about among the largest challenges you’ve got confronted and the way you’ve got been in a position to overcome them or possibly reframe their understanding as one thing else past a problem?
Sharia: Yeah. After we first… The thought was getting out as a result of by this time I had began to work as an actor in quite a lot of the theatre areas right here. So once I say lots, there are actually three main ones in Harrisburg. So the query got here up with, “Why do you all want your individual theatre firm?”
Yura: You all?
I would like you to see my shade and my tradition and I need to be in cost. Our neighborhood ought to be answerable for dealing with our tales in order that we are able to inform them nicely and that we are able to carry the sweetness and the enjoyment of our tradition to the stage and to the neighborhood.
Sharia: I mentioned, “Since you requested that query.” That is the reply. The theatre’s areas right here aren’t doing our tales and, “We’ll simply do extra Black theatre. We’ll do some colorblind casting and that offers you illustration.” I mentioned, “No, I would like you to see my shade and my tradition and I need to be in cost. Our neighborhood ought to be answerable for dealing with our tales in order that we are able to inform them nicely and that we are able to carry the sweetness and the enjoyment of our tradition to the stage and to the neighborhood.” That was the primary problem, actually questioning, “Why do you all… You actually do not want your individual company. You need not personal this. We will proceed to inform your tales and personal them. We’ll simply do extra of them. And that equates to illustration.” No. Sankofa’s mannequin. We do not have a bodily area, and that was by design, one, for sustainability.
Getting funding for any nonprofit, any new group is troublesome. Being a BIPOC group is close to unimaginable. I additionally acknowledge that the work right here is in present areas. And once I discuss that work, the theatre viewers on this neighborhood was 98 % white. The work was actually going into these areas, to these audiences and utilizing theatre as a car to interact round African American tradition and historical past. They’re in neighborhood once we do theatre like they’d not have been if we weren’t in these areas. So it is not even simply going into these areas bodily and doing reveals, however really going into areas and dealing with the administrators and executives, the directors in these theatre areas and saying, “Hey, look, that is what it actually means to be inclusive, to foster belonging. It is not nearly colorblind casting.”
Doing the work with these creatives in order that they make their areas inclusive, secure, and respectful for BIPOC creatives. We have been profitable in doing that by collaborating, significant collaborations the place Sankofa and the theatre that we’re collaborating with, we collectively personal all the things, all of the manufacturing prices, the income from the field, the work that is achieved, however additionally they enable me to return in and deal with very rigorously, lovingly, honestly, the story. It has been a singular and gratifying, however actually robust journey as a result of there are individuals on this area, white individuals who imagine they already know that they are open and that they’re inclusive, however we aren’t coming.
“BIPOC individuals simply do not come to our reveals. They are not auditioning. “ So it is altering mindsets and reworking and opening eyes and spirits and hearts and saying, “We might come in case you invited us and invited us nicely, that it wasn’t empty and open and it feels unsafe.” In order that’s the place the work for the final seven years actually has been in serving to this neighborhood of primarily white theatre areas perceive Blackness and what must occur to carry us into their areas and to inform our tales nicely.
When Sankofa does productions, our audiences are actually virtually 50/50, white, individuals of shade, multi-generational, and that’s the magnificence while you see the work that we’re doing is taking maintain in the neighborhood. We’re in areas and touching lives, reworking lives that will not have occurred had Sankofa not been right here and working the mannequin that we’ve.
Yura: That is an unimaginable story. It is simply so inspiring and it actually brings alongside the probabilities as a result of we’re speaking about theatre, however you are utilizing it as one instance of so many features of our world, of our issues and each on the stage once we’re speaking about seeing our tales and seeing the human expertise, but additionally while you take a look at this enterprise side, a theatre firm of getting a enterprise as individuals of shade, as Black indigenous individuals of shade. Yeah, while you mentioned that remark about this resistance to, “Why do it’s good to begin a enterprise? Why do it’s good to begin an organization? Why do it’s important to personal it? Why do it’s important to be separate?,” simply that preliminary query appears to return from a spot of worry as a result of it is not this query of “What can we do to assist?” or “That is nice. Yeah, come be part of. Do you want any help?” There is a totally different response there that might have been.
