December 5, 2021—I recently had the wonderful opportunity to discuss ongoing efforts to bring Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) initiatives to Broadway, as well as to other cultural institutions and arts organizations, during an interview on the podcast and radio program ArtMovez.

Toni Yuille Williams and Eli Kuslansky are the co-hosts of ArtMovez, which explores issues at the intersection of the creative arts and social justice.

Toni is the award-winning Executive Producer, Creator and Host of Brooklyn Savvy, a community-produced television show that airs on NYC Life. She also is the Regional and Community Affairs Director for Con Edison in Brooklyn.

And Eli is a partner and chief strategist at Unified Field, an award-winning strategic innovation firm. He also is a sculptor, chef, and independent journalist, specializing in public and media art installations.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Toni for many years, and I am a long-time admirer of her efforts to shine a light on crucial and relevant issues in the arts and culture. Toni invited me to participate in the program, which is a co-production with BRIC Arts Media, to share my thoughts about what it will take to advance ED&I within the arts and cultural sectors.

The interview runs about 30 minutes, and it was a lively and thought-provoking discussion. Toni’s questions probed beneath the surface of most discussions about the manifestations of racism in the arts, and the critical need for ED&I initiatives.

Her questions also elicited a frank discussion about how to take on the “attitude barriers” (i.e., “I am not a racist) that perpetuate the painful effects of marginalization, exclusion, and racial injustice. I am grateful to Toni for using her platform to expand the scope of the discussion and engage an even broader audience.

I am sharing the link with the readers of Arts & Culture Connections to keep the dialogue going. As always, let me know what you think. I invite you to share your thoughts and comments below.