Movement Maker Spotlight: Artist, Organizer, Baddie, & Scholar Kelsey Daniels
Meet artist, organizer, baddie, and scholar Kelsey Daniels! Kelsey is based in San Diego, CA, has a background in organizing and social services, and curates spaces for Black healing and collective dreaming. Read on to learn more about her journey and how she is changing the world.
Kelsey’s Why: Baby Kelse didn’t know she would make it this far and now I get to dream and grow for both of us. I show up as the over the top artist/organizer/baddie/scholar that I wanted to see in the world growing up. I tell rich ass stories out loud because it is healing and generative and I curate spaces for others to do the same because I believe something magical is unlocked when you move in collective.
A-ha Moment: I realized I had to stop playing with purpose when the pandemic pushed me out of my last case management job. I have always known paperwork was not my ministry but I loved connecting with people and social services/nonprofit was the only work I’d known. So with this literal push, I had an opportunity to really start thinking about what it would look like to be in spaces where I could be full. That looked like putting more intentional energy into projects that gave me joy and grew me. I’ve been a part of and/or created IG Live series, healing spaces, mutual aid funds, and more during this “off-time” and it’s shown me what I’ve been knowing: that my magic is in ideation, community building, and story telling.
How I’m Making a Difference Right Now: I’m showing up in all my fat Black queer femme glory and dreaming out loud/world-building in hella ways. I currently host two weekly virtual venues: an open mic experiment called Check, Please! and a Black healing space called The Sit In. I organize with several dope collectives and mutual aids (We All We Got San Diego and March For Black Womxn San Diego). I use digital storytelling on my IG to facilitate conversations around topics like mental health, abolition, fatness, and more (in between being hella goofy and cute). I’m also in the process of rolling out a project All My Niggas Got Dreams. It will be a multi-disciplinary project exploring dreaming as a collective wellness practice. I recently received funding that will allow me to give people stipends to collaborate with me for a virtual production and I’m so excited to be able to offer people some monies to dream with me!
My Self-Care Recipe For Success: Start with a base of grace and affirmation with some mix-ins of a bomb playlist, breeze, and micro-journaling. Top with cackles and if you wanna get fancy some oui'd.
Advice for Movement Makers: Give yourself grace and know that you are necessary. Surround yourself with people who will stretch you. Be open to receiving messages that will gather you.
Keep In Touch: Find me on Instagram and Twitter at @AndShesHere_ and you can also visit my website at KelseysHere.com.