And so I believe, yeah, simply uplifting what you are saying about noticing clear challenges, shifting these views and shifting these understandings of what’s potential. And it is concerning the artists on stage, the actors, nevertheless it does not cease there in any respect. It is concerning the audiences, it is concerning the donors, it is concerning the people who find themselves operating the group and all the different individuals that might finally be part of it. There’s this huge scale transformation that is happening that you simply’re attending to do in a selected neighborhood that is also this portal, this providing, this chance to then share what you are doing for a lot of different teams that may be doing this of their native area. After which finally we’re all coming collectively and sharing this in a bigger type of motion of change. Yeah, I simply need to affirm that you simply’re doing wonderful work.
Sharia: Yeah, I like that. While you mentioned portal, that actually spoke to me. And in addition that it is a enterprise enterprise. So for me, a part of my origin story is—I didn’t go to high school for theatre. Theatre is my outlet. It was like individuals go to the health club. If I might go into that theatre area and see a play or be forged in one thing, that was the best way for me to course of and get by way of life.
So a part of the origin story for me is I did not have an MFA. I haven’t got an MFA. I haven’t got a level in theatre. I carry what I’ve discovered on the stage, what I’ve discovered residing in life, what I’ve discovered in company America. I simply carry it. I’ve discovered that if I haven’t got it, it is in me although. I used to be feeling afraid. I used to be feeling fearful. I used to be feeling “it is a territorial waters that I shouldn’t go in and navigate as a result of I’m not outfitted as a result of I haven’t got what they’ve, I haven’t got the credentials that they’ve and the norms say I ought to have with a purpose to do that work.” And what divine and innately after which ancestrally was positioned in me was: you bought to transcend that as a result of what you’re going to do, what you might have been created to do, it hasn’t been achieved.
So you possibly can’t credential one thing that hasn’t existed. And that is how innovators, inventors, and foragers work. Do not depend on what an establishment says it is best to have to provide credibility to the work that you’re doing or going to do. That is been one thing that I’ve shared with individuals, particularly Black indigenous individuals of shade who haven’t had entry to high school or funding.
After I grew up, going to high school for theatre was a luxurious, and my dad and mom had been like, “Oh, no. Sure, we all know that you simply’re gifted, however it’s good to go to high school and get one thing that is going to earn you a residing as a result of that theatre and humanities, it is only for enjoyable.” I’ve taken that and used that as a studying alternative and likewise as what I share with different those that, “You recognize what…” And what we must always do is that theatre will be, ought to be, and it’s important. The entire creatives which can be on the market, particularly, not particularly however creatives, human beings, however actually I give attention to the BIPOC actors, ought to make a residing wage. Your work ought to be valued, you ought to be paid. And a part of our guiding rules is that Sankofa pays you greater than the opposite theatres. We acquired lots neighborhood theatres or theatres that do not pay the actors. The creatives do it as a result of they love the artwork, however for even once we do one thing and our actors count on, they’re like, “Oh, what? You are going to pay me to do that?” Completely.
Relating to elevating funds and writing grants and doing appeals, I do not do as a lot work as I might like to do due to that tenet. So if it means we are able to solely do two works or three works, and I do not actually have a season, I am like, “I am not going to be locked right into a season,” I’m going to maneuver ahead as a result of that is life-changing work. Emergency rooms and hospitals and different locations haven’t got a season of once they deal with individuals, once they make them higher. They’re there so when individuals present up, wounded, harm and should be resuscitated, they will reply. So that is what we’re doing. It could range non-traditional, however sustaining, giving life-sustaining work to the human beings which can be doing it, but additionally our tradition and our historical past.
