San Diego director, theatre artist, educator and playwright Andréa Agosto takes the stage at The Old Globe for Melanin MeetUps’ Illuminate series to share her journey of breaking barriers and finding her voice as an artist. Through her talk, Andrea inspires us with her story of resilience, encouraging others to embrace their unique paths and redefine the arts industry from within. This conversation sheds light on the importance of individual empowerment in rewriting cultural narratives. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

Join Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) at The Old Globe Theatre Jamila Demby in her debut at Melanin MeetUps' Illuminate series, where she dives into the challenges and triumphs of Black representation in the theatre industry. Through personal stories and a call for bold, authentic storytelling, Demby challenges us to look at how Black voices are showcased on stage and how institutions can uplift these narratives. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

Watch Performing Arts Administrator of Mainly Mozart Ahmed Dents deliver a powerful Illuminate speak at The Old Globe Theater. Dents provides a timely perspective on how the arts are evolving and how we can contribute to this reset, embracing change and breaking outdated norms. This talk serves as a crucial conversation about rethinking identity in the arts for today’s shifting cultural landscape. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

Founder of Melanin MeetUps, Kirk Brown brings his presence to The Old Globe for a powerful Illuminate speak. Through insights, Brown explores how theater can challenge generational narratives by breaking cycles that lead to self-discovery. This conversation underscores the transformative impact of storytelling and asks us to envision new possibilities for identity and empowerment in the arts. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

Dr. Amani Starnes (PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies, Stanford University) takes the stage for Melanin MeetUps’ Illuminate series Live at The Old Globe Theatre to discuss "Staging Change." With thought-provoking insights on Black performance and the evolution of theater, Dr. Starnes addresses how we can reclaim narratives, understand ourselves more deeply, and redefine Black identity in the arts industry for the 21st century. This conversation illuminates the power of theater as a force for cultural change. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

San Diego artist, scholar and founder of Black Dream Experiment Kelsey O'Daniels takes the stage for Melanin MeetUps' Illuminate series at The Old Globe Theater, to talk about the necessity of divesting from the constraints of the white imagination. With a call for Black dreaming and reimagination, Daniels addresses how to shape identity and foster self-understanding in the arts industry, paving the way for a more liberated artistic future. (This is from Illuminate: Night At The Old Globe)

New Jersey U.S. State Senator Cory Booker illuminates how change starts with yourself in order to lead in today’s climate. (This is from Illuminate: Politics + Imagination and Leadership)

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors illuminates the possibility of building movements and new worlds through the exploration of themes; imagination, time, and permission. (This is from Illuminate: Politics + Imagination and Leadership)

At Illuminate, President of American Psychology Association, Dr. Thema Bryant, explores the effects of historical and contemporary trauma, providing an idea of what safety looks like in the bodies of heavily melanated individuals in America -- and how to get there. (This is from Illuminate: Psychology + Rethinking Identity)

At Illuminate, Dr. Nicole Green of UCLA (Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Executive Director of the Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE) Program) explores the effects of unaddressed traumas in the youths of the Black American community and what it will take to move from surviving to thriving in the unrelenting conditions and rewarding moments of the Black American experience. (This is from Illuminate: Psychology + Rethinking Identity)

Georgia State Representative Park Cannon illuminates the impact of trauma-informed services for voter suppression, and the internal and emotional fallout from state-level abuse. (This is from Illuminate: Politics + Imagination and Leadership)

Pennsylvania General Assembly member Malcolm Kenyatta illuminates the possibility of a new America through themes of sexuality, identity, and bravery. (This is from Illuminate: Politics + Imagination and Leadership)

Founder of Melanin MeetUps Kirk Brown illuminates the idea of memorializing plantations to begin to heal and better memorialize the community. (This is from Illuminate: Media + Rewrite The Narrative)

Dr. Amani Starnes of Performance Studies at Stanford University illuminates how the strong black woman trope in cinema can be traumatizing for the community at large. (This is from Illuminate: Media + Rewrite The Narrative)

Television show writer Cameron Johnson (FOX’s Empire) illuminates how to increase consciousness among audiences and humanize characters by breaking down the “gay black boyfriend” tropes of Hollywood. (This is from Illuminate: Media + Rewrite The Narrative)

Television show writer, Charles Ray Hamilton (STARZ's POWER) illuminates how to make fear your friend during the creative process. (This is from Illuminate: Media + Rewrite The Narrative)

Award-winning journalist Jarrett Hill and media essayist and producer of Red Pill Podcast Van Lathan illuminate ways black journalists can center the narrative in the current political climate (2019). (This is from Illuminate: Media + Rewrite The Narrative)