The Black Landscape

Nadine Rambeau is the Executive Director of EPACENTER (@epacenterarts), a creative youth development organization that works with East Palo Alto youth to amplify their talents and impact their world through art and design. EPACENTER is a LEED certified, 21,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art arts and cultural center featuring classrooms, a gallery, cafe, recording studio, dance studio, theater, and outdoor amphitheater. The name (pronounced “epicenter”) refers to the rich cultural energy of its home, the City of East Palo Alto (EPA). Along with an engaged community of residents, local leaders and dedicated staff, Nadine oversees the development of vibrant programming including digital, visual, and performing arts classes for youth, artist residencies, public art projects, cultural events, and educational and community partnerships.Nadine has spent the past 25 years activating creativity as a catalyst for empowerment, economic equity, and social change in multiple communities across the United States. Prior to EPACENTER, she served as the managing director of the community arts and education division at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. Before arriving in California, she played key roles in establishing accessible arts education programs for vulnerable youth at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Chernin’s Center for the Arts.W: https://epacenter.orgIG: @epacenterartsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/epacenter-artsSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Qing Qi is a notable Bay Area Rap Star and acclaimed performer. She makes grassroots anthems like “IDWIW” & “Big D” that permeate. Visual Artist, director, promoter, actor, Founder of femme rap community Putang Clan and events team #PuTangParty, Qing Qi is a Bay Area staple like beans and rice! Using her life experiences as inspiration, she speaks candidly about taboo topics with witty lyrics, catchy hooks, and authentic Hyphy energy over hard hitting beats. A Return to Black Wall Street Fellow, SFAC Cultural Ambassador, and advocate of cooperative economics, she is working to earn her descendants a lifetime of rest.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@qingqimusic1186IG: @allhailtheqingTerrence Paschal is an originally self taught dancer from Stockton California. His first influences were street dance forms that originated in Oakland, Turfing and Popping. He was also inspired by Brooklyn street dance forms such as Bruk up and Flexn. It was through exposure to these forms and fascination with Micheal Jackson that led him to explore Ballet and modern dance forms. Later on he worked with Embodiment Project where he was exposed to house dance and new methods of narrative based story telling; through movement and spoken word. Today he utilizes various different street dance modalities to find freedom in expression and through teaching he aims to help others find their own unique voice as well.IG: @toonworld1990HART ShowcaseMarch 23, 2024 5pm & 8pm The Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, Bayview Opera House, SFTicket Link: pushdance.org/hartFREE AdmissionSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Jewelle Gomez (Playwright, Cabo Verdean/Ioway/Wampanoag, pronouns: she/her) is a novelist, poet, and playwright. She is the author of seven books including the double Lambda Literary Award-winning, Black lesbian vampire novel, The Gilda Stories. Waiting for Giovanni, her play about James Baldwin, and Leaving the Blues, about Alberta Hunter, were commissioned and premiered at NCTC. She has written for numerous publications including The Village Voice, MS Magazine, The Advocate, San Francisco Chronicle, and Black Scholar.Unpacking in P’town Tickets: https://nctcsf.org/event/unpacking-in-ptown/IG: @vampyrevampSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Meet San Francisco resident, Fred Pitts. His solo show “Aren’t You…?” recounts his hilarious journey to visit all 21 California Mission churches, where he discovers that being Black makes him an instant celebrity – the question is which one?  Pitts has been performing in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He has worked with numerous regional theatres, including Shotgun Players, Altarena Playhouse, The Pear Theatre, Palo Alto Players, African-American Shakespeare Company, Custom Made Theatre Company, Contra Costa Civic Theatre, and EXIT Theatre, among others. Pitts also has numerous film and commercial credits. After being an Emergency Medicine physician for 20 years, he now works in drug safety. Aren’t You…? is playing at The Marsh Berkeley February 10 – March 2, 2024.Ticket Link: https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/marshstream/fred-pitts-arent-you/Facebook: Fred PittsInstagram: @frdpttsjnrSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

