Bawse With A Cause

BWAC S2E8 - Mark Williams - On Equity, Experience and Discovery in the Orchestra World

Urban Consulate: Music. Equity. Cities. Creative incubators & accelerators are emerging in cities across the U.S. to support artists and build more equitable ecosystems for the future. In this cross-city conversation, we cover a broad range of topics including how Covid-19 has impacted artists of color, what anti-racist policies are being applied to music accelerator work, how the sustained struggle to dismantle white supremacy making this work more pressing,  and what our experts want to see as the culminating impact of their work.  This discussion was originally planned as a panel as part of the SXSW Festival and was canceled due to Covid-19. We re-booted this convo virtually via Facebook Live and garnered nearly 1,000 video views since our broadcast yesterday. Many thanks to our amazing panelists, Urban Consulate, Amplify Philly, Afrochine Productions, and the Anne and Ralph V. Haile/US Bank Foundation for their unending support.  Naimah Bilal, Co-Host, Urban Consulate Cincinnati (moderator) Will Toms, Head of Strategy, REC Philly Kick Lee, Executive Director, Cincinnati Music Accelerator Tonya Dyson, Executive Director, Memphis Slim Collaboratory

On Thursday, June 18 on Facebook Live, Bawse With A Cause had an audience of some 2,000 viewers watching a conversation with six dynamic black women leading artistic operations around the nation. Jennifer Arnold, Director of Artistic Planning and Orchestral Operations at the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Danni Gee, Curator at SummerStage in NYC, Kaisha Johnson, Co-Founder and Founding Director of Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA), Toya Lillard, Executive Director of viBe Theater Experience in Brooklyn, and Taneshia Nash Laird President and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall.  We heard their stories of how they came to their careers in the arts, about their dynamic leadership styles, heard how their institutions are being impacted by COVID-19, and about their triumphs and challenges as leaders in homogenous spaces. We did many deep dives into the insidious and deadly manifestations of racism and white supremacy and how people of color can fight against internalizing these harmful and intractable social ills. Each of the five leaders also gives their take on what truth and reconciliation and restorative justice look like in the arts world.  in addition to our regular listeners, I hope reaches every cultural hallowed hall stagnated by old thinking and is now ready for new ideas and new leadership.

Five months ago, I asked BWAC podcast guest Weston Sprott a question which then fascinated me but today returns with the urgency of a coming storm – “How can we apply antiracist principles to the world of classical music?”.  As the interview unfolds, Weston Sprott, Dean of the Juilliard Preparatory Division and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra trombonist, gives us a master class in all things leadership, DE&I and yes, gives a clarion clear pathway to apply some of the core ideas from Ibram Kendi’s “How to be Antiracist” to the music world.  We also discuss how at Juilliard Prep work continues to make auditions “implicit bias proof”, how the concept of “mirrors and windows” is helping inform opportunity building alongside talented students who happen to also members of communities that are often forgotten. Ultimately these efforts all converge to answer the question: “Do our students have everything they need to be successful?” There’s one section of this dialogue in particular which still leaves my mind and heart blown. When I asked Weston what he’s listening to, apart from operas and symphonies, he mentioned singer-songwriter Moses Sumney. He then quotes lyrics from Sumney’s song “Doom” which pretty much sums up the spirit of the whole dang episode: “Am I vital. If my heart is idle?”   If that doesn’t move you, I don’t know what will my friends! Enjoy this one.       Weston’s Recommendations: https://www.composerdiversity.com/ Moses Sumney

