July 25, 2021—I recently had the delightful opportunity of moderating a discussion with the creative leaders of the Najwa Dance Corps (NDC) for the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Legacy Conversation Series. You can view my discussion with Najwa I, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, and Sheila Walker-Wilkins, Executive Director, at this link. NDC is comprised of professional dancers and musicians devoted to the performance, … Continue reading Chicago’s Black Dance Legacy Project Spotlights Najwa Dance Corps

July 18, 2021—In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a coalition of artists, curators, culture producers, and organizers has been forged, committed to using the arts to support racial justice movements. The coalition is called The Blacksmiths. I recently had the honor of speaking with one of the founders—Michelle Taylor of the multi-faceted, artist management company Passion Music Group—who shared some … Continue reading Utilizing the Arts to Support Racial Justice

play above Making Dance Accessible to All July 7, 2021—As the readers of Arts & Culture Connections know, I am passionate about dance! That’s why I am delighted to share with you a wonderful interview conducted by the extraordinary Aaron Dworkin with Malik Robinson, executive director of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company (CPRD) and chair of Dance USA. The interview was conducted for Aaron’s … Continue reading Making Dance Accessible to All

July 4, 2021—The first inkling of life recently returned to Broadway with the opening of “Springsteen on Broadway” at the St. James Theater on June 26, 2021. The remaining 40 stages are not scheduled to reopen until August and September. However, it is my hope that the post-COVID-19 theatrical landscape will be vastly different than the world described by artists of color in an open … Continue reading Broadway’s Next Stage: Life after COVID-19

June 27, 2021—I have long enjoyed engaging with the Native community for various arts and cultural projects, which I believe is an integral component of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access work. I have had the honor of working with Native communities for many years at The Public Theater and the American Indian Community House. One of my most memorable experiences was my role as the … Continue reading Expanding EDI&A to Native Communities

June 20, 2021—I am both delighted and thrilled about the current re-openings of arts organizations and cultural institutions more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the massive shuttering of doors. One thing is certain—there are many considerations and decisions that must be made before the public can safely return to our revered halls and venues to again experience the joy of live concerts, … Continue reading What We Can Learn from NJPAC’s Re-Opening Plans

June 13, 2021—Juneteenth 2021 is turning into one of the biggest national celebrations ever, with growing numbers of states, cities, and corporations recognizing it as a holiday. I am pleased to see that the arts are at the heart of many of the celebrations, including in Galveston, Texas, the birthplace of Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that an estimated quarter-of-a-million enslaved people … Continue reading Celebrating Juneteenth as We Continue to Fight for Equality

June 6, 2021— As a Champion for the Arts and an alumna of Howard University School of Law, I was thrilled to recently learn that the university is re-establishing its College of Fine Arts and is naming it after one of its most famous alumni, the late Chadwick A. Boseman, star of the blockbuster film Black Panther.  During his sophomore year at the university, Mr. … Continue reading Howard University Re-opens and Renames College of Fine Arts in honor of Chadwick Boseman

May 30, 2021—Every year on my birthday, I am always filled with tremendous appreciation for my parents, as well as for the good fortune to welcome another year of excitement and opportunity to share my passion for the arts. I will always be indebted to my mom for taking me and my twin sister to see the Bolshoi ballet at McCormick Place in Chicago when … Continue reading Celebrating Another Year Around the Sun

May 23, 2021—In two days, the world will mark the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, an incident that created a global tsunami of demonstrations and demands for racial equity and social justice that also rocked the arts world. All of this unfolded while our nation coped with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only claimed more than a half-million American … Continue reading Honoring the Memory of George Floyd