We believe that empathy, understanding and courage to transform are key in creating inclusive workplaces. Wherever you are on your journey, our unique, customized approach will equip your team with skills, strategies, and actions steps to increase cultural competency and to center belonging. Our developmental approach leads to sustainable change so that multiple perspectives and transformative ideas thrive and strengthen your organization’s vision.
· Organizational Assessment
· Customized Training and Development
· Theater and Performance Based Equity Workshops
Aamera Siddiqui’s experience navigating across cultural difference began early in life. By the age of thirteen she had resided in five different countries and three separate continents. Her experiences as a global nomad in Tanzania, Zambia, India, the United States and North Yemen provided experiences in multiple cultures, languages and religions thus sparking a strong interest in Intercultural Competence. Having lived outside her comfort zone her entire life, Siddiqui is passionate about developing empathy and understanding and building work communities where everyone experiences belonging.
Siddiqui is a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator. Since 2004, she has been using the IDI to develop stage appropriate training and interventions designed to assist organizations increase cultural competence and develop inclusive work environments. As a consultant, she has worked with numerous organizations including K-12 schools, universities and colleges and both public and private foundations.
Aamera is also a playwright and has penned five plays. Her plays exist in the hyphens – in the intersections where racial, cultural, religious and gender identities meet with politics and patriarchy. Through her work she aims to empower narratives that are silenced and omitted from mainstream arts and culture
Suzy Messerole is the co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of Exposed Brick Theatre. As a director, activist and teacher, Suzy creates art at the intersection of theater and social change. With Exposed Brick, she has directed numerous world premieres, including Aamera Siddiqui’s American As Curry Pie, Freedom Daze, CLOTH and Stacey Parshall Jensen’s Shipside. Suzy is currently the Guthrie Theater artist in residence at Central High School in St. Paul and teaches at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts. Previous positions include Resident Company Member/Associate Programs Director at Pillsbury House Theater, Co-Artistic Director at Outward Spiral Theatre and Associate Artistic Director at the History Theater.
Suzy has facilitated numerous trainings, particularly in educational settings. She has worked with schools, universities and arts funders, among others. She is a lead organizer with the Million Artists Movement. She is also a member of the Subversive Sirens, a social justice synchronized swimming team. Through multiple community events, Suzy has facilitated opportunities to use water as a way to heal and transform.