Flyer by Jill McCracken
“We’re artists and we’re also activists,” says Amanda Shea, the spoken word poet who teamed up with JD Neinast to create the two-night live stream Activating ARTivism. “When we see injustices happening, especially to Black and brown people, we feel compelled to do something.”
The bill – which kept growing until they finally had to cap the programming at two nights with 3 hours of 15-minute performances – spans all manners of artistry. From hip hop artists and rappers like Brandie Blaze and Fortè, to singer-songwriters like Miranda Rae and Eva Davenport, to poets and spoken words artists like Phree and Amanda, there’s no shortage of artists who want to speak during the wake of nearly three weeks of protests against police brutality and deep-seated structural and institutional racism. This virtual event will take place Tuesday June 16th and Wednesday June 17th from 7 – 10pm, to benefit Violence in Boston and Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
As soon as JD reached out to Amanda with this idea, Amanda was already ringing up artists who wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to share their stories, their hearts, their frustrations, their hopes, and their souls. It speaks to how collaborative the city is and how supportive its artists are towards the movement that this lineup came together in just over a week. Through grassroots word of mouth on social media and an Instagram interview with @amandabear_lecter, the fundraiser had already raised $600 as of Monday morning.
From the beginning, JD envisioned giving artists the space to use their 15-minute sets however their heart saw fit. He told them, “You can perform, you can be angry, you can be sad, you can share your story. Whatever you want.” Amanda agrees that dialogue is important. During her own set, she plans on sharing coping mechanisms and advice on how to heal. “Supporting and loving each other through this process is important for our survival,” she says.
In the age where no action feels like enough, Activating ARTivism provides space for artists who might not be able to attend protests or donate financially to the cause, but can donate their time and their art. Amanda normally participates in demonstrations herself, but this year, one of her children didn’t feel safe when he saw how police were reacting violently towards protesters with tear gas. “You don’t want to give your child anxiety while they’re waiting at home to see if you’re going to be okay,” she says.
One of the two organizations Activating ARTivism is raising money for is Violence in Boston. Their mission it is to create safer, healthier, and empowered Black and brown communities. They use their social media channels to report when acts of violence occur in Boston to create awareness for how widespread this issue is. Their Social Impact Center was established to prevent and reduce the impact of violence by addressing immediate and basic needs: housing, food, clothing, and public safety for the disenfranchised residents of the City of Boston. Throughout the pandemic, Executive Director Monica Cannon-Grant has been organizing free meal deliveries for Boston Public School children and their families.
Similarly, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s is a center of healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. The organization believes all families impacted by murder deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, regardless of the circumstances. “We have to do something for the people in our city who are doing the ground work every single day,” says Amanda. “We need to be taking care of home.”
Donate to Violence in Boston and/or Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and email your receipt(s) to activating.artivism@gmail.com to gain access to the live stream.