Vanessa Roberts, MA
Humor - Education - Performance - Dialogue
Upcoming Events
Beyond the Basics - Unpacking Our Cultural Baggage
May 10, 2018
A presentation for the Colorado Mentoring Summit (more here)
This session is part of the"Tackling Cultural Competency with Youth" track:
On the first day of this track, participants will go into depth on power, privilege, and oppression and how these issues can negatively impact a mentor’s relationship when working with a young person. Then, the track will go into depth on the skills needed to breakdown these barriers and develop a deeper relationship with a young person. The main objectives of the workshops on day 1 are to see power, privilege, and oppression through a different lens and gain skills around empathy and attitude when working with youth from other cultures.
You can find a copy of the presentation slides here!
Identity Theatrics
March 22, 2018
The Collective - Community Arts Center
Lafayette, CO
AfroPuff Lederhosen - What Happens When You Take a Black Baby and Raise it to be German
February 20th, 2018 from 5:30-7PM
British Studies Room - Norlin Library
University of Colorado at Boulder
Roberts delivers a satirical academic lecture which offers a sharp, humorous, and theoretically-grounded exploration of the interplay between personal experience and social expectations of racialized identity.
Between Boxes - Voicing the Multiracial Experience
Invited Keynote Presented for the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Community
March 26, 2015 at 7PM
1309 Centennial Hall on the UW-L Campus
Code-Switching 101: Building Your Cultural Dexterity
Lunch & Learn Presentation for the Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council
Wednesday March 25, 2015 at 11:30AM
For more information please visit:
http://www.glaxdiversitycouncil.com/events/code-switching-101-building-your-cultural-dexterity/
Code Switching and the Working Artist
A presentation for the pilot cohort of Bringing Back the Arts Interns
Wednesday March 18th, 2015 at 4PM
DCPA Newman Center for Theater Education in Denver, CO
The Bringing Back the Arts Foundation was founded by First Lady of Denver Mary Louise Lee with a mission to restore art programs in Denver Public Schools, expand access to our city's cultural institutions for all residents and spotlight local performing artists. The Bringing Back the Arts Internship Program offers Denver high school students the premiere art internship experience. Denver’s top creative employers work with students who are emerging stars beginning their artistic journey. Intern sponsors give students a life changing opportunity to get their first experience working in the creative industry of their choice. Interns bring the passion of hungry artists starved for their chance to make their mark. Together, interns and intern sponsors who participate in the Bringing Back the Arts Internship program will help pave the path to the growing local creative economy and a brighter future for the city of Denver.
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AISNE Middle School Students of Color Conference
Theme: I Am Culture - Creating Space for Our Unique Selves
Vanessa Roberts, Invited Keynote Speaker and Workshop Presenter
Location: The Pike School, Andover, MA
Saturday January 31, 2015
Code Switching 101
A Series of Workshops for Goodwill Industries of Denver, 2014
Created by request, this new workshop (with room to grow into more) addresses cultural code switching and encourages youth to recognize their ability to switch intentionally to further their success in an not-yet-equitable society.
Cashing in on Skin - Get it Light, Get it Right?!
Orignally Presented at the 14th Annual White Privilege Conference; repeat presentation at the 15th Annual White Privilege Conference
This workshop maps the complicated connections between global perceptions of the value of skin tone and economic success, be it in the fashion industry or working world at large. Research shows that darker-skinned individuals face greater discrimination and disadvantages - what impact does this have on our relationships in our own communities?
