MAYBE THEY WERE JUST WAITING.....
So okay, Monday, I started my cold calls to organizations within my 4 mile outreach area.
I decided first to try some of the galleries and cooperatives that are part of the River Arts District. Here my pitch:
"Hey, I'm Trayce, I'm trying to launch a collaborative community art project that will bring together diverse groups in Asheville -- including artists from the Rivers Art District with residents from nearby public housing developments. The Story Parlor on Haywood Road is donating space for the first pop-up community organizing event on Sunday, November 6th, 1-4pm.
What is the collaborative project ? Producing in Spring 2023 theatrical readings of MY feature script, BILLIE'S SONG, AN URBAN FAIRY TALE, at diverse locations in the community. The script is fun-but-serious, has a half Black , half white cast, with a few roles that can be any race, and lots of discussion topics . It will be a volunteer community cast and production team -- that includes community members creating or doing neighborhood scavenger hunts for wardrobe, props, minimalistic sets, lighting, etc.. This is all better said on a flyer introducing the first event and project, can I send it ?"
Well, actually, that's my pitch now. In truth, on Monday:
First three calls ? I was no-where near smooth !!! The first call I was shocked to actually get a human voice on the third ring -- and it was the guy the galley was named after !
I go-into-my-head (not-my-integrated-headwithheart): Wondering before I start, is he going to shut me down ? Got to get him quick ! By saying what ?! I have a script, sorta, where is it ?! Dissolved in a mental hiccup !
Yet, the guy stayed with me, was patient, encouraging even.
Yes, send me your announcement -- I'm not sure what it will have to do with me,
but I'll look at it.
The woman who answered the second call said, "WHAT !"
-- Because the construction behind her was sooo loud ! But she didn't yell, "CALL BACK !". She moved to where she could hear better, "Go on !"
By the time I got through the third (me-stumbling-less) call -- and I might add all who I spoke to sounded white -- I had overcome:
FEAR #1 THEY ARE GOING TO CALL ME OUT !
WHO ARE YOU TO TALK !
WHO ARE YOU TO TAKE MY TIME !
WHO FOLLOWS YOU ?!!!!!
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A REAL HOME RIGHT NOW, DO YOU ? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY ?!
Didn't happen.
Doesn't mean they will read the announcement if their priorities pile on.
Doesn't mean they will respond back or attend.
But I have confirmed Asheville is not Brooklyn/NYC.
I learned the door is open.
People make / have time to listen if you reach out.
If I was living in Asheville, I would follow up my calls by actually going through the doors and doing an in-person 'Hello' (and check out the art !) But I'm not. (I'm temporarily housing in a Charlotte airbnb.) So on Monday, I thought:
"Yeah, smooth out my pitch -- but also add a new element that is beyond me and my work. Something that will command a different level of attention. An element that is Asheville -- but often not seen ! "
I looked at another group on my list of organizations -- public housing developments. I'd identified at least five in my target area. I made my first cold call..........
Who answered (on second ring !) ? Evette Smith, the Director of Property Management for Asheville Public Housing ! I start by saying I worked with public housing community centers in Brooklyn, and now I'm reaching out to Asheville public housing ------
Evette listens. She likes the concept of community bridging through a group creative collaboration. After I send her the announcement, she says, she herself will send the announcement out to all the public housing developments in the target area and encourage staff to share it.
I ask if I can add my contact with her on to my pitch to Asheville artists, and she agrees. Evette Smith, the Director of Property Management for Asheville Public Housing, says:
As far as she knows there's never been any contact or programs connecting Asheville artists with public housing residents. It will be wonderful if this project can help establish
that connection. There are so many talented adults, in addition to talented teens, in public housing who are artists -- always creating music or drawing or designing clothes or coming up with recipes or transformative makeup and hair -- who are hungry to learn. Even if they never become professional artists, their everyday lives will be elevated just by having contact and dialogue with Asheville's professional artists.
I don't know past history, but maybe right now, the staff at public housing are just waiting for other areas of the community to say, "Hello, want to connect ? "
How residents will respond, that will be a sell (just like to artists in the Rivers Arts District),
but you know, just offering up a possibility, isn't that where you start ?
And you can start with our Sunday, November 6th, 1-4pm community bridging event !
Peace & future - Trayce
NEXT POST; The story of how It was that Walter, my last Asheville airbnb host (who is white), could tell me where all the Asheville public housing developments were ! Which will also lead to a specific example of what fundamentally separates us !
p.s. Have an experience or resources to offer to public housing residents and want to talk with Evette Smith ?
Evette S Smith
Director of Property Management - Central
Asheville Housing Authority
(828) 239-3512 – Office