January 23, 2022—I am a longtime admirer of Ford Foundation President Darren Walker for many reasons, including his groundbreaking redirection of the Ford Foundation’s philanthropic philosophy. Today, the foundation’s mission is “guided by a vision of social justice,” which includes Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA), and a commitment to work towards a global society that recognizes the dignity and potential of all people. At … Continue reading How Do We Persevere?

January 16, 2022—When my career propelled me to leap from the world of dance to The Public Theater, the powerful impact and influence of reviews by critics became even more clear to me. Not only do reviews help shape the public’s perception of a theatrical production, they also can determine its future. For the most part, the critics for numerous media organizations are both male … Continue reading BIPOC Critics Lab Launches New Cohort

January 9, 2022— I am both honored and proud to the share news that the Creating Change Network has joined in partnership with the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Center at Rutger’s University-Newark to curate a line-up of arts events in support of this year’s National Day of Racial Healing. The National Day of Racial Healing—January 18, 2022—was first launched in 2017 by the … Continue reading NJ Arts Community Unites to Support Day of Racial Healing

January 2, 2022— Happy New Year! By the end of 2021, the lights were flickering back on Broadway, museum doors were open, and dance performances and concerts were being held all over the country, despite still navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the vaccine mandates and capacity restrictions, arts-lovers would not be deterred from the pleasure and pure joy of experiencing the arts live and … Continue reading My 2022 Goals: Extending the Hand of Welcome and Modeling Belonging

December 19, 2021—I was deeply saddened to learn this past week about the accidental death of my colleague, Nai-Ni Chen, the founder and choreographer of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.  Nai-Ni was a fierce, artistic voice; a “storm” for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access. She was a bold, fearless, hard-working warrior, who was dedicated to engaging audiences; building bridges with diverse communities; developing dance education … Continue reading In Tribute to Nai-Ni Chen

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 … Continue reading ArtMovez Spotlights ED&I and the Arts

November 28, 2021—I recently had the opportunity to continue the webinar discussion with three esteemed colleagues about the importance of building a culture of belonging within our arts community. I am so happy to share the link with the readers of Arts & Culture Connections. Sponsored by Arts Reach, an association of arts management, marketing and development professionals, the focus of Part 2 of the … Continue reading Steps for Building a Culture of Belonging