Now is the time to support. Even if you haven't in the past, or don't know exactly how, now is the time to start. As Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams writes, the marginalized communities demonstrate that "liberation is possible" and their joy despite systemic burdens offers hope to all.
A few years ago, I stepped away from corporate work and spent 2018 reorienting myself globally. That journey sparked deeper concerns about cultural inclusion and diversity in the arts, eventually evolving into a business venture. I believe that "our deepest truths, our wildest innovations come from having a diverse set of voices pulling us forward."
Through dancer Janine Michelleti, I discovered Harlem Stage in May 2019. Located in the historic Gatehouse building — a 19th-century structure that once served the Croton Aqueduct system — the venue immediately resonated with my values. Their mission: to commission and present work responding to the historical and contemporary conditions shaping communities.
Harlem Stage's WaterWorks incubator funds artists of color in dance, music, film, and theater. Notable productions include a Sun Ra tribute at the Met and Antigone in Ferguson, which combined Sophocles' tragedy with activist choirs from Ferguson and New York City.
Given pandemic-related closures and the urgency of this social justice moment, I encourage you to support Harlem Stage. Donations help maintain staff, fund new artists of color, develop digital programming, and prepare for reopening.
Donate at harlemstage.org/donate. Follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter @MyHarlemStage.