We’ve reached the first major benchmark this week! Workshop locations and performance sites have been confirmed!! Other activities are popping up around this project, and my calendar is getting more ink, March Madness has struck this household for sure.
This week, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and give a HUGE shout out to our incredible confirmed partners. Your belief in this project and your commitment to community engagement are truly inspiring. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏🏾😊
Meet Our Amazing Partners:
I am thrilled to be collaborating with these fantastic organizations:
* Underground Railroad Education Center: Our performance site and community partner in Albany, NY. We are honored to be working with them and look forward to our June 2026 performance. Learn more about their vital work at https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/
* Black Theater Troupe of Upstate New York: A vital community partner bringing their artistic excellence and deep connection to the stories we aim to tell. Explore their impactful work at https://www.blacktheatretroupeupstateny.org/
* West Oakland Mural Project: Our dynamic performance site right here in Oakland, CA! We’re so excited to bring the Labor Pains project to this vibrant community space in June 2026. Discover the powerful murals and community initiatives at https://westoaklandmuralproject.org/
* East Oakland Boxing Association: Not only our fiscal sponsor, providing crucial support, but also a deeply rooted community partner in Oakland. Learn more about their incredible work with young people at https://www.eoba.org/
Two Performance Locations in June 2026!
I am currently planning performances in Albany, NY at the Underground Railroad Education Center and in Oakland, CA at the West Oakland Mural Project, both slated for June 2026.
For more in-depth information about the Labor Pains project, including our mission and ongoing developments, please visit our website: https://laborpainsproject.wordpress.com
The Urgency of an Artist
This week also brought news of an executive order, another concerning attempt by the current administration. It feels like a blatant effort to incite division, potentially paving the way for extreme measures under the guise of national security. This action, coinciding with a massive national security breach, appears to be a calculated move to advance a white nationalist historical narrative and cultural perspective through the Smithsonian Institute.
For me, this news only reinforces the critical importance of the Labor Pains project. For years, I’ve witnessed the dedication of countless nonprofits striving to define and execute ‘the work’ – the essential work of addressing societal inequities and historical injustices. We, in the nonprofit sector, often find ourselves at the intersection of our nation’s founding ideals and the often harsh realities of our economy. It feels like we are consistently tasked with the responsibility of reconciling these tensions.
The Labor Pains project, with its focus on exploring the complexities of our nation’s history and its ongoing impact, feels more relevant than ever. I am committed to fostering dialogue, promoting understanding, and amplifying voices that have historically been marginalized.
Thank you for following our journey. I am energized by the support of my partners and the growing interest in this project. Stay tuned for more updates next week!
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