Conversations With Carole

Today’s Special Guests of the upcoming One Man play, “Come On In-Live,” are Playwright and Artist Daniel Callahan and Executive Director Iona Morris Jackson.

The play debuts at the Strand Theatre in Boston on March 28, 2024. 

A twisting journey through the mind of a Black artist fraught with inner demons and outer troubles, Come On In - Live is one man's search for purpose, place, and voice. Through film, music, projection, and performance, Come On In - Live throws you into a world where Hip Hop, religion, education, and mental illness collide. An autobiographical, one-man show featuring award-winning artist Daniel Callahan, Come On In - Live is a social, sonic, and spiritual odyssey: a bold new approach to storytelling. Based on Daniel's feature-length psychological thriller "Come On In" and featuring his signature MassQing artwork and technique, Come On In - Live is a daringly new approach to hybrid storytelling, immersive theater, and community-engaged art making. 

For more information visit www.comeoninlive.com

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Daniel Callahan is a multimedia artist, filmmaker, and designer. Merging a legion of disciplines, including painting, digital photography, film, music, writing, and performance, Daniel works to craft immersive experiences incorporating story, ritual, and the human form to explore aspects of resilience and mysticism. 

Best known for his painterly technique of MassQing - a ritual painting of the face used to reveal rather than conceal one's inner essence - Daniel and his work have been featured at the Museum of Fine Arts, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Queens Museum. 

Daniel is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design, where he received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Fine Arts and Africana Studies, and Emerson College, where he received a Masters in Fine Arts in Film and Video. Daniel is a recipient of the Donor Circle for the Arts Grant, the New England Foundation for the Arts Creative City Grant, a Mass Cultural Council's CYD Teaching Artists Fellow and a Creative Entrepreneurship Fellow of the Greater Boston Arts & Business Council. 

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Iona Morris Jackson was nominated for a Hollywood Critics Award and now for a NAACP Image Award for her direction of the ABC hit comedy BLACKish, titled "If A Black Man Cries In The Woods," airing in 2022. Her short, completed 2020, "Celeste's Dreams," which she Directed, Wrote, and Executive Produced, has been in 14 Short Film Festivals, garnering 3 nominations and the Award for Merit from the Canadian Short Film Festival. 

Her directing theater credits include her co-creating, directing, and co-writing the star-studded sold-out concert event, "Broadway Under The Stars: 35th Anniversary of 'Dreamgirls' starring the 3 originals Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jennifer Holliday. Iona won a Best Director Award from the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Awards for her direction of the award-winning comedy "Sassy Mamas," which she also acted in. She's directed 2 successful solo shows for Jenifer Lewis, co-wrote and directed Blair Underwood's one-man show, director and contributing monologuest for Penny Johnson Jerald's solo show, directing Kim Wayans and Tammi Mac's award winning solo show and many others. 

As an actress, Iona won a Best Solo Show from the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Awards for her production of "FOR YOU," an autobiographical piece about her father, actor Greg Morris, from the 1970s series MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE, an Ovation Award for Best Ensemble for the play "In The Red and Brown Water," and 2 Dramalogue Awards for Best Supporting actress in "Two Rooms" and for Best Ensemble in the play "Up the Mountain." 

Today's show features the executive producer of "Come on In," Nerissa Williams-Scott, one of Boston's creative dynamos in the film and theater arts industry. She shares her background and knowledge of the industry and how she is artfully managing an incredible portfolio of theater projects, films, and upcoming documentaries. Listen and get inspired as we celebrate Women's History Month with talented producers like Nerissa.

Come On In: www.comeoninlive.com

Nerissa Williams-Scott’s Website: https://www.nerissawilliams.com

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Nerissa Williams-Scott – CEO/Lead Creative Producer of That Child Got Talent Entertainment, Boston, MA (tcgtentertainment.com) is an affiliated faculty member at Emerson College in the Business of Creative Economy and Visual Media Art departments, where she teaches on the undergraduate and graduate level.  

She is currently producing 4  feature film projects and a docu-series.  She is a graduate of Hampton University, where she received a Bachelor of Art degree in Fine and Performing Arts.  She is also a graduate of Emerson College where she received her Master of Fine Art degree in Film Production ’15.  She has worked her way up to the position of Producer, Creative Producer, Director, UPM and Line Producer.  

Over the past twelve years, she has produced 2 Narrative feature films and served as production manager for a variety of Documentaries/series, Narrative shorts, Live Media Installation events, Theatre productions, Fashion films, TV series, and Music videos.  She was awarded the LEF Foundation Fellowship to attend the Flaherty Seminar in upstate New York in 2018, as well as the LEF Development grant for the experimental feature documentary “Paradise” with director Gabby Sumney.  

