Support Goldie with her thesis at Columbia

Greetings!

It's me again (Goldie). Can you believe it's finally almost time for my graduation? I am in my final stretch and last few months at graduate school at Columbia University. The last portion of my playwriting MFA journey is a public presentation of my work. This piece, Breath of Life, is one that I have been working on since 2020 when I first began at Columbia. This work reflects my growth as a writer and my continued commitment to telling Black stories and allows me to work with longtime and new collaborators.

Asking for help is hard. I can testify to this as this has been a lesson for me the last three years in grad school. How do I ask for help without exploiting the vulnerability of my circumstances? Contextualizing and explaining your need is incredibly difficult for those of us that normally pride ourselves on supporting or helping others. Will my need be understood? I am taking a risk and asking for help because I believe in my work and the potential of its impact.

Breath of Life, a passionate choreoplay about Black love, is set in the summer of 2020. Toni and Drew, former community activists, are dealing with the dual pandemic of COVID-19 and racial reckoning. While sheltering in place with their new baby, the decision to protest or stay at home becomes more than a political choice. I've constantly asked myself, "how did we survive that summer?" This work has become a testimony and an answer to how the muscle memory of Black love from family and friends became a beacon of light in the darkest of times.

I am beginning my fundraising efforts toward reaching my goal of $7,500 and would be grateful if you supported me.

Why $7,500?

I’ve been investigating how to decolonize my theatre-making process for quite some time both professionally and during my time in this program. Columbia has provided funds from tuition towards production. Those funds have stipulations on artist pay/fees. Those stipulations prevent me from achieving my goals toward a creative process that reflects equity for myself and my collaborators.

How will the funds be used?

The funds raised will largely be used for artists and resources for artists. I am grateful to have collaborators who have agreed to work below their rate to see this work come to life. Nonetheless, I am fundraising to properly compensate my largely BIPOC design team as close as I can to a fair wage. Part of my understanding of what decolonizing the production process means is a power share and move into deep collectivism which means equitable pay for all the members of the team.

Inside my inquiry is also an examination of the creative labor economy. I have been asking "how do you compensate artists beyond commodifying their bodies for labor (their performance or attendance to rehearsal), and instead begin to compensate them for their experience, their sacrifice, and as an invest in their physical/mental/spiritual sustainability throughout the process?" I've also been asking, "what additional resources are needed for BIPOC artists who are creating or presenting work in historically white spaces to feel safe to create and perform?"

I am fundraising to put into practice my findings. The work I am presenting as my thesis is built on a deep examination of the COVID-19 lockdown. I am asking my collaborators/artists and audience to be bold and brave in their trust in me and the experience. This requires expert support and guidance. Funds will be used for securing culturally aware and highly competent teams to support the process, resources for safe travel to and from rehearsals and performances, and holistic tools for care for those involved in the process.

I am crowdsourcing for $7,500. My belief is to always be my first investor. So I am donating an additional $2,500 to my fundraising budget to achieve my goal. Will you support me with the rest?