How can comedy mobilize local communities in climate justice?
What is a Comedy ThinkTank?
What does a collaboration between comedy and social justice look like?
We’re pleased to share our new report, “Comedy for Racial Justice in the Climate Crisis: Leveraging Creativity and Building Community Power in Ain’t Your Mama’s Heat Wave,” produced in collaboration with Hip Hop Caucus, a leading racial justice organization. As a combined team of engaged researchers, comedians, activists, organizers, music producers and filmmakers, Hip Hop Caucus and CMSI began working together in the summer of 2019 to co-create a climate justice entertainment project that centers comedians of color.
In August 2019, we launched our collaboration with a Comedy ThinkTanks workshop, CMSI’s week-long intensive, immersive process that brings comedians, activists, and subject-matter experts together to ideate and co-create new comedy, facilitated by comedian Bethany Hall, CMSI Creative Director of Comedy Initiatives.
In November 2019, incubated from the Comedy ThinkTanks ideation sessions, Hip Hop Caucus and CMSI produced Ain’t Your Mama’s Heat Wave, a live and filmed stand-up comedy show hosted in Norfolk’s historic Attucks Theater, and the centerpiece of a comedic documentary film and short-form video content series, starring comedians Kristen Sivills, Aminah Imani, Clark Jones, and live show host Mamoudou N’Diaye. A network of community leaders and grassroots organizers in Norfolk helped shape the film in a production process that centered local voices as guides and on-screen subjects.
Ain’t Your Mama’s Heat Wave was developed and produced as a cultural tool to center young people and communities of color in the climate movement – and encourage them to vote.
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To know more: tune into #ClimateFriday on July 31 at 9am ET on Pacifica Radio stations WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City, and WPFW 88.5 FM in Washington D.C. or stream here or here.
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CMSI executive director, Caty Borum Chattoo joins host Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & Founder of Hip Hop Caucus, tomorrow to talk about racial justice, comedy, and the climate crisis.
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DC Storytelling System on the Move:
Share your story of resilience.
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CMSI Faculty Fellow Benjamin Stokes is leveraging the DC Storytelling System to gather stories of community resilience in the era of COVID-19 and the recent protests. Based at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, the DC Storytelling System is a participatory approach to circulating neighborhood stories of history and community change by weaving digital and physical networks together.
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Must Watch:
“Peabody Presents: Best in Documentary” with Tabitha Jackson
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"Peabody Presents: Best in Documentary," is a special roundtable discussion featuring this year’s award-winning filmmakers, whose films address pressing social issues: African American Justice and Dignity; Authoritarianism and Threats to Democracy; Families in Global Conflict Zones, and Scientific Frontiers. Moderated by Tabitha Jackson, director of the Sundance Film Festival, this is a must-see.
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 Missed AFI Docs Festival?
Patricia Aufderheide, CMSI senior research fellow, highlights the films and developments in nonfiction storytelling, in her latest blog post. Read the article here.
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Look for us next month with more updates and resources.
Take care and be safe,
Team CMSI
Caty, Varsha, Bethany, and David
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