Fierce Urgency of Now: Representation in the Arts & Children's Media

Do you care about diverse representation with those who want to be the next big artist, storyteller, or educator for BIPOC kids?

We're bringing together stakeholders who recognize the market opportunity in diverse children’s media and those who understand how diversity in children’s content (or lack thereof) impact their identity. Kids.Think.Art & Kidogo Productions will discuss how to build an ecosystem where BIPOC people are supporting and consuming BIPOC art.

AGENDA:

5 minutes | Welcome | Yawa Degboe+ Keeana Saxon

5 minutes | Introduction of Panelists | Layla Bermeo+ Dr. Charmain Jackman

13 minutes | The power of art and media

13 minutes | How diversity in children’s content (or lack thereof) impact their identity

13 minutes | How to build an ecosystem where BIPOC people are supporting and consuming BIPOC art

11 minutes | Takeaways + Q&A

SPEAKERS:

Layla Bermeo

Layla Bermeo is the Kristin and Roger Servison Curator of Paintings in the Art of the Americas department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Before joining the MFA in 2016, she co-curated the Black History/Art History Performance Art Series at Harvard University, held curatorial fellowships at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Williams College Museum of Art, and served as a guest curator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, an MA from Williams College, and she is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University. At the MFA, Layla co-organized Collecting Stories: Native American Art, curated Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular, and mentored a team of youth curators who developed the current exhibition, Black Histories, Black Futures. In 2019, WBUR, a National Public Radio News Station, named Layla as one of the 25 millennials of color impacting art and culture in Boston.

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Dr. Charmain F. Jackman

Dr. Jackman is a Harvard-trained licensed Psychologist with over 23 years of experience in the mental health field. She is a national spokesperson on BIPOC mental health and advocates for emotional wellness for all. Dr. Jackman has worked in schools for over 17 years and served as the Dean of Health & Wellness at Boston Arts Academy for the past 10 years. Dr. Jackman is the founder and CEO of InnoPsych, Inc., a mental health tech start-up on a mission to disrupt racial inequities in mental health. She also consults with schools and organizations on topics including emotional health & learning, racial trauma, employee wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and mental health. She has won several awards for her impactful work and has been featured on national media outlets including New York Times, NPR and the Boston Globe. Learn more at: www.innopych.com | www.drcharmainjackman.com. Connect on Twitter & Instagram at @InnoPsych and @AskDrCharmain.

THIS EVENT IS HOSTED BY: Kids.Think.Art & Kidogo Productions

Kids.Think.Art is an online art platform built for kids of color to explore empowering art by and with people of color. Kids.Think.Art was born out in October 2020 out of a dire need for more diversity in museums and a resolve to create change through art. People of color have historically been underrepresented in art collections, in art professions, and in art audiences. Since October 2020, we organiz e close to 30 sessions, gathering up to 12 kids at a time to go through visual thinking exercises on art by or with people of color. Through our curation , we brought the spotlight on diverse artists around the world. Through our programming, we created opportunities for artists of color to showcase and sell their art. Through our projects, we build up a community of art lovers who engage with global art, develop critical thinking skills, and continue to foster change. Kids.Think.Art is in the business of creating spatial justice in art.

Founded by Keeana Saxon, Kidogo Productions is a multimedia edutainment company for preschoolers that centers the faces, voices, cultures and talents of the vast and heterogenous African Diaspora. This is a timely movement to create wholesome and inclusive content and to build an educational community of Kidogo Kids from around the world! Kidogo Productions (which includes a small team of animators, educators and illustrators) released its first animated musical short in February 2021 and has been on the go ever since!