“It's about destroying the boundaries that would have kept us from doing work together. This is language barrier..” - María Calderón, Episode Eight, Antiracist Artist Podcast
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Episode 8: Stephanie Cleghorn Jasso + María Calderón
Welcome to the Antiracist Artist Podcast, a podcast for activists, advocates, and allies working to make our communities equitable through artistry. Each episode we are joined in conversation by an artist or arts facilitator who has been paving the way, in hopes of learning from their expertise and experience. Through action and unity, we can create a better tomorrow today. Let’s go!
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Hello and welcome to the Antiracist Artist Podcast. I’m your host, Taylor Ybarra, and I’m so glad to have you a part of the conversation.
In our eighth episode, we are joined by Stephanie Cleghorn Jasso (she/her) and María Calderón (she/her/hers) who are a part of Public Works Dallas (PWD), an organization dedicated to create ambitious works of participatory theater through long term partnerships citywide.
Stephanie Cleghorn Jasso (she/her) is the Associate Director of Public Works Dallas at Dallas Theater Center. She is familiar with working in many different roles in the theater industry including actor, director, teaching artist, producer, and arts administrator. Stephanie has been involved in the DFW theater community for over 10 years. Her work with Public Works Dallas is her true calling and she is honored to be a member of such an incredible family.
María Calderón (she/her/hers), twenty-four and Mexican, has a BFA in Theatre from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Two of her short plays have been produced, in Mexico and in Los Angeles, CA. She has experience as a Stage Manager at SMU and acting experience. She has worked in Public Works Dallas since her Freshman year and is excited to share the virtual space with "todos ustedes!"
During this episode, Stephanie, María, and I talk about:
- What antiracism means, how it relates to their artistry, and the social responsibility it may have in their art and in themselves.
- Their work within theatrical institutions intersects with partnering with organizations outside of the arts in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
- Operating in a physical space where the population is heavily diverse with Spanish speakers and the efforts they put in to make sure PWD’s work is as inclusive as it can be not only to Spanish speakers but to all non-English speakers.
- The workshops PWD offers and who it’s marketed towards.
- How did their experience and history lead to what they are currently doing now.
- What are they doing as we approach a new normal and what will they accept or not accept from our previous normal (pre-COVID19).
- And so much more!
Resources & Organizations Mentioned:
Episode Transcript
In each episode, we invite our guests to choose an organization to uplift, one that is creating a meaningful impact toward a more equitable, inclusive, accessible, and antiracist future. In honor of Stephanie Gleghorn Jasso, she has chosen Jubilee Park and Community Center which serves as a catalyst for revitalization in Southeast Dallas, with an emphasis on childhood and adult education. In honor of María Calderón, she chose Bachman Lake Together Family Center where they unite the community to give Bachman Lake children a strong foundation for the first five years so they can thrive in school and life.
This podcast is made with, by, and for those of us in this fight together, and I invite you to be a part of this podcast community with us. You can stay connected with us at AntiracistArtist.com, on Instagram @antiracistartist, or by emailing antiracistartist@gmail.com. Let us know why antiracist artistry is important to you, what questions you would like to dig into, and who you’d like to hear from in future episodes.
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The Antiracist Artist Podcast is hosted by Taylor Ybarra, produced by Subito Politico Productions, LLC, edited by Andrew Alcaraz, and Project + Community Managed by Maricela Juarez.
To stay connected with the Antiracist Artist Podcast, please visit us at AntiracistArtist.com, on Instagram @antiracistartist, or via email at antiracistartist@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Our podcast is made possible with the support of folx like you. You can get exclusive content and access to the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/antiracistartist.
This episode’s donation was made possible in part by the generosity of Jenny Hoofnagle.
Theme music features vocals by Esteban Suero, Forest VanDyke, Kennedy Kanagawa, Jamison, & MinJi Kim.
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This episode features the following artists/arts facilitators:
Esteban Suero | IG @estesuero / @theofficialeros
Forest VanDyke | IG - @forestvandyke
Kennedy Kanagawa | kennedykanagawa.com | IG @thisiskennedy
Jamison | www.courtneyjamison.com | IG @iamcourtneyjamison | TW @thecjamison
MinJi Kim | IG @minjilikesdogsandmusic
Maricela Juarez | www.maricelajuarez.com | IG @remarkablymari
