Happier Valley Comedy stands in solidarity with anti-racism activists by voicing our anguish and deep frustration with systems that oppress and devalue the lives of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. HVC is committed to using the tenets of improvisation as a tool to amplify each person’s authentic voice and creativity in an inclusive, welcoming community inspired and empowered by the diversity of all members. We need to do better in backing that commitment with results.
As always, we turn to improv for guidance. Improv is "Acceptance of the reality of the moment and the agreement to move forward together with positivity." Acceptance doesn't mean accepting acts of injustice. It means accepting that injustice, inequality, and racism is a criminal reality that white people have benefited from in a white supremacist culture. Acceptance means keeping our eyes and hearts open from a place of attentive listening and learning. And agreement to move forward means using that knowledge for positive change and action. This is the job of an improviser. We are listening. We are learning. We must act. We know that we can and must do better to make our theater a stronger tool to amplify a more diverse chorus of voices.
We are committing to the following goals:
As you probably know, one of our main guidelines is "Better out than in." If you have any thoughts about the role HVC is taking at this time, how we can do better, and/or other organizations we could add to the list of resources below, please email us. We are eager to learn more and grow in order to better fulfill our mission to maintain an inclusive, welcoming community inspired and empowered by the diversity of all members and a place where BIPOC voices are valued and amplified.
With gratitude,
Pam Victor, Head of Happiness
Scott Braidman, General Manager & Artistic Director
Happier Valley Comedy
As always, we turn to improv for guidance. Improv is "Acceptance of the reality of the moment and the agreement to move forward together with positivity." Acceptance doesn't mean accepting acts of injustice. It means accepting that injustice, inequality, and racism is a criminal reality that white people have benefited from in a white supremacist culture. Acceptance means keeping our eyes and hearts open from a place of attentive listening and learning. And agreement to move forward means using that knowledge for positive change and action. This is the job of an improviser. We are listening. We are learning. We must act. We know that we can and must do better to make our theater a stronger tool to amplify a more diverse chorus of voices.
We are committing to the following goals:
- Providing ongoing anti-racism, equality, and implicit-bias training for our staff and casts
- Hiring a local, professional organization to work with us in a comprehensive evaluation of HVC to develop frameworks to shift practices towards authentic equity and inclusion
- Seeking additional Board Members that are DEI specialists and/or identify as BIPOC
- Hiring a DEI consultant familiar with improv to support HVC to feel less culturally whiteHiring more BIPOC teachers for special workshops and/or weekly classes
- Holding monthly meetings of The JEDI Council, a committee of community members to hold us accountable for achieving the goals listed here, as well as creating new goals based on community input and experiences (see below)
- Devoting at least one "5th Saturday FUNdraiser" each year to a local organization that works specifically for equality, justice, and/or support of BIPOC communities
- Allocating the time, money, and work necessary to assure that our stage and classroom have a more equitable representation of BIPOC and other numerical minority communities historically marginalized in the U.S. We consider diversity more than just hitting a numerical goal but also maintaining an inclusive, welcoming, less culturally white space. We work towards these goals through tangible policies and initiatives including but not limited to: Offering Equity class pricing and performer/teacher compensation; achieving diversity in line with the state census; providing alternative, accelerated pathways to under-represented cultures to become paid performers and teachers; and participating in the "100 Black Improvisers Partnership"
- Continuing our Free Happiness Program, which regularly provides "pro bono" shows, improv workshops, and/or professional development training to under-represented and -served communities and organizations in our area (This program is run by our board of directors)
As you probably know, one of our main guidelines is "Better out than in." If you have any thoughts about the role HVC is taking at this time, how we can do better, and/or other organizations we could add to the list of resources below, please email us. We are eager to learn more and grow in order to better fulfill our mission to maintain an inclusive, welcoming community inspired and empowered by the diversity of all members and a place where BIPOC voices are valued and amplified.
With gratitude,
Pam Victor, Head of Happiness
Scott Braidman, General Manager & Artistic Director
Happier Valley Comedy
The JEDI Council is an open committee of community members interested in helping HVC become a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of every month from 12:00-1:30pm at HVC. Meetings are open to anyone who has taken at least one class at HVC.
The JEDI Council:
Community members who attend four meetings of the JEDI Council will be reciprocated for their time with a 50% discount on their next HVC class. Thank you for helping to make HVC a better place for everyone!
Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions for the JEDI Council.
The JEDI Council:
- Holds HVC Leadership accountable for achieving stated goals by raising issues, sharing experiences, relaying community concerns, and checking in on tangible goals (The JEDI Council is an advisory, not a decision-making, group)
- Provides a space for feedback, recommendations, brainstorming, discussion, etc. on issues and experiences related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within HVC groups and events
- Helps to form new goals and sharpen our focus and progress on existing goals
- Maintains a space to hold brave and challenging conversations about justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, racism, white supremacy, and our role as agents for change
- Acts as an additional point of contact for community members to raise issues, communicate concerns, and suggest items to be added to JEDI Council agenda. Reviews issues or concerns sent to jedi @ happiervalley.com.
- Keeps all meetings confidential (unless expressly permitted for sharing by the Council)
- Follows The Circle Way to facilitate open and equitable group discussions with a shared leadership
Community members who attend four meetings of the JEDI Council will be reciprocated for their time with a 50% discount on their next HVC class. Thank you for helping to make HVC a better place for everyone!
Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions for the JEDI Council.
be of service
One of our core values is to "Be of Service." With that intent, here are a few resources if you're looking for ways to be of service to facilitating more equity and justice in the world:
- Split a donation between 70+ community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers through the Massachusetts Bail Fund.
- Join and support When We All Vote, a non-profit "on a mission to increase participation in every election."
- Support The Movement For Black Lives, a global initiative which aims to support Black organizations to conduct conversations about current political conditions.
- Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice is a local chapter of a national organization (SURJ) organizing white people for racial justice. Click here for the national chapter's "A Call to Action for White Folks."
- This is a time for white people to learn and listen. This link is a working document for scaffolding anti-racism resources. The goal is to facilitate growth for white people to become allies and eventually accomplices for anti-racist work.
- Some more anti-racism resources specifically recommended by HVC's JEDI Council:
- Kiese Laymon, “Heavy” and “How to Kill Yourself and Others in America”
- Isabel Wilkerson, “Caste” and “The Warmth of Other Suns”
- Layla Saad, “Me and White Supremacy”
- Scene on Radio podcast, “Being White” series
- Ibram X. Kendi, “How to Be an Anti-Racist”
- Ijeoma Oluo, “So You Want to Talk About Race”
- Tressie McMillan Cottom, “Thick & Other Essays”
- Jessie Daniels, “Nice White Ladies: The Truth about White Supremacy, Our Role in It, and How We Can Help Dismantle It”
- Black-focused media to follow: The Grio, The Root
- Kiese Laymon, “Heavy” and “How to Kill Yourself and Others in America”
Contact
HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY Leadership
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Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy
The Happier Valley Comedy School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