Yura: Yeah. Yeah, a lot highly effective choices. I really do need to return to that apply of having the ability to discover when there is a limiting perception coming into our thoughts. So for instance, one thing that possibly we have heard from, such as you mentioned, an establishment or our dad and mom or our conditioning of how we ended up the place we’re. I like having the ability to go determine that when that is developing after which go forward and see how can I reply to that with self-compassion? How can I really change the narrative? And once I say I like to do that, I adore it when it is achieved. It does not at all times imply that it is one thing pleasing within the second as a result of it does not essentially really feel potential, but possibly.
However yeah, I have been studying extra about the best way stereotypes work and that really while you’re in a spot the place lots of people are holding a selected perception, a stereotype for instance round you, that there is really this impact of taking it on simply from what everybody else is pondering. And so you possibly can internalize it. And one of many prime issues that you may do in these moments is to note that it is occurring. Discover that you’ve got really began to imagine and discover the methods to actually separate your self from the truth that different individuals’s ideas are coming into yours and actually discover that grounding in your affirmations, in your understanding of a special story.
So whether or not that is having a extremely robust, for instance, meditation apply, having methods during which you are placing up an brisk boundary when needing to be round these areas or discovering out what’s it that you simply need to exchange with these poisonous ideas which can be coming by way of and possibly poisonous individuals for particularly what you are attempting to do. What are the ability ideas that you simply need to exchange that with? What are the ability individuals that you simply need to be surrounding your self with?
So it may be troublesome particularly when you have not seen different issues. So I do know for me, an enormous essential a part of my journey was really going to Ecuador in Colombia the place I additionally maintain citizenship and simply experiencing the world from a special nation, from a special expertise, totally different language that I used to be talking. And so that actually allowed me to open my thoughts and physique as much as a special means of being and figuring out that there’s really lots that we would suppose that’s set in stone that’s fully open and that actually all the things is feasible.
Sharia: Sure, I so determine with that. One of many experiences and issues that I got here to understand is that as a result of I have been so conditioned and likewise my character is one which I would like peace, I conform, that is a part of who I’m and that is what makes me nice. It makes me a great facilitator and collaborator once I’m working in these issues in a power mode coming from a spot of power and consciousness.
In order I used to be going alongside on this path, I wasn’t even conscious of once I was permitting and being a portal for all of these unfavourable ideas and all of these stereotypes. All of these biases had been coming in and I did not understand how I used to be processing it. So a method that I’ve is to align myself with and encompass myself, virtually create this barrier and defend with individuals who I belief, who I have been in a position to share and grow to be very susceptible about my strengths and my weaknesses and my character’s strengths and issues that will not assist me be my fullest as a result of it is who I’m and it is part of my psyche and likewise my experiences and what I used to be advised, they usually know all of this stuff.
So it is virtually like they act as interpreters and I’ve them with me in these areas. They’ve license. I’ve given them license as a result of we’ve a relationship within the belief to say, “Oh, you are working in, you let that in. I noticed how one thing that was mentioned or achieved triggered you and also you are actually working on this path that isn’t your strongest. Oh, did you hear when that was mentioned or do you know that you simply acquired that into your psyche?” So it is actually essential to encompass your self with individuals who may also help since you do not at all times hear it. You do not at all times understand it. And that helps. It is simply working in neighborhood, and that is what I like.
One of many issues I like about doing this work, you develop this neighborhood. After which in flip, I’m that for others. It is this continuum of shifting, affirming, defending and simply serving to one another on this circle, beginning our greatness, beginning the probabilities. I like from For Coloured Women, there is a coronary heart in there in one of many monologues. “Let her be born. Let her be born and dealt with warmly.”
Yura: Yeah.
Sharia: We’re doulas. Let me be born after which deal with me as a human being. As a result of human beings, we’re heat blooded. Yeah.