MLK Celebration at Phillips Exeter Academy
January 2013
Invited presentation of Identity Theatrics for the students of Phillips Exeter
13th Annual White Privilege Conference
Intersectionality: Vision, Commitment,
and Sustainable Partnerships
March 28-31, 2012
Albuquerque Convention Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
In collaboration with:
New Mexico Equity and Social Justice Alliance
Introducing a brand new workshop:
The Biracial/Mixed Race Experience – Moving the Conversation Forward
Examining the significance of the biracial/mixed race voice in the White Privilege discussion, this workshop aims to provide a brief history and introduction to this cultural group gaining ground in American racial politics. What pressure do non-traditional forms of identification place on mono-racial categories? What stereotypes persist regarding ingrained social beliefs which this multi-racial movement either explodes or enforces? As a performance artist Ms. Roberts promises to infuse this workshop with several theatrical elements to keep the conversation engaging, thought-provoking and illuminating. Join us as we commit to a new vision of racial and cultural identity, a vision we are just now beginning to pioneer.
What is the White Privilege Conference?
1. WPC is a conference that examines that challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.
2. It is not a conference designed to attack, degrade or beat up on white folks
3. It is not a conference designed to rally white supremacist groups.
4. WPC is a conference build on the premise that the U.S. was started by white people, for white people.
5. WPC is a conference designed to examine issues of privilege beyond skin color. WPC is open to everyone and invites diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive look at issues of privilege including: race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc.– the ways we all experience some form of privilege, and how we’re all affected by that privilege.
6. WPC attracts students, professionals, activists, parents, and community leaders/members from diverse perspectives. WPC welcomes folks with varying levels of experience addressing issues of diversity, cultural competency, and multiculturalism.
7. WPC is committed to a philosophy of "understanding, respecting and connecting."
For more information please visit:
www.whiteprivilegeconference.com
or
www.uccs.edu/wpc
YEAR OF TRUTH: Social Justice Education Series KICK OFF
FEATURING Vanessa Roberts ARTIST, ACTIVIST, EDUCATOR
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 6:00pm, ANDERSON AUDITORIUM
Come see a live performance of her most requested work, "Afropuff Lederhosen: What Happens When You Take a Black Baby and Raise it to be German"
At Edgewood College in lovely Madison, WI
Colorado Springs, CO
Hosted by Colorado College
Special Performance by: Ariel Luckey
Keynote Speaker: Lee Mun Wah
With over 30 workshop and institutes to choose from, our One-Day WPC Experience is sure to havesomething educational for everyone!
Make sure you don't miss my workshop:
Identity Theatrics (Intermediate) led by Vanessa Roberts
What does it mean to be the 'other', how do we all create the 'other' in our everyday choices and what power lies in recognizing our own 'other-ness'? Drawing upon a diverse range of inspirations and theater techniques, Ms. Roberts invites participants to play with these questions and concepts in order to gain a larger vision of the significance of the "us vs. them" dynamic in the work of identity construction. This workshop is very interactive and engaging, steeped in theater, includes short performances and allows the participants to take a personal inventory of their investment in their sense of self and what that means when it comes to engaging with others in the pursuit of social justice.
For more info on the symposium please visit:
www.whiteprivilegeconference.com/symposium.html
A presentation for the pilot cohort of Bringing Back the Arts Interns
The Bringing Back the Arts Foundation was founded by First Lady of Denver Mary Louise Lee with a mission to restore art programs in Denver Public Schools, expand access to our city's cultural institutions for all residents and spotlight local performing artists.
Between Boxes - Voicing the Multiracial Experience
Invited Keynote Presented for the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Community
March 26, 2015 at 7PM
Between Boxes - Voicing the Multiracial Experience
Invited Keynote Presented for the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Community
March 26, 2015 at 7PM
Between Boxes - Voicing the Multiracial Experience
Identity Theatrics
March 22, 2018
The Collective - Community Arts Center
Identity Theatrics
Summit Schedule
DAY 1 – Thursday May 10, 2018
8:45am-10am – Registration
9:15am-9:50am – Opening Plenary
10:00am-12:30pm – Workshop Track
12:30pm-2:00pm – Lunch Programming
2:15pm – Workshop Track
4:45pm – End
DAY 2 – Friday May 11, 2018
8am –11:30am – Workshop Tack
