For Colored Girls 2018: Mills BSC

WHAT: THE 2018 Touring performance of Ntozake Shange’s ‘For Colored Girls’ WHY: To raise funds for Mills Black Student Collective and uplift the plight of marginalized Black girls + women (of all genders). WHERE: Rothwell Blackbox Theater, Mills College, Oakland, California DATE: Thursday, March 8 TIME: 7pm (Expo and Doors Open) TICKETS + DONATIONS: https://forcoloredgirls2018.eventbrite.com ------------------------------------------------------• THIS IS A BY DONATION FUNDRAISING EVENT - No ONE TURNED AWAY for LACK OF FUNDS - simply visit the online ticket box office and give what you are able to for this fundraiser for Black students (suggested price $15) - we appreciate more than $15 and will accept less as well. We ask that folks that cannot attend - please participate in our online fundraising drive to support Mills Black Student Collective (BSC). Many Black students experience isolation at Mills that is alleviated by the presence of a student-led on-campus group - this is the healing support that the Black Student Collective provides. Your funds will support the Black Student Collective and its mission. TIX: https://forcoloredgirls2018.eventbrite.com ------------------------------------------------------• ACCESSIBILITY NOTES: • Our ADA theater space has a wheelchair accessible entrance, 2 expansive seats and 4 seating areas for wheelchairs. • We would like to make this healing event as fragrance-free as possible. Please come scent-free to help make this space accessible to everyone: do not wear any scents - including essential oils - on your body or clothing! Thanks for supporting our beloved community - learn more at www.eastbaymeditation.org/accessibility/fragrancefree.html • At 6pm - 30 minutes before doors open (6:30pm) we're prioritizing access and comfort for anyone who needs or prefers to avoid crowds (due to mobility, anxiety, scents, etc). Please help us create a space for folks who need this space and do not come until 6:30pm if you don't need to be there for these reasons. Thank you! ------------------------------------------------------• WHY WE ARE PERFORMING FOR COLORED GIRLS 2018 The recent 40th anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s seminal choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf” continues to bring people together to celebrate, create art and/or heal from trauma. FOR COLORED GIRLS 2018 - A TRANSFORMATIVE ARTS EXPERIENCE THIS SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ALSO FEATURES ORIGINAL WORK by LOCAL ARTISTS MONOLOGUES by THE PERFORMERS, AN ALL BLACK GIRL YOUTH STEP TEAM, MILLS COLLEGE STUDENT + PROFESSOR POETRY Noted Black women artists and activists are staging an updated version entitled "For Colored Girls 2018 to address a variety of social justice issues, such as the institutional and media trivialization in the U.S. towards the crisis of missing Black women and girls. The ensemble cast of readers includes Cierra Green, Cat Brooks (National Lawyers Guild SF + Anti Police-Terror Project - founder), Cemora Valentino-Devine, Ayana Brumfield, Allyson Truly, Wild-flower, Sais Beraka, Kin Folkz, Chibueze Crouch, Chenelle Simington, El Taino Nasir, Nann Rae Tsehay, Angela Dosalmos + SOA All Girl Step Team. This progressive production was envisioned and is directed by veteran Oakland community organizer, healing arts producer/director and SQM founder Kin Folkz aka Monica Anderson, who writes, “This ‘justice seeking art action’ intends to draw attention to the 75,000 missing and Black women and girls in the U.S. - a demographic representing less than 7% of Americans yet over 35% of all missing person cases. The stories of missing Black and Indigenous women and girls are rarely told by major news networks or even reach the public via Amber Alerts.” Brooks writes, “This timeless piece of art is important right now as we highlight the invisibleness of Black girls and women and call attention to the emotional, psychological and physical abuse our bodies are subject to in today's America. It's also important because this piece beautifully demonstrates our resilience, creativity, and community. No matter what is thrown at us - we thrive.” This staged protest will offer tangible support, proactive skills and useful information while raising awareness for organizations that protect the rights of Black women and girls. There'll also be a live art exhibit and social justice expo and petition signing/postcard-creating station. Though starting in the Bay Area, the production also hopes to tour across the U.S. In collaboration with the For Colored Girls 2018 justice seeking art action, Kin Folkz will unveil a ritual performance piece entitled CEREMONY to raise awareness of the resistance against the human trafficking of Black women and girls. Regina Evans (of Regina's Door) shares that "Oakland is ground zero for underage human trafficking in America. Everyday, in our city, black and brown girls are being suffocated by this oppression. I call in love. I call in empathy. I call in justice. On their behalf. And I challenge the beloved community to join forces. So that our sacred babies might live." THIS IS A BY DONATION FUNDRAISING EVENT to SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN + GIRLS (of all genders) - No ONE TURNED AWAY for LACK OF FUNDS.