Yura: That is lovely. I maintain seeing this picture of seedlings as a result of I additionally am a farmer, a gardener, and—
Sharia: Like it.
Yura: Yeah, I am simply fascinated by these seeds, particularly now not less than right here within the northeast the place I am presently calling, there’s this time of sowing the seed and planting the seeds and letting them develop. There’s a lot that we are able to do to actually set these seeds up for fulfillment for development. Whether or not it is the soil, it is the daylight, it is the potting, it is the time with the moon once we plant it, all this stuff that may go into play that we are able to actually be intentional about. And so I positively suppose once we are contemplating our management, it is about change. It is about we’re attempting to actually make a change. And alter will be very troublesome to do. And so we need to be actually intentional about that and know what’s it we’re saying to totally different individuals at totally different moments? Who’re we letting in?
And so it is this power of what are we feeding this dream with. We do not need to simply put the seedling out to wherever on the street and other people will step on it. So there’s that intentional providing of claiming, “I will be selective about who I am sharing this seed with to assist develop.” And for me, lately, it is actually been a lovely awakening to me of this world of teaching, which I believe it is one thing that has at all times occurred and now it is changing into extra of an trade due to the time of transformation. After we’re reworking, it is actually useful to have coaches. It is actually useful to have people who find themselves carrying of our seeds on this means. I have been educated and authorized as a coach now.
As a shopper, as somebody receiving teaching, you get to obtain this supportive power of somebody who’s one hundred pc believing in your goals as a result of they’ve additionally skilled them and have seen the ability of constructing objectives occur. That may be such a recreation changer. Possibly you’ve got been surrounding your self by individuals who do not imagine that your particular dream or objective is feasible simply due to their very own conditioning and their very own understanding, and that is really actually what is perhaps holding you again from making it actual since you’re not round anyone who believes that it is actual, who can let you know, “That is the best way that it may occur,” or “Listed below are some examples,” or “Listed below are some issues you are able to do to maneuver ahead within the route of your objective.”
Sharia: That was the most effective issues I’ve achieved to put money into my self-care is get a wellness coach. And on this course of, studying the distinction between a counselor and a coach. My coach is my cheerleader saying, “Okay, you personal this. And I am coming and strolling beside you that can assist you get to your objectives after which additionally course of issues like what is perhaps holding you again or what are you able to do.” It is simply this fixed problem. We simply want that problem of rethink that or think about the probably. Who’re you and the way do you grow to be your fullest self and the way do you maintain your self? How do you breathe? How are you consuming? How are you present in all of this versus residing with roles that weren’t shaped for me to be my fullest?
I used to be hesitant at first. I need to do that. It is one other factor I’ve so as to add into my schedule and my finances, nevertheless it has been the most effective investments and it uplifts me and my enterprise. In order that’s a extremely great point. Thanks for being an authorized coach and serving to individuals grow to be their greatest, but additionally conscious of the place you’re within the areas that you’re, as a result of once more, we’re multifaceted, we’re intersectional. All of these issues. So many layers of youth.
For me with Sankofa, I am continually processing a necessity to pay attention to who I’m as a person in relation to the establishment of theatre, of arts and all the different establishments on this creative area, my dedication as a person, as Sankofa, as an establishment to my neighborhood. And who’s my neighborhood? My neighborhood is layered. And who do I owe and what do I owe? So it is these fixed conversations that my coach and people which can be in my internal circle are continually having. It is intentional.
Every part that I do, it is with thought and intention and it helps me alongside this path. Right down to seeing myself because the guardian of a legacy, I’m creating this. I did not select this path. The trail selected me. I’m very conscious that I’m creating this firm. I am beginning this at hand it off. I’m the primary leg within the relay race and I’ve acquired the baton. I ran monitor once I was in highschool and I am simply…
Yura: Me too.
