ARTIST-LED ANTI-RACISM MOVEMENT

In response to the ongoing crisis faced by the United States at the hands of racial injustice, it is becoming increasingly important for organizations and individuals to actively work to become ANTI-Racist.

Our team encourages and empowers participants to play a more active and pivotal role in dismantling racism in their workplace and everyday lives.

Customized Workshops

We are here to work with you to in order to find creative ways of educating and inspiring the advancement of your organization’s racial consciousness.

As a predominately BIPOC collective of artists, scholars and administrators, we know that this crucial work can seem daunting. Our heart-centered approach means that we consistently invite joy into our shared spaces, aim to create a sense of radical hospitality and foster community building into every facet of our programming. We believe that joy and artistry is essential to the work of dismantling systemic oppression.

We take immense pride in meeting individuals and organizations where they are at. We work closely with leadership and staff representatives to build unique tailor-made workshop packages designed to meet your individual and collective needs, whether it’s an entry level basic workshop geared to build a shared language and analytical framework on racial equity and inclusion, or an intensive geared towards providing a complete organizational structure overhaul.

Here are some of the services we have provided in the past:

  • Entry Level Racial Equity Learning 101

  • ALARM 3 DAY Anti Racism Training

  • Arts focused Employee Wellness Enhancement BIPOC Emergency Support Services

  • Curation of Interdisciplinary Artistic Offerings Curriculum Overhaul & Inclusive Syllabus Building Executive Leadership Coaching

  • Crafting Affinity Group Spaces

  • Creative Curation Consultation

  • Content Development & Creative Strategy

  • Artist Symposium & Panel Discussion

  • Creative Producing

  • Anti-Racism Training for Board of Directors

Our robust and varied programming is designed to be scalable. We work at the one-on-one level, in intimate groups, or in an interactive workshop for hundreds of participants.

Together, we can build a more equitable and just world.

Facilitators

Sharif Ali Headshot

SHARIFFA ALI

ALARM creator, Lead Facilitator, Creative Director

In addition to her acclaimed work as an in-demand theatre and film director, Shariffa maintains her commitment to activism as a community organizer. She has lead diversity and inclusion workshops with Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts and has participated in workshops with a particular interest in the intersections of Arts and Social Justice lead by Arts Equity and EMC arts.

KAMILAH LONG

ALARM Creator, Lead Facilitator, Actor, Arts Executive

Kamilah is an innovative leader and dynamic theatrical professional. Her multifaceted theatre career includes roles as an actor, director, producer, educator, fundraiser, activist, and speaker. Her performative and professional equity experiences at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and The Black Whole, ultimately led her to become the current managing director of Play On Shakespeare.

Headshot of Michael Mwenso

MICHAEL MWENSO

Co-Founder, Curator, Musician, Facilitator

The magnetic impresario Michael Mwenso, specializes in musical code-switching, freely adopting and repurposing the drama, whimsy and spirit of the Great American Songbook, African beats, funk, modern jazz, dance pop, Delta blues and cabaret theater with equal, effortless verve. He continues to be a leading voice in the advocacy of the Black Arts across all media platforms.

Jono Gasparro Headshot

JONO GASPARRO

Co-Founder, Creative Producer, Facilitator

Jono continues to build upon his career focused on increasing awareness and building audiences for Black Roots music and its most prolific voices. After starting his career working directly for Wynton Marsalis, he went on to be Music Director for Marcus Samuelsson at his Harlem establishments before co- founding Electric Root and producing over 5,000 performances nationwide.

“Your approach to the work as 'community work' helped turn our group of colleagues into a community on which to rely for support and solidarity. You gave us a shared vocabulary to fight paralysis, and you gave us your own personal stories to starkly illustrate just a few of the million ways that racism plays out. In doing so, you also modeled being brave in our space.”

What’s your next step toward joyful equity?