George Floyd - Breonna Taylor - Ahmaud Arbery - Sandra Bland - Tamir Rice - Trayvon Martin - Eric Garner - Akai Gurley - Freddie Gray - Stephon Clark - Botham Jean - Atiana Jefferson - Michael Brown - Philando Castile My heart cracks open with grief to say your names. The act of speaking your names out have become prayer. Prayers I imagine reach into the imperceivable place where you all rest in power with the ancestors. As we find ourselves managing the surf and wipe-out from waves of sadness and pain, the many words exchanged in this podcast may wade into deep water but it may also leave you a little lighter, a little more curious, and hopeful. Months ago, Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza, gave me a masterclass in how we can begin to ensure that #BlackLivesMatter in all spaces- around our world and within the nonprofit organizations we devote ourselves to. Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza is a young movement journalist and creative nonfiction student. Neesha grew up having a deep connection to books and it comes as no surprise that she would go on to become a skilled and talented writer of creative nonfiction. A regular contributor to national publications, Neesha also happens to have authored a brilliant conceptual framework to help nonprofits begin to apply the theoretical principles of decolonization to their work. In this episode, Neesha gives us a high-level view of her decolonizing framework, shares her ideas about the intersectionality of being a black queer feminist, and she shares her views on how POC can identify and leverage our privileges to advance equity and dialogue about unity. We also wade into pop culture territory as we discuss the merits and pitfalls around celebrity activists. @womanistbae https://everydayfeminism.com/2018/05/decolonizing-nonprofits/ https://www.vice.com/en_ca/contributor/neesha-powell-twagirumukiza

BWAC S2E2 - Tonya Dyson: When Past and Present Converge The Future is Born!

BWAC 11: Dr. Angelique Grant on Recruiting and Talent Management: Counting Heads vs. Making Heads Count

BWAC 11: Angelique Grant on Recruiting and Talent Management: Counting Heads vs. Making Heads Count

BWAC 10: Sara Taylor- Black Women Blasting Beyond the "Black Ceiling" Into the C-Suite

Show notes coming soon!

Show Notes Coming Soon!

This episode was, as my good friend Quanita Roberson would say, “Deep, Fun, and Easy”. I encourage you to listen to the end as the esteemed Deron Hall shares insights that serve as chicken soup for the nonprofit soul, wrapped up in some good old-fashioned, no holds barred truth-telling which serves to buoy your spirit. Oh- if you’re uncomfortable with colorful language you may which to skip to the next episode because Mr. Hall brings his 100% “REAL” and he lends a distinctly barbed character to some of his big ideas.  Deron Hall is a business strategy expert, arts impresario, and community development expert. His expertise spans the non and for-profit world so he is able to draw upon a well of experiences which he offers up in spades. Deron’s early training as a musician would give him the skill to realize big dreams through hard work. I love the analogies he uses to describe how a musician must identify their own technical shortcomings and move forward to realize their goals of artistic mastery. He talks about his devotion to the idea of giving tools to the brilliant but underestimated entrepreneurs of color to help them realize their business goals through his newest business venture CoPilot strategies- a fully integrated business strategy system.  We talk about how nonprofits who serve young people can include the voices of young people at the table- by engaging and asking. The conversation takes a refreshing and reenergizing turn when Deron shares his practical ideas for how he centers himself in his life, how he derives joy and meaning- “What does love look like in the morning for you? What does love look like at 6:00 pm?” are some of the questions he wants us all to create more consciousness around.  We wring our hands about scant resources put into equity efforts across sectors. And it’s because of the modest investments into these movements that Deron shares the unconventional idea that the DE&I efforts we see play out in modern institutions are mere distractions from the real work of advancing equity. We try to answer the question- is having a black and or brown employee in a prominent role a real catalyst to change the game? We disagree on the answer but you’ll have to listen to find out more! Overall, this conversation was soul and mind-stretching and Deron invited me out of some conceptual confines that helped me add some philosophical rigor to my own perceptions of the true meaning of equity, inclusion, and ultimately, how we engage to realize the benefits of the work. Again, listen to the end. You’ll be rewarded as he shares some of the most profound inspirational words to live by that I’ve come across in some time. Enjoy. Links to CoPilot Site https://copilot.teachable.com/p/copilot https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2017/08/01/how-one-memphian-is-working-to-support-local-art.html 

On this episode, I have an indulgent chat with Dr. Amer Ahmed, Founder and CEO of AFA Diversity Consulting, LLC organizational strategist who helps institutions and leaders address diversity and inclusion, equity, and intercultural development through consulting, coaching, group facilitation, and keynote speeches. He has published key opinion pieces and has been featured in media such as MSNBC, documentary film, and other national press outlets for his commentary and critical perspective on news and significant topics in society. Our conversation was expansive and maps his family’s beginnings in India and how his father’s academic success wrote he and his mother's ticket to the US in the 70s. He shares the indelible impact this narrative had on him as a first-generation American living in a largely black community who embraced him as one of their own. We traverse the evolutionary path of his activism in the higher-ed diversity and inclusion space and he shares how he leads with humility and self-implication to advance healing dialogue that serves to connect us.   We then learn how, in his work on college campuses, he rode the waves of rapid socio-political and cultural shifts and translated them into meaningful conversations about diversity. Dr. Ahmed also shares fascinating insights into the evolution of intercultural competence among students on campus and how that awakening has been a driving force of increased rigor and elevation of dialogue around equity.  Dr. Ahmed also introduces the concept of the “Woke Olympics” as a distraction to talking about issues and doing something about them. We have an interesting tete a tete about how policing of language and meaning of words by those who tend to be on the losing end of systemic imbalance is a necessary component of progress.  And if that weren’t enough, Amer talks about how leaders of underrepresented populations can help to recast leadership ideals drawing from a well of epistemological depth which spans cultures. We try to answer questions about the merits of hierarchy as a framework to support effective leadership, how can leaders enable leadership with everyone to create a transformative setting which relies more upon empowerment to unleash a well-spring of creativity that can only come when all ideas are valued, no matter who they come from. Lastly, we talk about the quite valuable role that proponents of systems of oppression play in shaping the dialogue and spurring action for those representing the collective good to form bigger more powerful coalitions of real, not just rhetorical change. Hold on to your hats for this one! Links and Books Recommendations Paulo Freire- Pedagogy of the Oppressed http://www.amerfahmed.com/about/

This episode was, as my good friend Quanita Roberson would say, “Deep, Fun, and Easy”. I encourage you to listen to the end as the esteemed Deron Hall shares insights that serve as chicken soup for the nonprofit soul, wrapped up in some good old-fashioned, no holds barred truth-telling which serves to buoy your spirit. Oh- if you’re uncomfortable with colorful language you may which to skip to the next episode because Mr. Hall brings his 100% “REAL” and he lends a distinctly barbed character to some of his big ideas.  Deron Hall is a business strategy expert, arts impresario, and community development expert. His expertise spans the non and for-profit world so he is able to draw upon a well of experiences which he offers up in spades. Deron’s early training as a musician would give him the skill to realize big dreams through hard work. I love the analogies he uses to describe how a musician must identify their own technical shortcomings and move forward to realize their goals of artistic mastery. He talks about his devotion to the idea of giving tools to the brilliant but underestimated entrepreneurs of color to help them realize their business goals through his newest business venture CoPilot strategies- a fully integrated business strategy system.  We talk about how nonprofits who serve young people can include the voices of young people at the table- by engaging and asking. The conversation takes a refreshing and reenergizing turn when Deron shares his practical ideas for how he centers himself in his life, how he derives joy and meaning- “What does love look like in the morning for you? What does love look like at 6:00 pm?” are some of the questions he wants us all to create more consciousness around.  We wring our hands about scant resources put into equity efforts across sectors. And it’s because of the modest investments into these movements that Deron shares the unconventional idea that the DE&I efforts we see play out in modern institutions are mere distractions from the real work of advancing equity. We try to answer the question- is having a black and or brown employee in a prominent role a real catalyst to change the game? We disagree on the answer but you’ll have to listen to find out more! Overall, this conversation was soul and mind-stretching and Deron invited me out of some conceptual confines that helped me add some philosophical rigor to my own perceptions of the true meaning of equity, inclusion, and ultimately, how we engage to realize the benefits of the work. Again, listen to the end. You’ll be rewarded as he shares some of the most profound inspirational words to live by that I’ve come across in some time. Enjoy. Links to CoPilot Site https://copilot.teachable.com/p/copilot https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2017/08/01/how-one-memphian-is-working-to-support-local-art.html 