Sharia: … digging in. Yeah, I’m the primary leg and I’m digging in. And I’m ensuring that I do the quickest time in order that once I hand that baton off, there’s a lead, and that is what I am doing. I am creating this.
One of many issues in our neighborhood that is occurring, we’ve quite a lot of expertise, nevertheless it’s not mined. So individuals do not even know they’ve expertise as a result of they do not have alternatives. However once they do, they go away they usually by no means come again. We mine the expertise. So we meet individuals the place they’re. Actually, come as you’re after which we’ll discover a place for you as a result of there’s a place for everyone in Sankofa. We take into consideration this as work on stage otherwise you’re an actor. Or at most we would say, you are in tech, you do the sunshine. No, I want everybody who is aware of numbers. For those who like numbers, there’s a spot for you right here. There’s our treasurer, there’s our again workplace, there’s our field. No matter you might have been created to do no matter presents and abilities you might have, I want you to return. So that is what we’re doing.
After which I might say, I want you to go. Wherever it’s, go and get it. Go and study it. After which I want you to return again. That is the ability and the precept of Sankofa. Return and declare and get all the things that’s a part of you, your story, your historical past. Get it, declare it. Carry it into your current so to personal it, you possibly can reckon with it so to study from it. After which you possibly can transfer ahead with energy and objective.
That is what I am doing on this theatre firm. It is not solely the tales that we inform. We discovered a distinct segment the place we’re telling very important and impactful tales in our neighborhood together with we’ve an excellent cannon of labor to tug from, which was one other problem. Folks say, “There’s not going to be sufficient work. How a lot work is on the market that is going to maintain seasons of this?” Once more, it is coming as you’re, discovering and nurturing who you had been created to be after which leaving and coming again higher than while you ever first encountered me or Sankofa. Declare it.
Yura: Are you able to step into who you had been born to be? As an authorized soul objective or dharma and non secular life coach, I’m so able to information you on this highly effective transformation of your life. As a profitable social entrepreneur, social innovator, I’m so excited to help others alongside this journey, as a result of finally, once we all thrive in our respective communities, our impression actually multiplies exponentially. And it brings me a lot pleasure to assist creators and leaders such as you unleash your unimaginable skills, abilities, and future of who you are meant to be for our planet on this time.
I get to carry collectively all of my coaching in enterprise and humanities administration, the local weather justice sector, and therapeutic and shamanic power work to actually carry you into alignment.
In my three-month teaching program, as an alternative of pondering solely of the worst case situation, we carry within the power of the most effective case situation. We tackle what’s holding you again. What are these poisonous habits, individuals, and ideas which can be actually stopping you from making this future model of your self and of the world that you simply’re calling in unimaginable? We’ll tackle them, heal them, and alchemize this power into one thing that’s helpful for you.
We’ll dive into your soul objective, and that is such an essential and sacred side of the method to know who you’re, to know extra about your ardour, to know what’s it that you’re meant to be doing proper now. Then we transfer into integration serving to you create a strategic plan and understanding of how this imaginative and prescient will grow to be actual within the subsequent weeks to month to years.
I am prepared that can assist you unlock these codes and manifest your considerable success the place you attain your whole goals and past. I am so excited for you and the wonderful optimistic impression you are going to be making on this world. You might be such a robust chief and I am so excited to help you. So go forward and take a look at my teaching companies at liberarteinc.org and you will discover the hyperlink within the present notes as nicely. Discuss to you quickly.
So we talked concerning the pre-seven years, the seven years simply handed. What concerning the seven years coming forth? What are you engaged on in these subsequent seven years? What actually pursuits me is, what are the challenges of the trade which can be irritating you essentially the most after which the work that you simply’re doing to beat them?
If we get one individual in that viewers to see us in a special method and perspective…in the event that they rent somebody due to one thing they’ve seen on a Sankofa stage or a part of a Sankofa engagement, we have reworked a complete life, a complete household.
