6/11/2020

Hi friends,
It is Arti Gollapudi here - the Diversity Director for BCC. Sending you all love & solidarity. Right now, it is imperative to us to let those who engage with BCC know that we stand in solidarity to the Black Lives Matter movement. We are committing ourselves to add more Black voices to our classes, stages, and beyond. While comedy may not be a priority during a global pandemic and a revolution, I'd like to turn to Adrienne Maree Brown, who reminds us that love and pleasure are acts of resistance. BCC aims to be a community rooted in care and would like to offer moments of joy through out the movement.

Specifically, we want to center and showcase Black voices - which is why the remainder of June will be featuring livestreamed shows by Black comedians.

For these shows, BCC will match all tips given during the show and donate to an anti-racist Black organization of each producer's choice, up to a total of $1000.

In the past, BCC has been a stage that held a majority of white voices. I recently became Diversity Director, and I am here to commit that we are looking to actively and immediately change this. BCC commits to holding accountability and creating structural change to welcome more marginalized people to the BCC community. We commit to amplifying Black, Indigenous, and people of color's voices in the classroom and on stage. I am looking to add more ways for accessible classes through scholarships and reaching out to new voices for our (currently) online shows with TVCO.

There will be more listening, more learning, and more work to be done, but I hope we can engage in an ongoing dialogue to create change together and find moments to share laughter as resistance.

PS: I am working hard to make sure we start making the steps - please feel free to reach out to me with anything regarding BCC's diversity arti@brooklyncc.com.