Najee-Zaid Searcy
ARTS EDUCATION & FACILITATION
The Connections
IN-SESSION
November 2018
Guided by Claudia Rankin's Citizen, An American Lyric and Hush, Don't Say Anything to God: Passionate Poems of Rumi by Shahram Shiva, this incarnation of In-Session discussed identity through affirming the present moment and those who are a part of it. It featured a performance from Zo//Ra, an open discussion about identity and citizenship with Najee Searcy and Jenna Anast featuring special guest, Rebel Sisters Podcast, as well as hand-written poetry crafted by Melissa Almandina.
2018
THE YOLLO LAB
Co-developed a program with Yollocalli Arts Reach to create DIY products catered to self care and grooming needs. Participants will be able to articulate the function of basic ingredients in their products, as well as develop business strategies to sell their products or utilize them in alternative payment systems such as bartering and trade based systems. This program is held at Barrett Park's fieldhouse and is part of a collaboration between Yollocalli Arts Reach and the Chicago Park District's Arts Partners in Residence.
Get weird with Yollocalli >>>>
2018
F.O.A.M.
Facilitation, Organization, and Management (F.O.A.M.) is a 5-week training series designed to supply artists of color from around Chicago with some tools needed to facilitate dialogue amongst groups. Participants were awarded a grant to fund a unique capstone project to practice their work. F.O.A.M. participants are listed on an Illinois registry of trained facilitators and participants are constantly embracing continuing education through facilitator clinics hosted by Illinois Humanities Council and the Covey Group.
C.A.S.A.
National Museum of Mexican Art
2015 - 2016
Community Arts Sustaining Academics (C.A.S.A.) provides after school programming to four CPS sites, with a concentration in Art, Photography, Graffiti, Dance, Graphic Design, Multimedia, and STEAM. My work at Solorio Academy was in the realm of art mentoring: drama/theater taught with lead artist and playwright Kristiana Rae Colón, and music alongside lead artist Victor Encarnación Jr.
2019-2022
YOUNG CULTURAL STEWARDS
Program facilitator for two Chicago Park District youth engagement programs (Young Cultural Stewards + ArtSeed). Together, they activate shared space in the parks with youth ages 3-15years of age. Connecting cultural, civic, and safety engagement practices with young people while tending to their social and emotional development. As of 2021 these programs are held by new stewards.
Co-Founder and Program Manager (2022) for Queering the Parks Initiative (QTP). QTP is a joyful and affirming celebration of LGBTQIA+ youth and families that practices youth leadership models with an emphasis on supporting the leadership of QBIPOC young people.
2020 - 2022
MARWEN TEACHING ARTIST CONVENING + AFFINITY SPACE
Facilitating both dialogue and process with Chicago based teaching artists and Marwen staff to develop an understanding of programmatic and structural shifts needed to sustain teaching artists and community art in a growing and diverse cultural landscape.