We had a blast recording this one! In this episode, I sit down with two phenomenal Cincinnatians leading some of the most social-justice aimed and impact-driven initiatives at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF)- Adrienne Taylor, Development Director of the Women's Fund, and Lauren Jones, Inclusive Giving Advisor. Three black women talking about fundraising and the unique aspects of existing in this space- WHAAAAAT! You won't want to miss this one.  You'll hear about Lauren's pathway to philanthropy through her work with the 2012 re-election campaign for Barak Obama and how she was able to leverage her community organizing expertise to create new links between Cincinnati's donors and meaningful causes. Adrienne shares her earliest forays into fundraising as a professional dancer, turned stockbroker, turned MBA. Their stories relate a deeply ingrained passion for helping people and serving the greater good. Our conversation covers many distinct yet connected topical threads related to the history of black philanthropy showcased in an illuminating research report spearheaded by GCF, the great work that the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is doing to advance equity via all of their funding channels, and the browning of the US population and how increased mentoring emerging black and brown fundraisers is the key to preparedness for these tectonic demographic shifts.  I moved this episode up in the production schedule to align with Black Philanthropy Month which is observed in this, the month of August. Lauren and Adrienne both contextualize the wide spectrum of black philanthropy and paint a very vivid picture of the many ways that black and brown people have had to help one another when confronted with institutionalized racism, Jim Crow era horrors, and lingering conditions of inequity.   The most moving parts of our discussion come when we learn about Lauren and Adrienne's hopes for emerging black and brown fundraisers and what they wish organizations who employ black philanthropy professionals knew about how best to set them up for success.  As is our practice, the conversation ends with deeply personal thoughts about the weight of existing at the intersection of race and gender- that is to say- what it means to be both black and a woman. We learn about the self-care routines they both use to stay centered in the fast-paced world of philanthropy. Adrienne's talks about her journaling routine and how it keeps her accountable to the awesome things she wants to accomplish. Lauren talks about how she has come to identify the 'feeding and care' of the joy in her life as the key to sustained happiness.  We were very fortunate to be given space to record this episode at the first free-standing black-owned bookstore- Smith and Hannon which recently relocated to the Over The Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati. We urge all listeners in the Cincinnati area to visit owner Joyce Smith at her beautiful store. You'll want to buy everything in sight when you see the amazing literary offerings on display. "Giving Black" Report Greater Cincinnati Foundation Smith and Hannon Bookstore (OTR) Podcast Sponsor: Co-Pilot Strategies Intro Music Credit Music Title: A City Called Heaven Composer: Courtney Bryan You Can find this and other works by Courtney on iTunes Bawse Action and Outro Music Credit Music Title: It's On Composer/Producer: Abdullah Powell

In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two Cincinnati creative leaders Abdullah Powell (Creative Director) and Jamie-Lee Morris (Educational Program Director) of Elementz, the country's first and only urban arts center offering professional instruction in urban dance, spoken word (poetry), stepping, urban photography, music production and video production.  In all of these formats, youth are encouraged to express themselves and communicate to an audience through word, music, movement and visual representation. In addition to learning about Abdullah and Jamie-Lee's personal journeys to the world of hip-hop arts education, we learn about the evolution of this creative enterprise in our city from a center first designed to keep youth meaningfully connected to art which resonated with them to a powerful artistic organization which is now a touchstone for youth engagement in our city. We also talk about the immense role Elementz is playing in creating more equitable optics within the art scene and how collaboration with local legacy arts institutions has helped play a role in cementing hip-hop as a rich, relevant, and powerful art form. I hope you'll enjoy this episode and please be sure to click the links below to learn more about Elementz, Abdullah, and Jamie-Lee's work! 

In this podcast episode, I sit down with Charmaine Moore Kitsinis, arts producer, visible community leader, and academic coach, to have an illuminating conversation circling many far-reaching topics.  Charmaine tells the compelling story of how she, as a 4th grader, knew she wanted to pursue music and committed the better part of her formative years to intense grooming in one of the country's top-performing arts schools. Her musical and theatre training would lead her to pursue a career as an arts producer and education expert in the opera and orchestra worlds where she led many transformative projects, including an EMMY® award-winning one-woman tribute created by soprano Adrienne Danrich called "This Little Light of Mine"- The Stories of Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. Over the course of our dialogue, we talk about restoration as a pre-requisite to do your best work in all facets of life, what it looks like to sharpen your leadership wheelhouse, to her theories on how arts institutions can transform themselves from those which dimly reflect the communities they serve to ones which embrace diversity at every level. Charmaine also shares details about her long-time involvement with MUSE: Cincinnati Women's Choir and how this ensemble has led the way for creativity resting at the nexus of two grand pursuits: artistic excellence and social justice. I urge you to tune in to this conversation- in addition to her dulcet delivery of life's most persistent truths, Charmaine Moore Kitsinis offers a masterclass in getting out of your own way to step into your greatness. It won't take long for you to discover just why she's such a special and beloved figure in Cincinnati. StrengthsFinder FREE Test Podcast Sponsor: Co-Pilot Strategies Intro Music Credit Music Title: A City Called Heaven Composer: Courtney Bryan You Can find this and other works by Courtney on iTunes Bawse Action and Outro Music Credit Music Title: It's On Composer/Producer: Abdullah Powell

