Our monthly Member Spotlight highlights a member working diligently to foster equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplaces in our region. This month, we connected with White Bird. White Bird is committed to bringing the best Portland-based, regional, national, and international dance companies to Portland, Oregon, and to fostering the growth of dance in the region.
How has White Bird enhanced internal culture and fostered a more inclusive environment for staff and performers?
White Bird enhances its internal culture through monthly “Deep Dive” sessions, encouraging our staff to provide input on and receive training related to our equity and inclusion initiatives. These sessions are designed to cultivate a supportive environment where team members can engage meaningfully with our mission, and collectively develop ways to translate our values into action. By fostering continuous learning and reflection, we hope to create a more inclusive, respectful atmosphere within White Bird that benefits our staff, patrons, and visiting artists alike.
What is a new program or initiative from White Bird that you’re really excited about?
Our “Supporting Our Native Neighbors and Relations” initiative is a good example of the type of action that comes out of our Deep Dive sessions. We are moving beyond simply acknowledging this land’s Native people, toward reciprocal relationships with our Native neighbors. In deciding the actions we felt empowered to take as a small performing arts nonprofit, we focused on this question: how can we encourage our audience to better understand, and financially support, Native artists, in ways that feel aligned with our mission? Our action is, we think, a step in the right direction, and we encourage our fellow performing arts organizations to act with us. Together, we can make a huge impact. Anyone who is interested in this work can visit our website HERE to learn about how we are supporting local tribes and Indigenous artists.
Tell us about your upcoming performances and some of the work that has gone into them.
White Bird is proud to present nine companies this season, each participating in unique community engagement during their visit. Up next, Okareka Dance Company, a Maori-led dance company from Aotearoa/New Zealand, will perform at Lincoln Performance Hall on November 7-9. Around our presentation of Okareka, White Bird is growing our relationship with the Native Arts + Cultures Foundation by partnering to hold a conversation with Okareka company members on indigeneity within contemporary performance. After that, Alonzo King LINES Ballet will participate in a conversation on the inspiration behind the work they will perform on November 21-23 at the Newmark Theatre, Deep River, and its themes of unity and perseverance. White Bird is once again partnering with the Soul Restoration Center to hold this conversation with LINES in a warm and welcoming environment.
Tell us about a notable Partners in Diversity program or connection that has helped further your organization’s DEI-B efforts.
White Bird is grateful for Partners In Diversity’s Say Hey! program, which has allowed Executive Director Graham Cole and Deputy Director Christopher Carvalho to meet other business professionals who believe in the impact of art, IDEA work, and the strength that comes from community unity. To further strengthen these partnerships, White Bird has provided Say Hey! honorees with gift cards to attend upcoming performances, which feature companies specializing in all styles of dance, from contemporary to flamenco, and hailing from five different countries.
