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OUR ANTI-RACISM ACTION STEPS

The Vixens En Garde stand alongside everyone seeking justice for Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Dreasjon Reed, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, and too many others in the Black community. Black lives are worthy. Black lives are essential. Black lives matter. Black lives have always mattered.

 

In our commitment to build a more equitable and anti-racist company, we must first take responsibility for our share in the injustices happening around the world. We call-in our colleagues and fellow stage combat community members to address and acknowledge their own participation. We are privileged and have benefited as a result of this privilege. We, the Vixens, plan to use this advantage to recognize where we have fallen short and how we can do better. 

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Our commitment includes the following action steps:

  1. WHAT WE HAVE DONE:

    • Posted our stance on the Black Lives Matter movement.

    • Elevated voices through our social media platforms: Historical African Martial Arts Association, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and the "About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge" podcast.

    • Donated to the Princess Janae Place. 

    • Created a list of actionable items.

    • Started examining where we can do better and acknowledged areas for change.

    • Begun decolonizing our scripts.
       

  2. WHAT WE ARE DOING:

    • Developing solutions for broader and more inclusive outreach for future company members. We are committed to looking outside of our own scope and immediate network. 

    • Developing solutions for connecting with present and future educational collaborators for anti-racism and decolonizing work.

    • Individual Company Members are participating in select and ongoing workshops and anti-racism curriculum, to include Nicole Brewer’s "Anti-Racist Theatre: A Foundational Course", Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad, and the "Anti-Racism Resources for White People" document by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein, in order to work on our internal biases. 

    • Continuing to post on social media and engaging with our fans on a productive and proactive level.

    • Resuming online streams, including new programs focused on unlearning and engaging with our material mindfully.

    • Examining our Vixen characters and backstories to work to decolonize those stories.
       

  3. WHAT WE WILL DO: 

    • Commit to hiring at least 50% BIPOC individuals from all future rounds of auditions.

    • Commit to more representation and visibility of LGBTQIA+ identified persons in our company.

    • Commit to ongoing participation in furthering our education and cultivating a fervently anti-racist space. 

    • Clarify and specify our mission statement to represent our values and affirm our commitment to equity and empowerment.

    • Develop a more sustainable infrastructure to support our company’s goals and growth. 
       

  4. WHAT WILL HAPPEN LONG-TERM: 

    • Commit to greater intersectionality in company leadership positions.

    • Commit to creating opportunities to help bridge educational gaps, to include accessible workshops, scholarship opportunities, and free and donation-based training.

    • Make a continued commitment to honor the learning edge as we elevate marginalized voices and to hold ourselves accountable to our anti-racist practices.

We are accountable. We are learning. We are active.

#BlackLivesMatter

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