9/11 Memorial & Museum’s Post

I am having a fun raiser (yes fun) for my film on the use of force "Resisting" at Tealee May 17, 18 and 19. The flyers are attached to this email. The link will have all of the details as well. https://lnkd.in/g9VxSuMx We would love to see you at one of the events or if you can't make it please consider making a donation. Director donnie l. betts is approaching RESISTING with an unwavering commitment to truth-telling and giving voice to those who have been unseen and oppressed. With a deep understanding of the impact of over-policing as a Black male artist, betts sees this film as an extension of his lifelong dedication to sharing authentic stories that are often overlooked or silenced. In the spirit of accountability, the film ensures the voices of the protagonists and impacted communities are respected and accurately represented. Ultimately, RESISTING aspires to create a transformative and healing experience for audiences. By courageously exposing the failures of the system and inspiring collective action, the documentary aims to contribute to policy change, raise awareness, and foster empathy and understanding. It seeks to ignite a revolution of the human heart, leading to a more just and equitable society, liberated from the grip of over-policing. RESISTING stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and the potential of film to challenge societal norms and catalyze meaningful change. With wide-reaching free and trusted accessibility, public media paired with a planned robust impact campaign would be the perfect home for this film to galvanize audiences. The question is What does or can the future of policing look like?

I want to take a moment to highlight an incredible client doing truly meaningful work: Actors PLAYground. Amber Ryan Cepkauskas, the owner and creative director, along with her husband, Matt Cepkauskas, have poured their hearts into creating a space where kids can not only learn the art of theater but also build confidence, find their voices, and develop skills like empathy and teamwork. It’s not just about acting—it’s about helping young people grow into their authentic selves. Amber has deep roots in theater, and Actors PLAYground is her labor of love. This year, they’re going all in: leasing a space, casting shows and seeking grant funding to keep this dream alive. And they’re investing in doing it right—while still respecting the reality of a nonprofit budget. I’ve had the privilege of working with Amber and Matt before, and they are, simply put, amazing humans. And they surround themselves with talented, kind-hearted people who share their passion for helping kids thrive. Getting to collaborate with them on this journey has been a professional high point for me. As many of you know, youth activities are rarely about creating future stars—they’re about teaching life lessons. Theater teaches skills that carry kids forward for life: confidence, collaboration, creativity. Amber and Matt know this, and they’ve built something special that deserves our attention. If you’re looking for a way to support a local nonprofit that’s making a difference in kids’ lives, I highly encourage you to learn more about Actors PLAYground—and if you're so inclined, consider donating to help them continue this important work. Learn more and donate here: https://lnkd.in/gbzXGMeJ   #YouthTheater #Nonprofit #CommunitySupport #ActorsPLAYground #GivingBack #ConfidenceThroughTheater #SupportLocalTheater

Ahead of father's day this weekend I wanted to share an interesting video that highlights an important topic. Gift card company Hallmark, partnered with men’s suicide prevention charity ANDY’S MAN CLUB, to launch a study around men’s messages of love, appreciation and understanding. 19% of the 1,000 men questioned revealed that they find it easier to express their emotions in writing than face-to-face. Reasons for this included fear of embarrassment (42%), feeling awkward (39%) and concerns about appearing weak (30%). hat’s nearly 1 in 5 men who are saying they struggle to express their emotions, which is an indicative feature of low emotional efficacy. https://bit.ly/3VGzUVZ Recognising and addressing low emotional efficacy is crucial for individuals seeking to improve their wellbeing and performance. We explore this, and how acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), plus emotion efficacy training (EET) can help, on our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4b0ydXM

Theatre Communications Group upgraded me to a solo presentation at the national theater conference, and I love their description! "As nonprofit arts organizations we are fed the narrative that our most lucrative programs or productions are often the least mission-aligned, and vice versa: that our most mission-aligned work is the least beneficial for our bottom line. Out Of Hand Theater's story paints a different picture: we have developed a model that has tripled our income in four years while moving our neighbors to action on important issues and elevating the role of theater in our community. It’s a win for art, a win for business, and a win for our community... This session will illustrate more about this unique model, and generate further conversation about how to serve our bottom lines by centering our communities and harnessing our greatest potential for impact."

Check out this article of giving back by one of our wealthiest men in entertainment! https://lnkd.in/gqv-6Fyy

I am having a fun raiser (yes fun) for my film on the use of force "Resisting" at Tealee May 17, 18 and 19. The flyers are attached to this email. The link will have all of the details as well. https://lnkd.in/g9VxSuMx We would love to see you at one of the events or if you can't make it please consider making a donation. Director donnie l. betts is approaching RESISTING with an unwavering commitment to truth-telling and giving voice to those who have been unseen and oppressed. With a deep understanding of the impact of over-policing as a Black male artist, betts sees this film as an extension of his lifelong dedication to sharing authentic stories that are often overlooked or silenced. In the spirit of accountability, the film ensures the voices of the protagonists and impacted communities are respected and accurately represented. Ultimately, RESISTING aspires to create a transformative and healing experience for audiences. By courageously exposing the failures of the system and inspiring collective action, the documentary aims to contribute to policy change, raise awareness, and foster empathy and understanding. It seeks to ignite a revolution of the human heart, leading to a more just and equitable society, liberated from the grip of over-policing. RESISTING stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and the potential of film to challenge societal norms and catalyze meaningful change. With wide-reaching free and trusted accessibility, public media paired with a planned robust impact campaign would be the perfect home for this film to galvanize audiences. The question is What does or can the future of policing look like?

Did you miss this weeks episode of #The5 with Jacqueline Dace of St. Louis ArtWorks? What a great episode on Stable Income and Budgeting. Don't worry, we've got you. https://lnkd.in/gBERTMzS Eric Moraczewski #nonprofit #nonprofits #nonprofitleadership #nonprofitfinance #nonprofitbudgeting #nonprofitrevenue #nonprofitleader #STL #STLmade #STLnonprofit

Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 First Shots: Full of Surprises The Dan Wesson Specialist is a classic 1911 with modern features that I love. Learn more about SDI here: https://lnkd.in/eFDs_fHt Ways to support our honest… - #gunsdaily #pewpewlife #armorydaily

I am often asked why I left my performing arts studio, even though the pandemic was incredibly disruptive to our business, ability to offer performing opportunities, and lives. This gifted article link may shed some light on the subject. As it indicates, rising costs and real estate constraints are significant hurdles that are only increasing, causing theater companies to reduce programs, consolidate on season planning, and share space. This results in less work for artists as well as less art for the community they serve. We need MORE organizations to collaborate on space, co-productions, and community-building. We need more sustainable models moving forward, in order to provide meaningful arts programming. #theater #collaboration #community #sustainablemodels

Just posted on DCTA, my review of the absolutely brilliant and profoundly affecting world premiere of I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I COULD DIE: