CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED TO ABENAJOAN BROWN IN CELEBRATION OF 40 YEARS OF DISINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS
WHEREAS, Abena Joan Brown, who has served for 40 years as co-founder, president and producer of eta Creative Arts Foundation, the South Side institution that has helped foster the careers of many African-American writers, actors, directors and other theater artist; and
WHEREAS, Abena Joan Brown, a fervent Afrocentric spirit, produced more than 150 shows at eta; and
WHEREAS, as a visionary, she understood at the early age of 3 the importance ofthe arts to the African American community being enrolled in dance classes. Now a historical part ofthe arts community in Chicago and recognized nationally. Brown appreciated the lessons she received; and
WHEREAS, she focused on her studies and earned a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University and a master's degree in community organization and management from the University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, her admiration for the arts remained even though she.was surrounded by the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Arts Movement her relationship with the arts never took a backseat as she danced at local clubs to pay for college; and
WHEREAS, it wasn't until she took part in a play and joined Drama Incorporated which was organized in the late '50s that she would find her true calling and learn to do the whole business including acting, stage management, how to build sets, costuming, etc; and
WHEREAS, her travels to Africa, inspired by friends and peers, brought her full circle and made her realize the importance of sharing and preserving the Africa American story; and
WHEREAS, from there, Brown decided to create a destination for African Americans to not only tell their stories, but a place where they could acquire and develop skills that would strengthen the community culturally. She knew the Black theater wasn't anything new, but the lack of having one centralized space for Black artists to cultivate their ta...
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