Sharia: Nice query, as a result of there’s a lot that frustrates me. And if I needed to group it in a class, it is inequity, injustice, a disregard for the sanctity of BIPOC tradition and expertise, the dearth of dedication to and recognition of how important race and tradition contributes to in creating, establishing the issues that we do within the theatre area. The reveals that we carry out, it simply irritating this notion that theatre corporations, primarily white theatre corporations, cannot get round by way of illustration, pondering that colorblind casting is appropriate. That is the work that they must do. No, there may be trauma there. If you’re going to carry individuals of shade into your areas, you simply cannot insert a human being who doesn’t have the identical expertise and has come from such a traumatic and violent and inequitable historical past background.
It is in our DNA. And it is not for that human being to vary. It is for you and your establishments to vary even the way you direct and the way you method the work that you simply do, the way you market your work, the way you deal with communities of shade that come to your present, the way you greet us within the foyer areas, what you suppose. You have to be in contact with your individual biases and simply opening your doorways and saying, “We’ll low cost tickets as a result of we would like all communities to return.” Issues like that, I am like, “What makes you suppose we will not afford the tickets? Why do you suppose it is the ticket value that stops Black of us from coming from in our neighborhood?” Simply continually having to problem the present established order within the theatres. It is irritating. But it surely’s additionally, I perceive it is the work that I’ve taken on and it is what I’ve created to do.
We simply maintain having the conversations and name it out. And in addition do it in a means the place I’ve discovered and I do know the individuals I am working with as a result of I need to get outcomes. It is much less about how combative or confrontational I used to be and extra about “I have to get the outcomes.” I have to get the outcomes. Not my character to be combative. It is extra, once more, collaborative, additionally being truthful in that and figuring out when it is not going to work and when to stop. That is one other a part of this.
So some issues I simply must say, “I am not going to proceed doing this work with this entity as a result of there was no change and no want to vary.” That is soul work that we’re doing. We’re saving lives. As a result of if we get one individual in that viewers to see us in a special method and perspective, that one individual, in the event that they rent somebody due to one thing they’ve seen on a Sankofa stage or a part of a Sankofa engagement, we have reworked a complete life, a complete household. If they’re within the room with decision-makers and funders and all of these individuals there, if I’ve one one that’s in authority that does not pull over somebody as a result of they have been profiling them, however now they perceive the story and the reality, we have saved the life. That is soul work. That is what we’re doing.
Yura: Yeah, I am very excited about that work with my group, LiberArte, as a result of we discuss doing racial, social, and local weather justice by way of the humanities. And our imaginative and prescient is that this thriving planet the place all beings expertise pleasure and concord with one another and Mom Earth. And for me, actually, the core downside that I am experiencing for the world is that this disconnection. So we have skilled a disconnection to ourselves, to one another, and to the earth. We take a look at all the world’s issues. If we had been really genuinely linked in proper relation on this feeling of concord with one another and pleasure, we would not have some of these clashes and misunderstandings and violence, all this stuff which can be occurring each with people and with the earth and to ourselves too, as a result of finally while you take a look at what it means to hate another person, it is actually a mirrored image of what one hates inside themselves.
So for me, that is actually the place the humanities can unlock a key. And I believe it is one thing that we as people knew, however now in these later hundreds of years, evidently we have misplaced that connection to the ability of what it means to be in neighborhood and gathering in areas the place we are able to actually see one another and be with the earth.
And so I am positively very interested by what you are speaking about by way of the methods during which we are able to actually measure our impression and our outcomes, as a result of there are methods that folks have created to measure sustainability requirements in having the ability to say, “These sure practices will finally assist you to cease issues like flooding or oil spills.” And so there is a means that then it additionally interprets to this understanding of it will have an effect on your enterprise, the cash that is made. This sort of saying, these are the ways in which the humanities is affecting actual time change by way of how persons are in a position to, after an expertise of seeing one another, connecting with one another, connecting with themselves, connecting with the earth, which is why I like to do out of doors occasions as nicely, that we really see shifts occurring for our neighborhood on this planet by way of shifts of views, shifts of monitoring, of various cases of clashes, of violence, of encounters with the police and one of these disharmonious conditions.