She has made it to the final rounds of the Creative Capital granting process.  She is the treasurer for the Secret Society of Black Creatives.  She sits on the Board of Directors for the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA.  Her most prized position is serving as the Creative Director of Sarah’s Hope Charitable and Educational Foundation in Lufkin, Texas, USA.  As CEO of That Child Got Talent Entertainment, Nerissa has created a company that serves as a bridge for women of color to gain employment while serving the greater community through teaching youth as well as elders.  

Her favorite quote is, “The ongoing forward momentum of TCGT has provided the avenue that lays poise for the women we provide the opportunity to wow the world with brilliance!”

Black History IS American History, and Black Families Matter! Including my family! This podcast pays tribute to my past and present family members, whose shoulders I stand on today. Learn about my parents, brother, sister-in-law, grandparents, and an ancestral great-uncle who met with General William Tecumseh Sherman at the end of the Civil War!  

Dive into the rich tapestry of American history when you listen to this podcast. By intertwining individual family stories with broader historical events, today's podcast offers a unique lens through which to explore the diverse and integral contributions of Black families to the American narrative. Through this heartfelt exploration, you will gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of personal and historical legacies, fostering empathy, pride, and a renewed appreciation for the enduring impact of Black families on the fabric of America.

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Rev. William Gaines and General Sherman:

Black History And My Family's Contribution During The Civil War

My ancestor, Rev. William Gaines, a freed slave who, in Savannah, Georgia, on January 12, 1865, sat with other black leaders in conversation with General William Tecumseh Sherman to figure out what to do with so many newly freed slaves. My relative is listed as the SIXTH member of this meeting. Here is the link to read more: http://www.freedmen.umd.edu/savmtg.htm.

The catalyst for today's attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion began with Donald Trump's Executive Order 13950, signed on September 22, 2020. That ruling prevented diversity training programs from being taught to federal agencies and also banned diversity training for federal contractors. What was ignored by many has now exploded into state legislation around the country that impacts what teachers can and cannot say about diversity, race, racism, sexual orientation, gender identity, Critical Race Theory, and Black History. Florida leads the way with anti-diversity sentiment as Governor Ron DeSantis weaponized these terminologies to fuel his failed presidential campaign.

Today's podcast closely examines what has happened over the past four years that has turned my work as a DEI professional into prohibited anti-American sessions of hate. Instead of being silent, my mission is to help educate my podcast audience on the dangers of misinformation in a diverse society. Pay close attention to the policies that are being enacted in States across the country. Determine what course of action you should take to affirm the value of DEI and Black History Month.

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Resources:

Critical Race Theory

www.understandcrt.com

Trump's Executive Order 13950

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-race-sex-stereotyping

What Teachers Can and Cannot Teach

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/01/teachers-black-history-month-crt-backlash

Bill Ackman and Elon Musk

https://www.wsj.com/business/dei-diversity-initiatives-advocacy-elon-musk-bill-ackman-b64caeea

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Anti CRT Executive Order

https://governor.arkansas.gov/executive_orders/executive-order-to-prohibit-indoctrination-and-critical-race-theory-in-schools

Edward Blum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Blum_(litigant)

S. Florida Schools and Permission Slips for Black History Month

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article285533517.html

Black History Month is under siege, and we must fight back! Its essence and value have been diminished by right-wing groups who want to see the celebrations and commemorations end. Listen to this podcast and find out the FIVE points to ponder as we look at the value and significance of Black History in the United States and beyond. America would be a very different place without these extraordinary heroes and sheroes. Recognizing them and celebrating their value not only affirms their respect but reminds us of all the contributions they have made to society.

We start off with Dr. Carter G Woodson, the visionary founder of Black History Month, and include Ellen Craft, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, and Juanita Jones Abernathy, to name a few.

Carole challenges you to take your knowledge to groups and communities who need to know. Most importantly, the conversation reminds us that Black History is American history and has been an influential subject matter throughout the world.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. CARTER G. WOODSON’S ORGANIZATION AT:

https://asalh.org

It started as a dream by French diplomat and businessman Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1880 and finally ended with an American effort that completed the Canal in 1914. More than 25,000 lives were lost building the Panama Canal, many of them Caribbean laborers and others from around the world who died from malaria, yellow fever, snakebites, and other health and occupational accidents incurred in this wild adventure. Prior to the completion of the first Canal, ships and ocean liners would have to go around Cape Horn in South America to get from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean(or vice versa). Building the Panama Canal significantly cut the time and cost of delivering products, freight, and people around the world.

I had the good fortune of crossing from the Caribbean Sea/Atlantic Ocean side of the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean on January 10, 2024, during my South American cruise. It was a thrilling adventure and one I plan on repeating sometime in the future.

This crossing only awakened my curiosity to learn more about the region, the history, the culture, the explorations, and the opportunities for the people of Central and South America. That's the value of travel. You want to learn more, do more, and give more as you share your experiences with others.

Enjoy this podcast and share it with your friends, family, and colleagues who either know about this historic engineering feat or have only read about it in history books!

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PANAMA CANAL DOUMENTARY FEATURING DAVID McCOLLOUGH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzJRUAeF5o0

Cartagena, Colombia, was the first stop on my South American cruise on the Norwegian Sun. I was delighted that Dani Garcia, my fantastic Tour Guide, allowed me to interview her for my podcast. She'll take us through the city's historical adventures that date back to 1533. From San Pedro Claver, the famous priest who dedicated his life to helping and saving the enslaved people of the region, to Getsemani, the hip and trendy neighborhood of Cartagena, to the Palenque women in their bold and colorful outfits who represent the first free town for Africans in America… Cartagena is an amazing historic representation of the past fused with the present.

The fifth largest city in Columbia and the second largest in the region after Barranquilla, Cartagena was founded on June 1, 1533, and named after the city of the same name in Spain. In 1984, its colonial walled city and fortress were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mixed architecture includes colonial, republican, and Italian styles intertwined into a rich history that dates back centuries.

I purchased my tour on www.getyourguide.com.

Dani works for Nexperience Tours that can be found on the Get Your Guide website.

Learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line and their upcoming South American tours or journeys around the world at www.ncl.com

The holidays provided me with an ideal opportunity to learn more about my immediate family! I interviewed my daughters, son-in-law, and two granddaughters over the dining room table as my older daughter’s beloved dog, Kodi, wanted to have his turn to be interviewed! (The cat, Shadow, waited patiently in the basement!) 

I learned about their goals and aspirations, places they'd like to visit, and lessons they learned in 2023. I encourage you to do the same with your family… and invite you to sit back and listen to random thoughts of the Thomas/Farquharson/Monteiro Family!

This is Carole Copeland Thomas and you're listening to a New Year's Edition of Conversations with Carole

MY FAMILY MEMBERS INTERVIEWED INCLUDE:

Michelle Thomas-Monteiro

The Family's Timekeeper!!

20 Year Teacher’s Assistant

Julianna Farquharson

Age 15

West Hartford Connecticut Public Schools

Gabrielle (Gabby) Farquharson

Age 12

West Hartford Connecticut Public Schools

Dr. Lorna Thomas-Farquharson

Program Manager Early Childhood Education

Great Wife and Mother

Jerome Farquharson

Process Engineer Supervisor

Sports Enthusiast and Baseball Team Member

You get a stinking feeling when you know that you have been victimized. That's what happened to me a few weeks ago at the beginning of my cruise in Athens, Greece. It's not a fun story, yet it could have been much worse. I was ROBBED in a foreign country! Not only was that a costly nightmare, I had to make alternative plans that took me to another foreign country that I had only planned on visiting on a cruise ship. Not only do you want to listen to this podcast, I encourage you to share it with as many people as possible so that you will learn the lessons of staying safe and protecting your welfare while traveling!

I also suggest that you listen to my 18 Travel Tips on Episodes 011 and 012, and then listen to Episode 015, which gives you a comprehensive look at the Alexandria Egypt Museum and Library that was led by my trusty tour guide, Soha.

You can also read this article and find out why the Athens Metro Station is the NUMBER TWO victimization location in the world!

https://greekreporter.com/2022/08/09/athens-metro-second-pickpockets-complaints-world/

Stay safe, and I hope this never happens to you!

PS: I didn't record this; however, my only brother was battling his own issues at the same time that I was robbed! He is an attorney in Detroit and caught Covid for the second time from another attorney. He also passed Covid to my sister-in-law, who recovered and flew to Miami to visit their daughter and her family for Thanksgiving. My brother realized that he was not feeling as well as he had expected and went to the doctor, who immediately put him in an ambulance en route to the hospital. My brother ended up having three blood clots that would have killed him had he gotten on the same plane with my sister-in-law! He is doing much better now but will probably be on blood thinners for the rest of his life!

So life is a gift. Do all that you can to take care of yourself so that you can live life to the fullest!

During my recent Middle East-Mediterranean cruise, I had a remarkable tour guide named SOHA, who demonstrated her passion and expertise and escorted us through the Alexandria Museum and the Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Her undergraduate and tour guide training prepared her to lead tours in this ancient cross cultural city.

It was an exhilarating four-hour tour that captured the cultural integration of the Egyptian, Greek, and, ultimately, Roman influence.

The museum contains over 1800 pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and Coptic artifacts located in a restored 20th-century palace.  

The Library of Alexandria originally dates back to the 3rd century BC under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter and was partially destroyed in 48 BC due to fire ignited by Julius Caesar’s troops. Part library, museum, gallery, and planetarium, it reflects on the impact of Alexander The Great, who founded the city in 332 BCE.

We’ll let Soha l