OYSTERKNIFE—a name derived from Zora Neale Hurston’s essay “How It Feels To Be a Colored Me”—was formed in late 2017 out of a longtime creative friendship between Gabriele Christian and Chibueze Crouch. Nourishing a desire to subvert their collegiate theatrical training, which often ignored the complex Afro-Diasporic queer experiences, they found that interdisciplinary, somatic-based, experimental approaches made for fuller work, allowing them to interrogate sociohistorical norms and institutions while freeing their bodies. Both members of OYSTERKNIFE bring a wealth of creative experiences, meshing theater, ritual masquerade, video, extemporaneous movement, song, and text. Central to every work they co-create are: an attention to archives (documenting the voices both seen and unseen), collectivism (who is here and who is missing that we need to invite), and multimedia immersion (seamlessly blending disciplines and breaking the audience/performer divide). They have produced three full-length shows in the Bay: “mouth full of sea” dug into presumptions around complicity in the transatlantic slave trade; “mouth//full” excavated BlaQ testimony and African indigenous spiritual practices in the Christian Church; and the site-specific “Time of Change” narratively reanimated the majority Black Haight-Ashbury neighborhood that was eclipsed by the counterculture movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Email: oysterknifeperformance@gmail.comIG: @_oysterknife_Jan 28, 2-4:30pm – BlaQ Benedictions Workshop with brontë velez: black rapture – performance, discussion and storytellingFeb 2-4, mouf//full  PerformancesSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

**Trigger Warning! This interview includes topics of suicide & depression**Toni Rochelle was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2005, she relocated to the Bay Area and immediately started modeling, appearing in fashion shows, magazines, and several (music) videos. Soon after, she started landing roles in independent films and stage plays.Her biggest accomplishments were a Honda commercial and the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Theater Festival in Scotland. Toni has established herself as a talk show host for the entertainment show Off Tha Hook TV, where she shined interviewing celebrities on the red carpet at The ASCAP awards, BET Awards press rooms, and different events in Los Angeles.She recently launched her platform called Ascending with Toni Rochelle. She believes that the platform, Ascending, presents people and energy that prevails through the struggle and continues to rise, thrive, and prosper. Moving on past pain, and hurt and still helping to build community and overcoming all obstacles will help with healing and wellness in the community.W: https://ascendingwithtonirochelle.com IG: AscendingwithtonirochelleYouTube: Ascending with Toni RochelleSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Unique Derique is a longtime San Francisco Bay Area favorite whose dual careers merge the performing arts and healing with the belief that the world can be a brighter place, one breath—and one laugh—at a time. Internationally acclaimed “Clown Prince'' Unique Derique’s appearances have spanned the globe from South Africa to Scotland, Taipei, London, Paris, and Tokyo— and he has shared the stage with entertainers such as Bobby McFerrin, The Temptations, Laura Nyro, Jim Nabors, Tuck and Patti, Lou Rawls, and Sammy Davis, Jr. His clowny past includes the famed Pickle Family Circus, Children’s Fairyland, Prescott Circus Theatre, and Bread and Roses Presents. Past television credits include PBS-KQED, Univision, and the Disney Channel. Derique’s Fool La La plays annually at The Marsh with a delightfully different twist each season. When not entertaining audiences as Unique Derique, Lance McGeeis a Trauma-Informed Wellness Consultant and Mindfulness Coach providing support to school educators, administrators, staff and students. He also leads workshops on trauma-informed care practices and mindfulness for non-profit organizations, health clinics, colleges and educationalsystems.W: https://linktr.ee/uniquederiqueSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

NPR award-winning storyteller Don Reed (Writer/Performer/Director) was a 2018 nominee for the Theatre Bay Area (TBA) Outstanding Solo Production, as well as the 2016 TBA winner and the 2017 TBA nominee for the same award. The playwright/performer/director is also a SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nominee and NAACP triple nominee for Best Actor and Best Playwright. His past works at The Marsh include East 14th, The Kipling Hotel, Can You Dig It?, That Don Reed Show, and Going Out. Reed can be seen in the Amazon Prime series Bartlett, where Reed plays the boss in a struggling ad agency alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton creator and star). He has worked in various roles in front of and behind the camera forWarner Bros, Disney+, Marvel, Pixar, The CW, Sony, Lionsgate, and more. Reed has alsoperformed, written, and directed for film, television, and theater. As a producer, Don has coproduced noted director/writer Robert Townsend's (Hollywood Shuffle, The 5 Heartbeats, Eddie Murphy's Raw, The Last OG) one-man show Living the Shuffle for The Marsh. FB: https://www.facebook.com/don.reed.7796IG: https://www.instagram.com/donreedwowSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Courtney Jones (she/her) is a 3rd generation Oaklander who is passionate about diversity, inclusion, giving back, and providing resources to distressed communities. Courtney is a co-parent of two daughters and the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco’s first Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Her professional career includes the previous operator of an independent consulting company and the Senior Business Strategy Consultant for Managing Diversity Together, LLC. As an advocate for social justice and racial equity, Courtney helped found and co-chaired the Chabot Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Equity and Inclusion Committee and was the previous PTA President.  