Round I Projects
PROJECT
To Stand as One Black Woman
To Stand as One Black Woman aims to use theatrical performance to tell the story of black women running for office. This one-woman show, performed, written, and directed by Franklin, is about a woman who decides to run for district attorney. The play highlights one African American woman's political journey, from a successful defense attorney career to her consideration to run for district attorney. Through multiple present-day and historical characters, the play explores the protagonist's desire to make more significant changes in the criminal justice system and her people's history, expectations, and pressure to fight inequitable governmental systems. As she ventures on this next big step, she is aware of her ancestors' contributions and how this isn’t just a career move but a step forward in civil rights. The campaign will engage audiences in the lowest quartile California Healthy Place Index communities of San Diego, National City, San Ysidro, and Imperial Valley, revealing the untold history and supporting civic engagement today.
LEARN ABOUT THE ARTIST + CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS
Yolanda Marie Franklin
Yolanda Marie Franklin is an award-winning actor, director, producer, and community leader, and appointed Artistic Director for Common Ground Theatre, resident theatre at the San Diego College of Continuing Education Educational Cultural Complex and Theatre-in-Residence at The La Jolla Playhouse for a second-year term. Some of her credits include Sense Of Love, The Cell Plays, Little Rock, Uplifting Black Voices Play Festival, Night Mother, The Ruby In Us, The Further Adventures of Hedder Gabler, Raisin In The Sun, The August Wilson Cycle, and The Sugar Witch.