We were lucky to catch up with Carl Stafford recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carl, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
The matrix is real. It’s a small world, 2° of separation we all know each other, and it’s not what we know it’s who we know.
And what we know to address oppression, poverty, and other environmental and social injustices and issues is not rocket science. So therefore it’s a ‘who’ is intentionally causing these atrocities. Being the only one in the room that ‘looks’ (Black male under 50, who also identifies as a homosexual) and ‘thinks’ (art, nature, and neighborhoods are answers to addressing social injustices and issues, not more capitalisms) like me; the most important learned lesson was/is to be authentic. Being in rooms usually lead by Mr. Smiths (the matrix is real) whose role is to keep the current systematic oppressions alive and well, new ideas of social-liberation, ending oppression and poverty are not wanted. Yes, they are welcomed to be shared, but what is wanted is shown when they give their presentation and share their ‘faceless’ or hollow community engagement quotes. My effectiveness/success is walking into rooms knowing the matrix is real and there are human factors that play a huge part in negatively impacting minorities. Gravity pulls down. That makes sense to why it would be a change to rise. But the knee on our neck. There is no justifiable explanation for that. And so when we do rise from this, it is important to stay and make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Those that do rise usually leave (which is understandable). But zero has a value with an infinity number of vacancies. Going from -10 to 0, leaves society still in the negative. We need to go from -10 to 100. Walking into rooms with these types of ideas causes glitches in the matrix. Showing it is possible to be free.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Born and raised on the west side of District 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. Graduated from East High School class of 1996, and Kansas City Art Institute class of 2006 with a bachelors in Fine Arts.
Founder/Visionary of MY REGION WINS! (MRW!) Kansas City’s creative nonprofit organization established in 2014.
Our mission is to transcend everyday challenges by using the Arts to nurture creative and undeveloped ideas that shape society. Programs and projects are created to address environmental and social injustices and issues; our work is done at the intersection of the Arts, nature and neighborhoods. Our services are to HABILITATE DREAMS & NURTURE GREATNESS! Assist companies in supporting their employees’ aspirational goals & dreams.
Visit www.myregionwins.org
What does MRW! do?
We do a lot.
Currently, one project is creating an environmental, nature-based, interactive, functional Art installation, that acts as a contemporary community garden called BOON AREA 1. We obtained a piece of property owned by Land Bank in a disinvested business zone on the west side of District 5 in 2016; with the thinking, if we are going to tell people to pursue their aspirational goals and dreams then we should be seen pursuing ours. Like the movie Field of Dreams – “if you build it…” Why not have a (blighted/vacant) lot of hope. This property became MRW!’s canvas. ‘Since planting native plants on this 4,000sqft property in 2020 no gas lawnmower has been used. In 2021 we began giving the Noble neighborhood a yearly check from the revenue generated from 2nd Sunday gathers that happen at BOON AREA 1 every 2nd Sunday of the month, and people reserving BOON AREA 1 for their small functions. These types of proactiveness within the neighborhood helped address the illegal dumping and criminal activities in the area.
Please visit https://myregionwins.org/programs-%26-projects-1 to learn more.
What is most exciting or special about what we do?
The fact we are making history by tackling environmental and social injustices and issues by using the Arts, nature, and neighborhoods as our resources. It exciting waking up knowing that the day is full of opportunities to be had to not only improve my quality of life but the quality of life for so many others who don’t even know me or MRW!. It’s special to me, being the only one in the room most of the time as a Black man under 50 to have solutions, ideas, a vision to address today’s everyday challenges. It’s special to know your own self-value. The matrix is real and its an exciting change to address. If there’s a superhuman within, let MY REGION WINS! be your Alfred, Morpheus, Xavier.
Pleas visit www.myregionwins.org
Upcoming Events:
Every Saturday from 8a to 10a is a Volunteer day at BOON AREA 1.
Come out and work on your aspirational goals and dreams and/or help with ours.
BOON FEST! October 14th! (Visit https://myregionwins.org/boon-area-1 for more details)
2023 awards.
– The Foundation for Regeneration Grant Recipient
– Shumaker Family Foundation Grant Recipient
– Community Capital Neighborhoods Rising Fund Grant Recipient
– Charlotte Street Foundation Cultural Producer Grant Recipient (2022 & 2023)
– KC Organizational Sponsorship Recipient
– AARP Community Challenge Grant Recipient
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My willingness, ability to explore, discover, and learn how to work with, are major qualities that have helped on this journey. My artistic, environmental, and social skills have helped me for actions speak loader than words. Being able to get lost into doing the act, the work, the Art, provides me the needed escape to rest, refresh and refocus the body, mind, and spirt to continue the mission of addressing the matrix, the matrix is real.
Advice for folks starting on their personal journey to free themselves and the ones they love from the matrix is to pace yourself. It’s a journey. Burn out is real. It’s one of the matrix’s main assets. You are the expert of your journey, the architect, you know what you want it to look like. Don’t compromise. You are good. You have greatness the world needs You are needed. Take deep calming breathes often, drink lots of water, and get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle? The matrix is real.
“The verbiage has changed but the agenda has stayed the same.” A great doctor once told me. And actually the agenda has/is getting worse or stronger because the verbiage has changed and is no longer loudly vile. No longer are signs saying ‘whites only’ visible, they are replaced with signs that say ‘rent $1,800 a month’.
Capitalism allows racial, misogynist, homophobic and xenophobic practices to continue.
Talking about using the Arts, nature, and neighborhoods to address challenges is said to be a novelty. Sports is a better answer is what is shown. Imagine if Artist, Environmentalist, and neighborhood leaders received the local public acknowledgement for their actions like local athletes receive. Art, nature and neighborhoods are things people can do from the ages of 2 until they are 102, yet sports is shoved down the peoples throat on every local new station. News is what? Sports, weather, crime, politics, with frivolous feel good stories sprinkled in.
Look at the criminal. There is a criminal justice system. A system that seeks justice (revenge or accountability) for criminals. Criminals receive mugshots, there is a number for people to call and report them, they are pursued, apprehended, detained, interrogated, appointed a lawyer to help with their argument, placed on trail, appointed a judge to oversee the trail, a jury to hear the trail and to come up with a verdict, then sentenced. All for a criminal. So the criminal has value.
What is the opposite of a criminal (criminal being defined as one doing harm to another)? What is the opposite of revenge? And where is that system? The opposite of a criminal (in my opinion) is a Good Samaritan. Where are the Good Samaritan glamour shots? What number is there to call and report them? Why are they not pursed, apprehended, detained, interrogated, and so forth about the good acts they have done and sentenced to receive a contract. The Good Samaritan has no value. And that is why American society is they way it is. American society is lead by Mr. Smith infected leaders, the matrix is real.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myregionwins.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MYREGIONWINS
Image Credits
Vision Designs created by Jonathan Brice Lyman
