Protecting Art = Protecting Community

Bed-Stuy has a long history of Black cultural, political, and artistic legacy. As the neighborhood continues to change rapidly, it is vital to invest in art that uplifts local voices, preserves lived histories, and creates space for residents to gather, reflect, and imagine collective futures.

By contributing to this fundraiser, you are supporting not just a performance, but artists, community care, and creative resistance.

My name is Chavon. I am an artist and a graduate student in The New School’s MA in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship program.

For my thesis, I am developing a solo performance project rooted in and created in collaboration with the Bed-Stuy community. This work is currently in development and uses theatrical performance as a tool to strengthen community connections while bringing attention to the ongoing, deliberate displacement of Black communities in the neighborhood.

If you’ve ever wanted to create direct impact in an effort for change, now is the time. The project will culminate in April with a public performance followed by a facilitated community forum, inviting audience members into dialogue and collective reflection. By centering shared experiences and values, this project aims to strengthen collective power and encourage community-driven responses to extractive development.

This project is made possible through community support and generosity. 100% of funds raised will directly support my artistic collaborators, ensuring their labor, time, and expertise are valued and fairly compensated while also covering essential production costs.

Thank you for believing in this work and in the power of art to build and sustain community.