S.O.A.R.

Started on the campus of Eastern College (now Eastern University), Students Organized Against Racism held discussions and challenged students and faculty to deal with biases, prejudices, and systemic racism. The club dissolved on the campus over a decade after Felicia and other leaders graduated. As the unrest in our country came to a new level in 2020, Felicia contacted former members and friends to gather virtually with the same sort of goals in mind. The group met almost monthly to discuss, learn, address the issues of bias, prejudice, and systemic racism that still plague us and our country and took a specific look at the Church's role and how it was and could be handled as Christians. The acronym has remained the same, but we now use it for Standing Openly Against Racism.

In July 2021, we started a 12-month series using Resmaa Menakem's book My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Our Bodies. See the schedule below:
  1. July--Introduction to the Process; Practicing Anchors: "Do Not Cross This Line", "Watch Your Body", "Acknowledging Ancestors", "Our Bodies, Our Countries" and Chapters 1 and 12
  2. August--Black, White, Blue Bodies Introduction, Understanding Your Body: Chapters 2, 10, and 11
  3. September--Building Community: Chapters 9, 13, and 14
  4. November--Your Deep History: Chapters 3 and 4
  5. January--Assaulting and Violating Black Hearts and Bodies: Chapters 5 and 6
  6. February--Stepping Stones to Healing the Individual: Chapters 7, 15, and 16
  7. March--Understanding and Helping Heal "Police Bodies": Chapters 8 and 17
  8. April--Somatic Abolitionist, Mending Our Collective Body, Pt. 1: Chapters 18 and 23
  9. May--Somatic Abolitionist, Mending our Collective Body, Pt. 2: Chapters 19 and 21 (pp. 261-266)
  10. June--Actively Creating Culture in Community: Chapters 19 and 21 (pp. 266-274)
  11. July--Cultural Healing for African American and Police Cultures: Chapters 20 and 22
  12. August--Creating Long-Term Self Care and Communal Self Care Plans: Chapter 24, "The Afterword", "Five Opportunities for Healing and Making Room for Growth"
Though the group was small, it was a growing experience for all involved. Felicia incorporates a lot of what was discussed and learned, especially about handling trauma, and incorporates it into her life and her teaching.

AATE AAEJ Committee

Felicia sits on a committee specifically focused on Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Equity, and Justice (formally Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility) for the American Alliance for Theatre & Education. To find out more about the work of AATE in this effort, please click here.

EDTA Anti-Racism Consultant

Felicia was privileged to work with the Educational Theatre Association as they shaped their anti-racism statement. To follow EdTA's DEI initiative, click here.

ACTE IAED Mentorship Program

Felicia was one of the first group of mentors for the IAED Mentors Program. For more information about the IAED Mentors Program with the Association for Career & Technical Education, please click here.