I believe the opposite factor that we’re overlooking is the ability of pleasure, the ability of awe, the ability of gratitude and laughter. I believe individuals learn about it in numerous methods. There are possibly disparate research on the market round how humor breaks stress. And while you begin off a gathering with gratitude, it simply brings in a complete different power. And so there’s positively ways in which we are able to begin to actually make this bigger case for help round how the humanities, the gateway that we have not tried, that the politicians aren’t actually specializing in on the subject of issues like local weather change or racial justice.
It is virtually like generally I really feel it is a type of add-on. Or we’ve an occasion the place we’re speaking about local weather justice or we’re speaking about racial justice, after which there’s additionally a efficiency occurring, or there’s additionally an occasion that everybody goes to and it is an add-on, however we’re not really seeing how… And you may even expertise it although, possibly you are at this occasion they usually have conversations after which a efficiency occurs. After which there’s conversations once more. The second time the conversations are literally extra dynamic and persons are extra open and persons are actually connecting. And I believe there’s a possibility there to actually say, “Why did that occur?” For this reason it occurred. What if we maintain investing on this? What if we maintain uplifting the significance of the humanities and everybody that is part of it, that are the artists and the artwork producers and the creators and everybody that is part of making that occur. Yeah, that is one thing that I am positively very enthusiastic about, and what I am wanting in direction of is an enormous resolution for it.
Sharia: Yeah. I believe you’re proper on. Final 12 months, Sankofa, myself, we had been a part of a collaborative with journalists who had been doing analysis and research round local weather justice, local weather options. And so we had this cohort of journalists. It was actually a journalistic undertaking. However our cohort, they purchased in me. And okay, and I’m pondering, I like the conversations. I do know there’s work for us to do across the local weather, and we had been all attempting to determine what was Sankofa’s on this, and I mentioned, “I’m right here to study. I’m additionally right here that can assist you as journalists attain a neighborhood that you simply in any other case wouldn’t be capable of attain and usually are not excited about. However on this neighborhood, brown and Black of us are extremely impacted by this.” What ended up occurring, it was a two-year undertaking, however I took the tales that they researched they usually wrote they usually revealed and created theatrical piece, bringing all these tales collectively, but additionally our neighborhood. Giving {that a} life and an viewers who wouldn’t learn these items or felt that this impacted them.
We placed on this manufacturing for a weekend. It was very nicely acquired. However what was actually essential about that’s persevering with the dialog. So Sankofa, we’ve a talkback or a post-show dialogue with each efficiency. After I take a look at the matrix, so I’m at all times fascinated by what are the efficiency or the important thing indicators of success that we’re making inroads, that we’re making a distinction? And I haven’t provide you with something besides speaking to individuals, but additionally having the ability to speak to the identical individuals.
So over seven years, I’ve been in a position to have interaction with many individuals, the identical individuals over and speak to them again and again. So mainly you find yourself having roughly a listening session And people individuals, they’re telling you, they’re displaying you the change, the outcomes. They maintain coming again, and now they’ve extra questions. They usually’re linking the primary time they got here into the area and engaged with Sankofa to now they’re right here they usually’re sharing, “Oh, that is the way it’s impacted me. A 12 months in the past, two years in the past, 5 years in the past, that is the place I used to be, and that is what I noticed on stage. That is what I skilled coming into the area that Sankofa was inhabiting, and that is the place I’m now.”
These are human story, metrics. And in addition if we need to do an evaluation and a few analytics on it, I’m wanting on the those that maintain coming again they usually’re leaving with actionable gadgets. So I’m like, “That is my name to motion for this manufacturing. Now you come again and also you inform me what you’ve achieved.” That’s how I’ve been in a position to gauge the metrics that I’m utilizing, as a result of numbers don’t inform the complete story. Folks inform the complete story.
Yura: Wow. Yeah. I’ve this imaginative and prescient of the help that we might obtain. The entire Constructing Our Personal Tables podcast friends, all these unimaginable theatre leaders who’ve began these wonderful organizations which can be centering totally different individuals of shade throughout the US, internationally generally, and I simply see that it is a coalition that’s being constructed by way of this podcast area as a result of I believe there’s one thing there round actually all of our collective information, qualitative and quantitative, and simply actually having the ability to say, “That is the impression that we have been in a position to have and that we’re persevering with to have.” I see the chance of having the ability to come collectively in that sort of means and go forward and current one thing collectively and saying, “That is what we have achieved and that is what we are able to do in case you maintain funding, in case you maintain supporting what we’re doing.”
Sharia: It is an funding. It truly is. Going again to frustrations, “Why does our work, why is it not seen as an funding with a excessive return on that funding?” And different work, different corporations are funded and it is okay if they do not break even. It is okay. However our work just isn’t funded. We clearly are having impression, optimistic impression on our neighborhood and on the human psyche and the human being features of it, how we qualify and quantitate that. It is simply, I might love the concept of all of us coming collectively and right here is the compelling story and the statistics. Our work issues, and we’re doing it in opposition to unimaginable odds. What we’ve to work with, I take a look at even the price of our productions and the way we do issues. After which I see different budgets and what they undertaking to do the identical factor, and I am like, “Man, we’re resourceful and resilient individuals,” however that isn’t sufficient and it is not equitable to count on us to proceed to function with this.
However the greatness is we do, additionally, our fashions and our work are being copied. People who copy, and okay, sure, that is an excellent praise, however they are not in a position to obtain the identical outcomes. So they arrive again they usually’re like, “Hey, what makes this totally different?” I am like, “What we do, it is for us to do. Now you’d have extra impression in case you be part of with me to do that and never create or take. Have not you discovered that we’re sensible and that we’re robust and also you’re already residing off of our work?” In order that’s a complete different path to go down, however these are the issues which can be irritating. And the reply, the response to that’s, “Present me. Present me the numbers. Present me your outcomes.” After we attempt to get funding, these are the challenges. So carry us all collectively as a collective. Hold shifting forward and lifting one another up on this work that we’re doing. We’re guardians of the legacy.
Yura: On that be aware, wow, what an unimaginable dialog. This was such an honor. Time flew by.
Sharia: Sure.
Yura: So how can we get in contact with Sankofa African American Theatre Firm? What do you might have on subsequent?
Sharia: I might love for individuals to go to sankofatheatrehbg.com, and join our e-newsletter and take a look at the work we have achieved. You may comply with us at Sankofa Theatre on Fb, on the Gram. For those who’re listening and you’re within the Harrisburg or Maryland, New Jersey, New York, DC space, we’ve our subsequent manufacturing, Intimate Attire by Lynn Nottage. It is a new partnership that I’ve with one of many main theatres. We’ll be collaborating to do that work. I’m so excited. It opens June the 14th. It can run by way of the tip of the month. We’re forging new paths, actually doing issues in our theatre neighborhood round respecting the person, utilizing sources like licensed intimacy administrators, bringing in and respecting traditions, meditation, and bringing all of these issues into the area and making our our bodies, our souls, and the work that we do as an providing to our neighborhood. So I am enthusiastic about that.
Yura: Wonderful, wonderful work. Thanks a lot, Sharia.
Sharia: Thanks.
Yura: Thanks for being on this podcast. It has been such a pleasure.
Sharia: Oh, thanks a lot for all of the work that you simply’re doing. It issues and it is reaching. I’ve discovered a lot from all the creators who’ve come to the desk, so thanks on your work.
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