BIOGRAPHY:
I grew up in Jacksonville, FL. I moved to the Twin Cities in 2011 and have been creating there ever since. As an artist of color, I believe that my job is twofold. First, I must work to uplift my community—make their voices heard and celebrate the daily struggles and triumphs that make them unique. Then, I must work to challenge my community—highlight the work that we still must do to ensure that every member is given the space to be their full selves without fear of disownment or exile. The only way to do this is with love. I love my community with every fiber of my being. I love it for both its beauty and its pain. I hunger to make my love known, which is why I make art. In my work, I hope to explore the stories of the many generations of black lives forced to live in two worlds but feeling comfortable in neither. I grew up with an almost paralyzing loneliness, and finding the theater taught me that I am not now, nor will I ever truly be alone. So, here I am. Attempting to uplift, challenge, and make art from the dreams and fears of my people. In the hopes that my words can shine so bright that they pierce through the darkness and embrace a young black soul like mine, whispering every so often “You are not alone”.