Courtney co-founded Girl Scout Troop 32099 eight years ago, and she enjoys leading her troop, which currently has over ninety girls. Courtney is a Commissioner and Communications officer for the City of Oakland's Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Community Tax Advisory Board. She is a 2023 Black Citizen’s Change Maker, a 2022 New Leader’s Council – Oakland cohort alumna, a 2021 Emerge California alum, the Emerge 2021 Northern California Class Vice Representative, and is running for Alameda County Board of Supervisors in District 4, in 2024.Facebook: courtney,jones1211Instagram: courtneyj_alldaySupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Born & raised in Oakland, CA.Actor, Model, Costume Designer, Writer.A Meisner trained actor who has the ability to transform himself into a variety of characters with strong ideologies.Growing up in the diverse Bay Area, he was exposed to many different shades of people at a young age. That is where he found his love for people and their stories. In high school he participated in his first plays and musicals.After college, Ryan worked as a stylist and costume designer, commercial actor. In the wake of 2020's pandemic, he decided to return to acting as his main love enrolling in the Meisner technique studio in San Francisco where he continues to study today.Music Video: Reggie Becton "SADBOY"IG: @Sir.thurstonSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Ashley Jemison is bringing a new school vibe to smooth jazz. Covering the current styles of R&B and pop music of today while adding a unique improvisational twist leaves her audiences wanting more. With a mother and father who were musicians it was inevitable that Ashley would follow in their footsteps. Working tirelessly to be at her own personal best she excelled quickly at playing the saxophone. In pursuit of her dream of playing music she continued her journey through studying music at California State University Los Angeles where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Despite studying music, her career was not fully realized until after her battle with Breast Cancer. Experiencing such a life changing diagnoses Ashley made it her mission that when she made it to the other side of the battle, she would wholeheartedly pursue her dream of playing music for the world. Since making her career shift she has been invited back for performances spanning from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. With the back drop of smooth and soulful saxophone tone of Ashley easily takes the ambience to a new level. Provoking great emotion with every note she plays, it is guaranteed that you will not leave an Ashley Jemison performance without feeling moved to dance, smile or even to tears.  Uplifting the spirits and moving people is what truly pushes Ashley to give performances of a lifetime.FB: www.facebook.com/ashleyjsaxIG: www.instagram.com/ashleyjsaxYouTube: www.youtube.com/ashleyjsaxSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Mélia Mills is an Oakland native. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and is and is a writer, comedian, actress, and rapper. Mélia co-hosted the podcast “TALK LIKE A GIRL” on Feral Audio and was selected by Anna Deavere Smith to take part in her Performing Personal Narratives, Global Identities workshop. She has opened for Dave Chappelle, the “Jerry Seinfeld of France,” Gad Elmaleh, and collaborated with Sacha Baron Cohen on script and character development. Mills created, wrote, produced, directed, and acted in her ensemble piece, JUNETEENTH - An Emancipation Celebration! to a sold-out crowd at UCB. She was a writer and performer on UCB’s House Team, CHARACTERS WELCOME.  Website:  Meliamills.comInstagram: @meliamillsSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

For over a decade, David Mack has managed some of California's most innovative dance, opera and theatre companies, including: The Industry, Joe Goode Performance Group and Watts Village Theater Company. Additionally, he has consulted for a variety of performing arts organizations, including: Center Theatre Group, L.A. Dance Project and Ate9 Dance Company. Currently, Mack serves on the Boards of the Western Arts Alliance and San Francisco Arts Alliance.  Mack is Founder and Strategic Executive Officer of Artist Magnet, a social network for theatre and dance artists (which includes Theatre Magnet, a consulting firm for emerging arts administrators, and Artist Magnet Justice Alliance, an advocacy, professional development and fiscal sponsorship organization for emerging arts leaders). Website: Artistmagnet.comIG: @artistmagnetSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Ezra Myles (IG: @ezramyles) is a Multidisciplinary Artist, Arts Educator and Event Producer based in Oakland, CA. Much like his birthplace of Newark, NJ, Ezra creates and curates art experiences that bridge the gap between the shared cultural legacies of the African Diaspora. As the Executive Director of MylesBeyond Entertainment (@mylesbeyondmedia)  an event and media production company, and Artistic Director of the Carnival Dance Fusion Collective, MasFX Dance (@masfxdance), Ezra weaves visual art, digital media, spoken word, and dance to engage and empower BIPOC communities through the lens of Carnival as a multiethnic celebration of liberation, resilience, joy, and