I have been in deep reflection as to what it means for us to truly be equitable, inclusive and affect change.  I thought about everything OVATION stands for. How valuing, respecting and appreciating people, families, children, and our community is intentionally at the top of our list. I’ve thought about our caring culture and how proud I am of the strides we’ve made cultivating a diverse and inclusive space for children and artists to thrive. Yet we can do better and we can make a greater difference together. It’s imperative that we continue to make progress both within OVATION and outside our walls. It’s time for us to stop, listen and educate ourselves.

The past week was filled with significant emotion. The immense sadness, anger and pain for the preventable death of George Floyd (combined with the impact of COVID-19 in our community) has been a wakeup call and painful reminder of the deep, systemic racism that persists across our nation. As a mother of two biracial children, it is heart-wrenching to witness another senseless killing of a Black man at the hands of a legal authority figure. 

OVATION stands in solidarity with our black community, our black colleagues, friends, family, the countless black artists who inspire us every day in the fight against racial, social, and justice inequality. We support those protesting the tragic and preventable deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and countless others.  

We are committed to using our voices not just to inspire through music and theatre, but to incite change and equality, to be a force for good. As an educational theater organization, we know there are ways in which the arts can enable and uplift the voices of the powerless, and ways in which our structures can provide arts opportunities for all children that are equitable, inclusive and inspiring. 

We encourage our Ovation family to step outside of our comfort zone, speak to understand, engage in productive conversations, listen, learn, educate and hold ourselves accountable for being part of the solution. When we understand our prejudices better, we can take off our blinders and start working together to create a more equitable, just, welcoming, and caring society where economic mobility and freedom is equally available to everyone no matter the color of one’s skin, the zip code they grew up in, the school they went to, the gender they identify as, their romantic preference, or the religion they choose.

We feel the weight and sorrow that the work we do may never be enough. But believe we bear a responsibility to do all we can to improve the lives of all citizens and continuously improve on the work that’s begun and to be done.  We can do better.  We must do better.  

Blessings to everyone as we go through this difficult and painful moment together.

#blacklivesmatter #diversity #equity #inclusion 

Tina Reynolds

Ovation Academy Executive Director