Penumbra's Next Lifecycle
Penumbra is evolving to become a center for racial healing: a performing arts, retreat & learning space developing new work & sustainable programs for social change generated by artists. In addition to running year-round activities commissions, artist residencies, equity workshops & main-stage engagements we're conducting a new strategic plan while widening our circle to evaluate, rebuild & test all programming/curriculum with community to shape a shared vision of Penumbra's next lifecycle.
2022-2023 Cultural Heritage and Community Identity Grants - Winter 2021
Outcome A: Implement racial healing methods led by artists
* Indicators:
* Test theatre-based activities (writing, storytelling, improvisation, dance/movement, and more) as methods for racial healing
* Develop rubrics with community to inform new racial healing programs
* Implement and evaluate new programs based on needs and priorities identified
Outcome B: Adapt infrastructure for Penumbra's next lifecycle
* Indicators:
* Refine and co-create organizational mission, values, goals, outcomes
* Evolve business plan for diversified revenue
* Enhance staff workflow with new departments and increased collaboration
Outcome C: Improve Participant Fulfillment
* Indicators:
* Individuals participating in retreats, listening circles and program testings will report that, as a result of participating, that they can:
* See themselves as agents of change and exercise that power in culturally informed way
* Examine how they co-create, navigate and dismantle systems of oppression
* Be more resilient, creative, hopeful and compassionate human beings
* Activate transformative justice practices for community building and restoration
Funding from the Minnesota Humanities Center (MNHC) has contributed primarily to the refinement and co-creation of Penumbra's mission, values, goals, and outcomes. With support from MNHC Penumbra has been able to contract with Minneapolis-based creative agency Carmichael Lynch (CL) to shape and clarify our evolution from a legacy Black theatre company to a center for racial healing. The objectives of this project are to:
Communicate Penumbra's evolved ethics, offerings, and value proposition.Demonstrate how Penumbra is supporting new markets and audiences via wellness offerings, leadership development opportunities, and family programming both locally and nationally.Help Black audiences feel centered in our work and to help key audiences feel welcomed, supported, and inspired.Uplift and honor Penumbra's history, which is a key part of the cultural heritage of Minnesota and a key supporter of the development of culturally diverse humanities programming.
This project began with several meetings. Carmichael Lynch met with Penumbra's executive leadership to learn about the organization's current positioning, and possible challenges and opportunities ahead. Next, Penumbra's staff convened with CL's creative leadership to discuss possible iterations of our positioning statement that had been drafted by their team. The purpose of this second meeting was: (1) to cultivate a trusting and lively relationship between our teams; (2) to create a shared understanding of Penumbra's evolution; and (3) to establish a new draft positioning statement to inform their creative process. As part of CL's creative kickoff, they took a tour of Penumbra's space and met with our facilities consulting team to learn about future building renovations, and how we plan to welcome and engage audiences. We know we are making positive progress toward our goals based on both the creation of the new working draft of our positioning statement (see below) and on the productive collaborative experience shared with CL. Following this first meeting, Penumbra's staff have reflected that the process with CL has been a positive one, and they look forward to continuing to work with CL.
Our new working positioning statement is:
We believe that to heal all of us, we must heal each of us. Penumbra weaves together the emotional, physical, and spiritual healing power of Black-centered stories, experiences, and art to support individuals and communities on their racial healing journey.
Penumbra and Carmichael Lynch will continue to meet over the next two months to further accomplish the objectives of this project.
* Shamayne Braman (2020) Secretary & Nominating Committee; Sonos, Chief People Officer
* Sarah Bellamy (2012) Ex Officio, Voting; Penumbra Theatre Company, President
* Paul Acito (2014) Medtronic (retired); Vice President, Medtronic Diabetes
* Jeannine Befidi (2020) Second Vice Chair & Nominating Committee; Thomson Reuters, Chief Communications Officer
* Matthew Branson (2017) Finance Committee; Ecolab, VP of Corporate Accounts
* Melanie Douglas (2017) ChairAccenture Minneapolis; Director, HRO-Talent Services
* Mary Delori' (2022) Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Director of Individual Giving
* Marcus Fischer (2020) Nominating Committee; Carmichael-Lynch, CEO
* Carson Funderburk (2014) Vice Chair & Governance Committee; Clorox, Vice President Technology and Strategy
* Marcus Hill (2022) Best Buy, Customer Engagement Product Senior Manager
* Duane Johnson (2014) Tuloko, Co-Founder
* Kevin Maler (2014) Governance Committee; Dorsey & Whitney, Partner
* Mark A. McLellan (2010) 3M
* Layla Nouraee (2022) Governance Committee; Jack Links, Principle Attorney
* Jeffrey N. Saunders (2010) Governance Committee; Cozen, Principal Attorney
* Tim Sullivan (2014) Best & Flanagan, LLPPartner
* Joseph Wald (2020) Clear Pool, Managing Director
* David L. Welliver (2017) Finance Committee; Trimble Inc. Senior Manager,