We have to do better.
During a conversation about our current world with my four-year-old daughter yesterday, my heart was racing and I felt my palms begin to sweat. But to have the right conversations that leave impressions and help enact change, they should make you feel this way. They have to. We have to be willing to get it wrong or make a mistake because not doing anything isn’t an option.
My husband and I spoke candidly with her about the hate and kindness that can exist in hearts. And while I felt the conversation was well above her head, she proved me wrong. She ended our discussion by saying, “I can use my heart to help my friends.”
Honest conversations and talking about these issues abstractly are just a starting place.
At our core, My College Audition exists to make each of our students’ unique voices heard. We stand against the unequal treatment of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and work to be actively anti-racist in every decision we make. We advocate for and build a community that is inclusive and proactive in learning from and listening to all perspectives by acknowledging experiences.
If there is one thing I can promise you, it’s that I will be holding myself and this company accountable. As MCA Founder, here are a few ways in which I will hold us accountable:
To have proper representation and inclusion of people of color in every aspect of our community
To listen more deeply, reflect more and advocate for our students
To challenge the status quo and ask the hard questions
To encourage conversations with our coaches and students that confront issues of racism and work toward creating the theatre world we strive to live in one day
We have a tremendous amount of work to do, and I hope you will join us.
Chelsea Diehl, MCA Founder