Independent Shakespeare Co.’s Community Action Update podcast returns for a special bonus episode ahead of the November 5th election. Ensemble member and Artistic Associate for Social Justice Carene Rose Mekertichyan interviews Arts for LA’s Director of Policy and Advocacy Ricky Abilez, who shares their work and stresses the importance of voting this — and every — election. She also shares reflections on the importance of voting from community members who attended at Arts for LA’s Voter Activation Day: Martha Demson, President (TPSCA) & Artistic Director (Open Fist Theatre Company); Letitia Fernandez Ivins, Senior Director: Civic Strategies & Partnerships (The Music Center); Leslie Hemstreet, Teacher (GALA Academy); Thien (Tintin) Nguyen, Ticket Operations Coordinator (Center Theatre Group); and Michaela Bulkley, Arts Administrator. Head to iscla.org/justice to find links and information about the individuals and organizations featured in this episode and to learn more about our social justice initiatives.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast returns ahead of our summer festival with an episode centered on equitable and meaningful resiliency in the arts sector. ISC’s Artistic Associate for Social Justice Carene Rose Mekertichyan interviews Center Theatre Group’s Director of Equity, Belonging, and Engagement Khanisha Foster, who speaks to the powerful and sustaining nature of truly inclusive art making. Carene also speaks with Theresa Chavez who shares how her rich Los Angeles family history informs her life changing work in Arts Education as Producing Artistic Director of About Productions. Head to iscla.org/justice to find links and information about the individuals and organizations featured in this episode and to learn more about our social justice initiatives.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast series is back for a new season on the Ides of March! In this episode we explore the importance of labor and union organizing in the arts with Megan / Reagan of Star Garden, a North Hollywood Topless Dive Bar and the only current unionized (AEA) strip club in the country. We also speak with ISC Board members Elizabeth Dennehy and Paul Major about the SAG-AFTRA strike and the importance of solidarity with the Hollywood Basic Crafts unions Teamsters Local 399 and IATSE. Head to iscla.org/justice to find links and information about the individuals and organizations featured in today’s episode and to learn more about our social justice initiatives. Reserve your tickets for Hamlet, Solus and FREE Iambic Lab offerings at iscla.org/iambic-lab-24.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast series is back with our final episode of the year! Join us as we deep dive into arts advocacy at the state and local level with two powerhouse change makers in our community. We speak with Kristin Sakoda (Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture) about the current challenges our local arts sector is facing and ways their department is aiding in its recovery and Julie Baker (CEO of Californians for the Arts) about ways we can each advocate for the arts to our best capacity. We also share our holiday season philanthropy initiatives in partnership with SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition and Miry’s List. Head to iscla.org/justice to learn more about the individuals, organizations, and action items mentioned in this episode.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast series is back with an episode centered on critical arts funding legislation YOU have the power to support! The Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act (H.R. 3239) would support public and nonprofit organizations that use the Arts to combat racism with funding and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In this episode you won’t want to miss an exclusive message from California’s 12th District Representative Barbara Lee who reintroduced this legislation last month! ISC has a special connection to H.R. 3239 as ensemble members Sabra Williams and Carene Rose Mekertichyan were part of the collective of local artists who drafted the legislation. In this episode, you’ll hear from two more members of the Arts Justice Coalition; Bay Area Grammy-nominated musician, educator, and member of Digital Underground Mystic and friend of ISC, actress, producer, and Founder/Executive Director of Support Black Theatre Sophina Brown. Their words will leave you inspired and moved to act. Access the H.R. 3239 toolkit at bit.ly/HR3239-Toolkit and head to iscla.org/justice to learn more about the artists, organizations, and action items mentioned in this episode.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast series is back on the Ides of March! This episode centers the importance of arts education and access and is jam packed as ISC Ensemble Member and Artistic Associate for Social Justice Carene Rose Mekertichyan conducts a joint interview with Monica Horan Rosenthal (who recently graced our ISC studio stage in the fall production of Happy Days) and Jackie Lopez AKA “Miss Funk” (Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Versa-Style Dance Company) in which they explore the power of Arts Education, "ARTivism", and find a shared connection to John Marshall High School. She also interviews Ensemble Member and arts educator Lovelle Liquigan and ISC set designer and Create CA Youth Engagement Manager Caitlin Lainhoff. To support the incredible individuals and organizations featured, head to iscla.org/justice.

ISC’s Community Action Update podcast series is back with an episode full of fierce women! ISC’s Artistic Associate for Social Justice Carene Rose Mekertichyan spoke with local representative and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Kristina Wong (just before she made her way to Sardi’s to collect her Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance!) about the relationship between theatre artists and mutual aid efforts. She also spoke with ISC Board member Ebony Murphy-Root about her work as an educator and with NARAL, an organization serving a critical purpose during this dangerous shift in our country’s stance on reproductive rights. This episode begins with ISC’s beloved Aisha Kabia performing Titania’s timeless speech describing the environmental destruction caused by her and Oberon’s feud in Act II Scene I of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For ways to support these incredible individuals, head to iscla.org/justice.

Independent Shakespeare Co.’s Community Action Update podcast series returns on the Ides of March in a revamped format that will now be released quarterly! This episode features interviews with Sabra Williams and Major Bunton of Creative Acts and Inglewood Wrapping Arms Around the Community, Miry Whitehill of Miry's List, and a special Shakespeare reading by our very own David Melville. For ways to support these incredible organizations, head to iscla.org/justice.

In this month's Community Action Update, ISC's Artistic Associate for Social Justice, Carene Mekertichyan, invites you to join ISC staff this Giving Tuesday in celebrating and supporting organizations that we feel are doing important work to uplift our communities and staying active in the fight for social justice and equity. Let us know who you are supporting this Giving Tuesday on our Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Indian Country Today: support.indiancountrytoday.com

Young Musicians Foundation: ymf.networkforgood.com

Street Symphony: streetsymphony.kindful.com

Hollaback!: ihollaback.org/about/donate

artEquity: artequity.org/donate

Kooyrigs’ Project Mayreeg: kooyrigs.org/project-mayreeg

Transcript of this episode available at our website, www.iscla.org.

Are their initiatives in our community you want featured on our Community Action Update in December? Email [email protected]

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Ready for a Spooky episode just in time for Halloween?

Aisha Kabia Is an actress working and living in Los Angeles, CA.

In Nine Seasons with Independent Shakespeare Company:  Thaisa in ‘PERICLES’, Titania in ‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM’ Queen Elizabeth in ‘RICHARD III’, Princess in 'LOVES LABOURS LOST', Mistress Ford in 'MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR', Helena in 'MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM', Lady Macduff in 'MACBETH', Lady Capulet in 'ROMEO AND JULIET', Celia/Phebe in 'AS YOU LIKE IT', Adriana in 'COMEDY OF ERRORS'

Regional Theater: 3 Seasons at OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Television: The GOOD PLACE, The RESIDENT, S.W.A.T, GIRL MEETS WORLD, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, NCIS:LA, TRANSFORMERS 5, etc. & over 35 National Commercials

Education: Second City Conservatory Graduate. BFA from UC SANTA BARBARA

Enjoy this week's spine-chilling Art Break. *WARNING: This episode contains themes of colonization.*

Follow us!

Website: www.iscla.org

Instagram & Twitter: @indyshakes

Facebook: Independent Shakespeare Co.