Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarisa James
Hi Clarisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was a child I loved to watch Solid Gold. Solid Gold was an 80’s music show that featured hosts Marilyn McCoo and Rick Dees. The show highlighted bands and artists that were topping the music charts that included: The Top 40, Black Charts and Country. I was 9 years old the first time I saw Prince on Solid Gold performing songs from his 1999 album. His songs were familiar to me, especially 1999.
Every Sunday, my father would watch a black commentary show on WABC in New York City called Like It Is, hosted by Gil Noble. I recognized 1999 because for a period the show would use the song in the opening credits. Even from 9 years old I associated Prince with social justice from watching Like It Is with my father. My love for Prince grew as he catapulted to stardom with his next album, Purple Rain. I told my parents I would move to Minneapolis when I grew up and they told me, “ That’s crazy, you live in the greatest city in the world”.
As I got older, my admiration for Prince’s music grew stronger and played a role in my political awakening, through his album Sign O’The Times. I was still in junior high when this album came out but it had such a profound effect on me that as a freshman in college I wrote an analysis of the lyrics of Sign O’The Times .
In 2008, after finishing an MFA program at a working class college I co-founded DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice. The inspiration for DIVAS was my experience as an MFA candidate which had a minimal representation of people of color and no people of color teaching classes. The premise of the program was for the MFA candidates to create multimedia content that represented the voices of the underserved. When the work of my fellow candidates would be presented I often found that it was one-sided and exploitive of communities of color. I decided instead of debating with the candidates we would create a non-profit that would provide youth access to emerging technology to tell their own stories and change the representation of future MFA candidates.
For the past 17 years, DIVAS for Social Justice has provided free STEAM based programming to youth in underserved communities in New York City. Youth have actualized multimedia projects that live online and or in their communities that address issues of environmental justice (food, housing, gentrification, gun violence). Creating multimedia based projects has allotted for the young people we serve to see themselves as the changemakers of their communities and that their voice matters. In 2019, DIVAS leased its first storefront at an affordable rate to be able to continue to offer STEAM based programming and recognized that in order to more effectively serve youth, we needed to create programming that served the entire community. The organization entered into a partnership with New York University to create a social justice makerspace model. The mission of the social justice makerspace model is to create a makerspace that is accessible to ALL. Traditionally makerspaces are membership driven and give community members access to using emerging tech tools like 3D printers and laser cutters. Memberships to makerspaces can cost anywhere from $50-$300 a month. DIVAS created a model with the help of community members playing a role in the design of our first social justice makerspace.
On Juneteenth of 2024, DIVAS for Social Justice debuted its space in The Coliseum building! This opportunity was made possible because the women of SHAKE at the Coliseum recognized the importance of all community members having access to emerging tech. DIVAS is looking to create a social justice makerspace in South Minneapolis that is accessible to all. We need your voice at our participatory design workshops to ensure that the new social justice makerspace is a representation of the Minneapolis community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Our organization has been around for 17 years and has faced many challenges. The first five years of the organization was purely volunteer led. In the 6th year of the organization, we finally received funding that allotted for DIVAS to be my full time job in 2014. With the expansion, came so many responsibilities of managing a government contract. I thought the stress I was experiencing was a result of that but there was something bigger. In April of 2014 while working at my computer I suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm. In the midst of our organization receiving an opportunity of a lifetime, I was hospitalized for 30 days and underwent 3 brain surgeries within a six month period. As the leader of the organization I had to learn the importance of delegation and setting up a succession plan. When see your life flash in front of your eyes you learn quickly what’s important. I learned the hard way that if I don’t prioritize my health and happiness, I cannot serve anyone if I cannot serve myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
On Juneteenth of 2024, DIVAS for Social Justice debuted its space in The Coliseum building! This opportunity was made possible because the women of SHAKE at the Coliseum recognized the importance of all community members having access to emerging tech. DIVAS is looking to create a social justice makerspace in South Minneapolis that is accessible to all. We need your voice at our participatory design workshops to ensure that the new social justice makerspace is a representation of the Minneapolis community.
DIVAS will be hosting participatory design workshops the week of August 12th where we will explore the following topics to design our makerspace:
1) Defining a Makerspace for Ward 9- DIVAS for Social Justice will share their goals for South Minneapolis based on our experiences designing a social justice makerspace in NYC. In this workshop, participants will look at examples of other maker spaces and brainstorm ideas of what a maker space should include in Ward 9.
2) Learning Environment Designs for Emerging Technology: How do we design a space that resonates with ages 8–80 years old in South Minneapolis. Everyone learns differently. How do we create an all-inclusive space?
3) Community & Culture & The Digital Divide-How do we ensure that all cultures of Ward 9 are reflected in this third space. How is the digital divide reflected in Ward 9 ( lack of access to wifi, devices, digital literacy..)
These workshops are open to all and will be available in 2 blocks of time for the duration of 90 minutes the week of August 12th. If you are interested in participating, you can fill out a form. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, feel free to donate.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My favorite podcasts include: Oprah’s Super Soul, Therapy for Black Girls, Lady Don’t Take No by Alicia Garza
I find that listening to these podcasts weekly help ground me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.divasforsocialjustice.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divasforsocialjustice/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divasforsocialjustice
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/XFH7bUQdUGA?si=S4XhCEuidggCH2xv
- Other: https://gofund.me/0d1e6361
