Reflections On Paving Our Path Forward: A Post-Election Gathering Space for Artists and Arts Administrators of Color
On November 6, we co-hosted an event in Philly with CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia: Paving Our Path Forward: A Post-Election Gathering Space for Artists and Arts Administrators of Color. Partnering with Ariel Shelton, Co-Executive Director of CultureWorks, we curated a safe, grounding space for our community to reflect on the US elections, strategize for the work ahead, and connect with one another. Regardless of the results, our goal was to bring artists and administrators of color together to share insights, explore the election’s implications, and hear from local leaders working at the intersection of arts and politics.
The morning of the event, my home felt eerily quiet as my husband and I processed the news and began to reckon with the potential implications. As I prepared to take the train from Maryland to Philly, I texted Ariel, “At least we’ll have each other today.” That sentiment became the theme of the day. When I arrived, with help from Kabria Rogers and the amazing team at Cultureworks, we prepared the space with care: incense, chill music, wine, art supplies, and catering from a local BIPOC-owned restaurant (s/o to Amy's Pastelillos). A day that began heavy gradually felt lighter as the evening unfolded.
This gathering didn’t mandate that we create concrete agendas or action plans—it was about connection. Guests were welcomed with hugs, warm smiles, and an undeniable sense of community. The room filled with laughter, heartfelt stories, reflections on shared challenges, and vibrant conversations about potential collaborations. We shared personal stories, professional insights, and lighthearted moments, all while navigating the weight of the political climate with occasional deep sighs. Together, we found strength in our shared presence.
The gathering felt like a much-needed hug from a close friend on a hard day. As the closing time came and went, we clearly didn’t want to leave. But when we finally did, we were reminded we are not alone. In a time of high anxiety and uncertainty, this space offered us a moment to breathe, connect, and simply be—together.
Affinity spaces like this are not new to AAC but remain vital for our nourishment and survival. Research consistently shows their value in affirming participants’ goals, values, racial identity, and humanity. When fear and isolation creep in, we need places where our identities are not under attack, space to honestly share our perspectives, grieve, and build each other up. As cultural creators, these spaces remind us of our purpose, especially in times of struggle: to use our voices and our work to uplift, heal, and continue forward. When it feels like the world is attacking our very existence, we can create our own safe spaces to feel seen, affirmed, supported, and empowered to strategize collectively. The challenges ahead are undeniable, but they become more bearable when we face them together. These gatherings remind us of our resilience, our worth, and our unwavering commitment to one another.
Thank you to CultureWorks for partnering with us to create this much-needed space. Partnerships and pooling resources are going to be key to our next steps as a collective of arts and culture workers and CultureWorks set a beautiful model of how easy collaboration can be when the focus is on the community. We encourage you to look into their model as a fiscal sponsor, where they pool resources to support a diverse set of close to 100 cultural entities - a model we find exciting, and hope to see greater support around.
As we look forward, we’ll continue holding space for each other, grounding ourselves in compassion, and finding strength in connection. Together, one step, one sigh, and one laugh at a time, we’ll move forward in our collective work.
Erika Hawthorne
Interim Executive Director
To support the future of our affinity spaces, please consider a gift to AAC.
