The economy is strapped, the patronage of artists disappeared rapidly and without warning for so many of us. 319,000 other women like me lost their jobs last month. You're here, so chances are you have a heart like mine and you want to do something, but you may not know exactly what could make a difference.

The Labor Pains project is more than art, it is a living archive with methodology to help us address the needs of our neighbors now. Consider uplifting the arts sector in response to the authoritarian crackdown on free speech and art-making.

Hi, I'm Jae. I am the founder of the Labor Pains project. The Labor Pains project examines the economic experiences of Black Women over 250 years of American capitalism through guided storytelling and body-mapping to envision what freedom can feel like in the Black American woman's body. The goal is ambitious: to mount a public art installation of full length body maps of Black women over time and space; and, to present an original performance telling the story of Black women in America using monologues, spoken-word poetry, spirituals, and folklore.

The process and the performance for this project is designed to bring healing to Black women while also turning our stories outward to inform policy and public knowledge. Countless research has shown that economic policy aimed at equity for Black women in the workforce improve conditions for everyone. This project puts that concept front and center.

I am fundraising for the next phase of the project: construction. I need to purchase materials for the construction of the body maps. This is a two-pronged affair. First, I need materials to construct artistic body maps for the historical figures that I have been researching in Albany, NY and Oakland, CA. Second, I need to purchase body-mapping materials for the interviews and sessions I am facilitating. Part of being an artist is exploring and experimenting with materials to determine the best medium for presentation. I've done as much research s I can to get me to this point, you can help me reach this major project milestone by supporting this groundbreaking project.