Black Space S2E3: Melissa Lowery on BLACK GIRL IN SUBURBIA

Baptiste, an actor and a veteran youth theatre educator with the JCTC Youth Theatre and the Stories of Greenville initiative,  “I want to create an intentional safe space where Black artists from around the world can come together and have a human-to-human exchange about art, race and life,” she says. “This series is about expansion, and pushing past preconceived notions of blackness.”Baptiste's next guest is Melissa Lowery.

“Having Melissa Lowery on an episode of ‘Black Space’ is a dream come true. I first watched Black Girl in Suburbia a few years back when I lived in Portland, Oregon, and that is where I met the producer and director, Melissa Lowery,” says Baptiste. “This documentary is so necessary, and it still resonates with me and my experience in high school as one of the few Black girls on campus in a predominantly white school. I am so looking forward to the conversation we will be having and how this film has affected so many people’s lives,” she adds.

Melissa Lowery is a wife and mother that lives in the Pacific Northwest.  She is an Equity and Liberation Strategist, and Director/Producer of the Documentary film, Black Girl In Suburbia. She always seeks to create better and equitable environments that honor the human dignity of each person through storytelling and dialogue.  Melissa currently works at Central Catholic High School in Portland as the Director of Equity and Community Engagement.  

 The conversation is taking place Sunday, February 27th @ 2pm/PST & 5pm EST; FB Live,  Zoom webinar, and YouTube Live. 

Webinar Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84743080371?pwd=bEVKSGtkcWxRdFFJTnlkczVGSm9jdz09

Meeting ID: 847 4308 0371   | Passcode: 527515

“As our city gentrifies while retaining its diversity, and indeed as the world is changing in fundamental ways, being right in the middle of these conversations is essential,” says JCTC’s artistic director, Olga Levina. “For us as a theatre company dedicated to sparking conversations that lead to deeper respect and understanding, we know we need to create a safe place to listen and learn and collaborate.”