Black Theatre United (BTU) has announced a partnership with Alexander Consulting Group to create a digital Unconscious Bias and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (EDIAB) training program.
The Founding Members of BTU will work with Christina Alexander of Alexander Consulting Group to create the resource.
The program, which will be finalized in the months to come, will be available for use throughout the theater industry with an official launch sometime in spring 2023.
The partnership is in fulfillment of one of the industry reforms identified in the New Deal for Broadway document, which was developed by BTU along with key industry leaders.
Nearly one year ago, the document was released following a months-long summit led and organized by BTU.
The document outlines a series of EDIAB reforms, both long-term and short-term, for the entire Broadway industry, with a focus on Black theater professionals.
“This document memorializes our commitments—to our industry, to each other, and to ourselves—arising from that summit process,” the Introduction section reads. “We know that we must do better, and we commit to leaning into change.”
The need for a new EDIAB training program is referenced in Section One of the document.
“We support the commitment in Section 2A below to establish a new digital EDIAB training program, and will collectively support efforts to roll out that program industrywide,” the document reads.
Section 2A of the New Deal states: “While many shows and theatres will provide their own training on EDIAB issues in fall 2021, we will also establish a new industry-wide digital EDIAB training program, customized to the theatre industry. This program will be separate from any training on discrimination, sexual harassment, and bullying and will be developed in consultation with Black Theatre United.”
BTU was founded by Lisa Dawn Cave, Darius de Haas, Carin Ford, Capathia Jenkins, LaChanze, Kenny Leon, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, Michael McElroy, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Wendell Pierce, Billy Porter, Anna Deavere Smith, Allyson Tucker, Tamara Tunie, Lillias White, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Schele Williams and Vanessa Williams.
