The Billie Holiday Theatre​ Administrative Intern​

Jessica Speight spent her summer interning at The Billie Holiday Theatre in Bed Stuy New York. The Billie’s mission is to “shatter all obstacles and injustices and convene legacy and new unapologetic voices to make American Black Theatre a rigorous space that forces social change.” They have worked with artists such as Denzel Washington and the great Ruby Dee in both the past and present to ensure the legacy of Black American theatre continues on.​

​As an Intern, Jessica Speight worked with the Billie to bring community engagement to the forefront. She spent time volunteering to help bring life to the first ever Black Lives Matter Mural in the state of New York. In conjunction, she helped synthesize PowerPoint presentations for new in-house COVID-19 protocols, created Excel sheets to keep track of volunteers/artists who helped paint the Mural, and became the go-to for keeping the yearly Dashboard in order.​

​Interning with the Billie inspired new opportunities in my career as a creative. I witnessed first hand the beauty procured when theatre and community come together for a cause. I learned patience, positive communication styles, and how easy it can be to challenge yourself when the work you do is deeply impactful.