Konda Mason – Brown Rice Hour – Ep. 4 – The BIG We with Anasa Troutman

Cultural strategist Anasa Troutman joins Konda Mason for a conversation around intentional communities, white supremacy, and what freedom really looks like.

Cultural strategist Anasa Troutman joins Konda Mason for a conversation around intentional communities, white supremacy, and what freedom really looks like.

As CEO & Founder of The BIG We, Anasa Troutman works to build and execute strategies for artists and organizations that are aligned with her vision of a loving world and her belief in creativity as a pathway to personal, community, and global transformation. Best known for her work as the strategic advisor and executive producer for her longtime friend – Grammy-winning singer and songwriter India Arie. Anasa recently stepped into leadership as the first Executive Director of the historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis. Learn more about Anasa and her work at anasatroutman.com

Intentional Communities

Konda welcomes her good friend Anasa to the Brown Rice Hour, and asks about her favorite food as a child. A conversation about blueberries leads to talk of gardening; Anasa explores her desire to establish an intentional community and what it means to have a real community.

“In order for us to get to the point where we can invite people into larger and larger communities, we have to actually have to start somewhere. And that’s for me why… the only way for any of us to be able to have that life is if we do it together.” – Anasa Troutman

A Culture of Care (17:20)

Konda and Anasa discuss shifting global culture to a culture of care, and how that relates to both George Floyd’s murder and the Coronavirus pandemic. The conversation turns to white supremacy and how a lack of sacredness has infected American culture. They talk about how Black women are leading the way on issues of race, and voice concern over some of the terminology that is regularly used. 

“I do not want to be defined by my lack of whiteness.” – Anasa Troutman

Francesca Maximé digs deeper into the concept of white supremacy on ReRooted Ep. 30
The BIG We (44:45)

Konda brings up Anasa’s upbringing, their similar paths in life, and how they both grew up so loved by their parents. They explore what it would be like to be free of the burden of leading the fight against racial injustice, and what freedom really looks like. Anasa talks about her work at The BIG We, and her deep connection to the historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis.

“What are the stories that we want to tell that embody the world we want to live in? What are our stories of being free for real?” – Anasa Troutman

Cultural strategist Anasa Troutman joins Konda Mason for a conversation around intentional communities, white supremacy, and what freedom really looks like.

   

Images via Anasa Troutman