Amun Ra Theatre is steadily growing and i've been encouraged by the support that is starting to come out of the woodworks. This is a picture (yeah, i've learned how to upload photos--watch out!!) of the newly-renovated Harambe House in North Nashville. it is the site of ART's Summer Performing Arts Academy.
with many thanks to the collaborative spirit living in the body of Alkebu-lan Images Bookstore, and the vision of the ART family, we're gonna bring 30 kids up in this house in a few weeks and teach them how to act up on a stage instead of on the streets. they will get high-quality instruction, not just from teachers, but primarily from working performing artists. yours truly is even going to be there hanging with the kiddies.
so now, i'm turning back into the development and fundraising guy. i always keep it real with you all, right? well, that's the toughest part of running a non-profit. the great thing about Amun Ra is that we now have FIVE YEARS of history to look back on in programming. we're not making up stuff any more. it's come to my attention that what we're doing as a company is now causing others to change their missions to work toward the same goals. someone asked me last weekend how i felt about that.
i said, "all i know is, we have to do what we have to do to change lives. if someone wants to start doing that, then hey, that means even more lives will be changed."
i do know that there is a mis-perception out there as it relates to our (meaning African-American) organizations when it comes down to seeking financing, and it happens on both ends. i'll be frank and break the game down for you because i've been there, done that.
THE "BLACK" MONEY
there is a going notion that in the pot of available funds to distribute for non-profits, especially arts groups, that there is a small slice of the pie reserved for "Black Stuff" (pardon the pun on my book). therefore, the logic is to: a) find one black company to fund, or b) make all of the black companies work together on one project to get the same small amount of set-aside money.
that creates a poisonous mentality. no grant providers require the various "white" organizations to meld into one, or collaborate on one major project. no, they distribute funds based on the merit of the programs and their value and promise. then they turn to the four or five black companies and say, "Hmmm...can't you all get together for this 0.002% of the available money we have set aside?"
THE CRABS GET GOING
this stimulates inside our head the notion that we don't have a right to be diverse as a people, so we fight for crumbs when we should be joining together to demand the right to have diverse perspectives and be honored thusly. if we can get that much, then we'll learn to put pressure on those granting the dollars to look at our work as they look at the many other organizations they fund. i'll keep u updated on the struggle.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
if you're in Nashville, mark your calendar for June 2nd, 7:30 p.m. for the reading of "Ordinary Heroes," my latest co-written play that will be held at the Actor's Bridge Ensembles site at the end of Monroe Street (The Neuhoff Site) in Germantown. also be on the lookout for a Summer Play, the Holiday Nativity Production, and the February World Premiere of Ordinary Heroes. get on board with us and help us out. we're rolling.
i've got to get back in the swing of things now. it was great keeping you up to date on things. let's get deep a little later. i've had some conversations on urban education lately that i think you'd like to jump in on. i'm going to head over to the radio station and do "Freestyle" tonight, then i'm on News and Notes in the morning. take care of yourself and thanks for stopping by and sharing in the dream. as things continue to grow, i want to always stay in touch with the people who help me "keep it real."
blessings
obafemi
