Illuminate

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Live at The Old Globe Theater, drag activist and artist Amber St. James delivers a transformative Illuminate talk on drag as a medium for social action. Discover how St. James uses the art of drag to challenge norms and create space for self-discovery and activism as they answer the question, what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Join us at melaninmeetups.org and discover more Illuminate talks for inspiration at melaninmeetups.org/illuminate

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Live at San Diego Theatre's The Old Globe, join Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) at The Old Globe Theatre Jamila Demby as she takes us through her journey in regional theatre to discusses how Black stories on stage contribute to a deeper, more inclusive human experience. Through personal anecdotes, humor, and calls for change, Jamila sheds light on the persistent underrepresentation in theatre and offers insights on how Black communities can reclaim and redefine their space within the arts as she answers the question, what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Join us at melaninmeetups.org and discover more Illuminate talks for inspiration at melaninmeetups.org/illuminate

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Live from San Diego's world-renowned theatre, The Old Globe, San Diego artist and playwright Andréa Agosto shares a compelling personal journey to artistry in at Melanin MeetUps' Illuminate series. Discover how Agosto navigated obstacles to find her unique voice as an artist and how her experience offers insights into reclaiming identity in the arts as she answers the question; what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Join us at melaninmeetups.org and discover more Illuminate talks for inspiration at melaninmeetups.org/illuminate

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Founder of Melanin MeetUps, Kirk Brown discusses the power of theater as a tool for breaking cycles and inspiring personal growth in this riveting Illuminate talk. Live at San Diego Theatre's The Old Globe, Brown highlights the powerful role of storytelling to break cycles such as toxic shame, redefine masculinity and become a better version of yourself. Listen in to discover how theater can be a force for healing and renewal as Brown answers the question; what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Join us at melaninmeetups.org and discover more Illuminate talks for inspiration at melaninmeetups.org/illuminate

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Live at San Diego's The Old Globe Theatre, Performing Arts Administrator of Mainly Mozart Ahmed Kenyatta Dents discusses the evolving role of theater and the arts as we navigate a period of resetting and renewal. Dents shares strategies to help us redefine artistic identity, answering how the arts can better reflect diverse voices in the 21st century as he answers the question; what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Live at San Diego's The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego artist and founder of Black Dream Experiment, Kelsey O'Daniels explores the concept of Black dreaming and the urgency of moving beyond the white imagination in the arts in this powerful Illuminate talk. Daniels offers insights into the path toward true identity and creative freedom in the arts, guiding listeners to envision a new cultural landscape for the 21st century as she answers the question; what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Live from San Diego's world-renowned theatre, The Old Globe, Dr. Amani Starnes examines the power of Black performance to drive societal change and personal evolution in Illuminate. Dr. Starnes unpacks the pathways to reimagining Black identity and representation in theater, offering a roadmap for meaningful transformation in the arts to answer the question; what steps can we take to rewrite the narrative to understand ourselves better and shape our identity in the arts industry in the 21st century?

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Ever feel that knot when it's time to act? "Don't wait on your neighbor because your neighbor may be waiting on you," says Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, quoting his great-grandfather, a former slave. But what does bravery in leadership look like, especially for Black Americans?

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Unaddressed trauma in young, gifted, Black youth often leads to anxiety, depression, and silence. Healing requires safe spaces, culturally sensitive support, and addressing both personal and generational pain. For the Black community, breaking free from systemic oppression can look like reclaiming identity, building independence, and creating spaces of empowerment.

At Illuminate, Dr. Nicole Green of UCLA dives into the effects of trauma on Black youth and the path from surviving to thriving. Powered by Melanin MeetUps, Illuminate shares stories from today's top Black voices.

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What happens when you're othered by a racist ad campaign or forced to vote in line during a pandemic? Georgia State Representative Park Cannon explores these questions in her Illuminate talk, connecting trauma with recent voting suppression initiatives in Georgia. She argues for trauma-informed services to help communities heal from state-level abuses and to move beyond toxic patterns. (2021)

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Join us at melaninmeetups.org and discover more Illuminate talks for inspiration at melaninmeetups.org/illuminate