In this podcast episode, Naimah sits down with Michael Johnson, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County in Wisconsin to talk about his track record as a nonprofit enterprise builder, a nationally sought-after speaker, and visionary leader. Michael Johnson shares the very personal story of how he overcame enormous obstacles to rise as one of the most visible and dynamic individuals in the nation, leading lasting and meaningful change within the communities he serves.  This episode is filled to the brim with useful advice about the vital importance of self-care, building strong organizational relationships, the personal traits necessary to oversee a dramatic upward scaling of an institution, and the tricky dynamics of code-switching. Michael Johnson also gets REAL about the ubiquitous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force model, and how organizing bodies can transform them from rudderless exercises to effective engines of accountability and change.  We also dig into the larger significance that the nonprofit sector holds as stewards of the public good and how we can be better positioned to help shift the currently flawed youth opportunity equation. Michael believes strongly that the nonprofit domain is uniquely qualified to drive increased investment in our youth and advocate in the divestment of our nation’s ineffective and unduly bloated prison system.  You won’t want to miss this one- Michael Johnson is a powerful figure who knows what really matters within and beyond his world and is living out his values in his work everyday!   At 41:30- be sure to check out our very first “Bawse Action” action step. This two-minute segment offers one small thing you can do- today- to make a BIG impact on your professional and life- immediately. So- BAWSES- Let’s get it! Intro Music Credit Music Title: A City Called Heaven Composer: Courtney Bryan You Can find this and other works by Courtney on iTunes Bawse Action and Outro Music Credit Music Title: It's On Composer/Producer: Abdullah Powell

Welcome to our very first Bawse With A Cause podcast! In this episode, BWAC host and creator Naimah Bilal speaks with Stanford Thompson, Founder and Executive Director of Play On Philly! and Board Chair of El Sistema USA. Among many additional topics, we hear about Stanford’s unique transition from a career as a world-class classical trumpet player to one of the most impact driven and visible leaders in the performing arts world today. After graduating with a degree in trumpet performance from the Curtis Institute of Music (America’s most selective collegiate institution), Stanford made a decision to devote his entire career to the pursuit of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in the music realm. Since then he has positioned Play on Philly! to become one of the largest and most effective after-school music programs driving social change in the country. In addition to talking about his rich musical background, Stanford also shares great insights regarding how he has leveraged his organization’s uniqueness to attract funding, how he’s quantifying the social impact of his programs using sophisticated scientific tools,  his definition of equity and the key role it plays to advance organizational growth, as well as what organizations should consider as they approach applying a D&I lens to their work. Credits: Music: A City Called Heaven Composer: Courtney Bryan You can find this and other works by Courtney Bryan on iTunes Resources and Organizations El Sistema USA Play On Philly Sphinx LEAD Videos  Play On Philly! Promo Video 1 Play On Philly! Promo Video 2 José Antonio Abreu's TED Talk

Welcome to Bawse With a Cause- the first podcast and digital platform designed to explore the perspectives, experiences, and insights of leaders of color in the nonprofit sector.  Join host Naimah Bilal every other week to hear stories of changemakers doing amazing work to advance the public good. These industry leaders, from across all nonprofit areas, engage in deep conversations which illuminate the industry’s most pressing issues. These 'bawses' are creating the world they want to see, one institutional role at a time.  At the forefront of our mission is empowering leaders of color by providing a singular platform to discover useful industry resources, tools, and tips. We're also providing a platform for radically frank and meaningful conversations about the opportunities, successes, and challenges leaders of color experience in the nonprofit realm.