Meet Devin Franklin

We recently connected with Devin Franklin and have shared our conversation below.

Devin, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My mom! She’s not just the hardest working person I know, but also the most intentional. Her work ethic is balanced by her compassion in how she deals with people.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a sibling, child, friend, and partner. I am the artistic descendant of Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama– a proud Southerner through and through.

I am a trained theatre artist: performer, director, and choreographer. I recently started my return to my literary roots and I’ve been writing a lot more and sharing my poems, interviews, and essays on my Substack. What binds all of these mediums for me is the need to give voice to something I’ve suppressed. The written and spoken word allow me to grapple with life’s questions, and movement is the universal language that doesn’t require a mouth to communicate it. There is something primal and liberating about leaning on my bodily wisdom.

As an artist, I am fixated on softening myself and others to things, people, or places that we’ve hardened ourselves to.

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?

1. The ability to say ‘I don’t know.’ Refusing to tap into the brilliance of your team because of insecurity will prevent your best work from materializing.

2. Hospitality. If people don’t feel welcomed, they won’t share all of what they have to offer in an artistic/professional space.

3. Clarity is kind. Vague answers instead of clear and concise decision making hurts your team and lowers morale.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I tap into Maya Angelou’s advice: call on the names of everyone who has ever loved you– living or dead. It is a reminder that I am never alone and that there are people in this realm and the next who want to see me thrive.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Anna Giovingo, Billy Bustamante, Sarah Comer, Alaina Dackermann, Taylor Campell

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