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 joy and ease." 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 are acting on our commitment 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
Maddy Benjamin, Facilitator of Fun
Happier Valley Comedy
*Happier Valley Comedy rents land that was stolen from Indigenous people, including the Pocumtuc and Nipmuc tribes. A land acknowledgement is not appropriate or adequate to address this injustice that continues to harm people today. Therefore, we have instituted an ongoing process of contributing to the preservation of the lands and cultures of Northeastern Indigenous Peoples. All class fees contain an additional $3 to benefit The Nolumbeka Project, a local nonprofit whose mission is dedicated to these goals.
Learn more about The Nolumbeka Project, including their upcoming events.
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 joy and ease." 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 are acting on our commitment 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, equity, and implicit-bias training for our staff and casts
- Hiring more BIPOC teachers for special workshops and/or weekly classes
- Holding periodic 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
- Devoting at least one "5th Saturday FUNdraiser" each year to a local organization that works specifically for equity, justice, and/or support of BIPOC communities
- Facilitating the donation of funds from each class fee to local Indigenous group(s) as one act of reciprocity for having our theater on stolen land*
- Allocating the time, money, and work necessary to assure that our stage and classroom have a more equitable representation of BIPOC and other 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 BIPOC students 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 (Applications are voted on by our board of directors)
- Offering free show sponsorships to businesses owned or run by BIPOC and/or marginalized community members to correspond with specific cultural days/months, i.e. Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Indigenous People’s Day, etc. Would you like your business to be considered? Please email Scott here.
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
Maddy Benjamin, Facilitator of Fun
Happier Valley Comedy
*Happier Valley Comedy rents land that was stolen from Indigenous people, including the Pocumtuc and Nipmuc tribes. A land acknowledgement is not appropriate or adequate to address this injustice that continues to harm people today. Therefore, we have instituted an ongoing process of contributing to the preservation of the lands and cultures of Northeastern Indigenous Peoples. All class fees contain an additional $3 to benefit The Nolumbeka Project, a local nonprofit whose mission is dedicated to these goals.
Learn more about The Nolumbeka Project, including their upcoming events.
Thank you to PeoplesBank for supporting our Equity and Inclusion efforts!
The JEDI Council is an on-call committee of community members interested in helping HVC become a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization. Meetings are held whenever an issue arises that could benefit from a discussion with a variety of backgrounds and opinions. All meetings are open to anyone who has taken at least one class at HVC. Subscribe to our Training Center newsletter at the bottom of this page or follow us on Facebook to be notified the next time the JEDI Council will convene.
Community members are reciprocated for their time with a
50% discount on an HVC class for every 4 JEDI Council meetings attended.
Do you have an issue that The JEDI Council should meet to discuss?
Email [email protected]!
Community members are reciprocated for their time with a
50% discount on an HVC class for every 4 JEDI Council meetings attended.
Do you have an issue that The JEDI Council should meet to discuss?
Email [email protected]!
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The JEDI Council:
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
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.