heritage. You can find more information about Ezra and his work at https://www.mylesbeyond.comSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Pendarvis Harshaw is a writer from Oakland. He currently works at KQED where he hosts the Rightnowish podcast and radio show that covers the arts, culture, prisons & people. Penn is currently really focused on Bay Area hip-hop history. Rightnowish Instagram: @ogpennTwitter: @ogpennAD:Review the show on Apple PodcastsWant to promote your business? Email us at theblacklandscape@gmail.comSupport the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Netta Brielle is a R&B/ soul singer from Oakland. She was born in Berkeley and started performing at the age of five. Netta graduated from San Jose State University with a major in Musical Theater.Netta released her first album, Electrik Rebel Sounds- The EP in 2009; the following year OMW 980 was released, followed by Love, Pain & Music Mixtape, 580 in 2015 and finally 880 in 2016.W: Nettabapparel.com IG: @nettabrielle Support the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Marissa McGee is an author and educator. She released her debut title, Free the Curls in 2022. Teaching for over a decade, she’s read hundreds of children’s books. After visiting several stores and finding all the products for her hair type locked in a case, she decided she had a story to tell and picked up a pen. As an anti-bias educator, Marissa remains passionate about creating stories that serve as mirrors and windows for children. She has spent her career in communities that have been historically underserved due to systemic inequities. She taught kindergarten, first, and second grade in Washington, D.C. After leaving the classroom, Marissa moved back to the Bay Area where she served as an instructional coach in Oakland. Now, she is a Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for two school districts in the Bay Area. Marissa earned a BA in Sociology and a MA in Elementary Education from Stanford University, where she currently serves as a lecturer. W: FreetheCurlsFTC.comIG: FreetheCurlsFTC TikTok: @MarissaTeachableMoments Support the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Ellen Sebastian Chang(she/her), whose creative practice spans 45 years, is a storied figure in the performing arts, as a multi-disciplinary director(theater, opera, dance, and installation) arts educator and lighting designer. She has co-created with Deep Waters Dance Theater, 15 Episodes of House/Full of Blackwomen, that closed this past March 2023. Her credits also include acting as a Consulting Producer for “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley” HBO and interviewee; “Fabulation”  by Lynne Nottage Lorraine Hansberry Theater with Margo Hall and Daveed Diggs, and the ongoing Creative Director and Teaching Artist for The World As It Could Be Human Rights Education Program (TWAICB). Between 2013-2017, she was the co-owner and events planner for the award winning West Oakland restaurant FuseBOX, with co-owner and Chef Sunhui Chang.She is currently serving as Resident Owner Board Member for East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative/Advisor for Esther’s Orbit Room Project/Artist Housing.Rarely on Instagram (@afterzora),  to find Ellen, google her!AD: BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Support the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Alexis is the founder of We Are Talking, a platform providing empowerment, motivation and education on the topic of personal finance through one-on-one coaching, group workshops and fun events. She founded We Are Talking because she LOVES talking about money. She especially enjoys talking about how to set up a strong financial foundation and maximize your funds. Her mission is to turn the often avoided conversation about money into one you won’t want to stop! Instagram: @wearetalking_Josie is a long time educator, life-coach, dancer, and social justice advocate. When she is not practicing or teaching, she can be found facilitating workshops that support leadership development, developing diversity and inclusion strategies for organizations, or designing workshops on social-emotional development, trauma sensitive practices, and personal development. Josie leans heavily on the ancient practice of Yoga to sustain her as she strives to change the world with the fullest compassion. Instagram: @akiliwellAd:BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Support the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape

Clay Xavier is a music producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Berkeley, CA. Coming from a musical family he experimented with many instruments as a child leading to his love and passion for music. Starting with saxophone Xavier quickly expanded to many different wind instruments including flute, clarinet, harmonica, and recently trumpet. Since 2017 as the COO & Co-Founder of indie label OakTownSoul he has produced and recorded hundreds of local developing artists. Along with the rest of the OakTownSoul team he is currently on a quest to unite the Bay Area music scene and foster the growth of a professional level entertainment industry not reliant on LA.Personal IG: @ClayXavierBusiness IG: @OaktownSoulAds:BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15In Conversation - a dancers insight series.Support the Show.Follow us everywhere!Donate at the link below.https://linktr.ee/TheBlackLandscape