The UpStage Stigma Project

Hi friends! I wanted to tell you about an amazing event that's happening tomorrow at 5:30pm at Chrysalis, inc. Come hear stories of healing and hope.

You can watch the promotional video (and donate to Chrysalis!) if you click this link: https://www.thebigshare.org/organizations/chrysalis

I miss UpStage and I want you to know that I'll be back soon! More projects are in the works, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out what Chrysalis is up to!

-Emily

FIRST EVER Chrysalis Storytelling Event Storytelling Event- FREE and Open to the Public

It is incredibly inspiring to see what arts activists are doing in the Madison community, on and off State Street. Upstage Stigma Art Director & Graphic Designer Paulina Kababie collaborated to paint the mural in the first picture. Follow and on Instagram. BLM. Social justice. We are in this together.

Reminder that we are collecting submissions from Black and indigenous artists and activists, which we will be sharing on our page. If you are interested in sharing your work - whether a video performance, written piece, or any other medium - please email us at [email protected]! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Dear UpStage Stigma community,

Black lives matter.

UpStage Stigma is, and has always been, a social justice project.

When our artists share their traumas and triumphs through art, they inspire audience members to connect with their deepest selves. By connecting with our most vulnerable selves, we become more able to feel the pain of others. From this place comes the most genuine kind of activism.

From this place, from our hearts and souls, we stand up for our human siblings. We recognize that long before recent killings, people of color have had to deal with racism and violence. It is our responsibility as human beings, and as a project that helps people through what is most painful, to amplify Black and indigenous voices and to stand up for people of color.

We are committed to speaking up against the injustice that has been done to the Black community. We have work to do. But we promise this: Antiracism is not just a figment or facet or aspect of who we are. Antiracism is essential to our living, breathing mission. We continue to constantly evaluate our practices so that they reflect these values.

We have made the decision to postpone this Friday’s virtual show until the first two weeks in July, date to be announced.

Many of us are involved in organizing efforts around the Black Lives Matter movement and we feel it is important to use our platform to amplify Black voices and create space to discuss inequities around Black mental health. We will be sharing resources and action items for our communities in relation to these goals.

We are redirecting our efforts toward collecting submissions from Black and indigenous artists and activists, which we will be sharing on our page. If you are interested in sharing your work - whether a video performance, written piece, or any other medium - please email us at [email protected]. Additionally, we would love the opportunity to feature the websites and social media pages of Black artists and direct our audience to other platforms. We as Upstage Stigma organizers are here to listen, learn, and uplift.

If you are in a place to contribute financially, we encourage you to support these resources:

Help pay for therapy sessions for black trans people by donating to the Nina Pop and Tony McDade Recovery funds:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDk1ZaSv_nCqc1wI0KH0ZsOS28FT9tH-BRviA-VUB_Cf-tZg/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFbCqnPzsY0pSi39i_AjsTpVZpqJ20IOlJoX37N5qOHqN6cA/viewform

Contribute to the Loveland Therapy Fund for Black Women and Girls: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NzU4MzM=

With Love,

UpStage Stigma

Hi everyone, it’s been awhile! We wanted to let you know that we are hard at work preparing for the first ever virtual UpStage Stigma show - details to come soon.

In the meantime, share your favorite moments from past shows in the comments below!

Hello friends! Attend UpStage Stigma at the Madison downtown public library at 1pm this Saturday and register for a Local Voices Network conversation afterward! Click the link! LVN is an incredible project that brings community voices to the center of public dialogue. Mental health awareness for the win! We need you!

404 - Local Voices Network Developed by the non-profit Cortico, the Local Voices Network (LVN) is a unique physical-digital network designed to bring under-heard community voices, perspectives and stories to the center of a healthier public dialogue.

Dear UpStage Family, it's time! We are preparing to become a Non-Profit. If you're willing, please share this fundraiser with your communities to help get us started. Thank you for helping grow and support our mission to destigmatize mental health.

Click here to support Make UpStage Stigma a National Non-Profit organized by Emily Erwin-Frank Emily Erwin-Frank Make UpStage Stigma a National Non-Profit UpStage Stigma is ready to become a national and international non-profit organization. In 2017, w

See you today at 1pm at the Sun Prairie Public Library! Click the link and scroll down to learn about the artists you’ll meet today.

Dane County Library Events | UpStage Stigma 2019