Sharifa Johka is a creative producer, strategist and social connector whose work has spanned film, television, theater, and immersive technologies. She is an activist that relentlessly pursues radical inclusion in the arts and is also an artist that writes, directs and produces film and transmedia content with a professional track record that spans over 15 years. Most recently, as the creator and Chair of the Black Realities Creative Fund, Sharifa leads the funding efforts for a spectrum of creative and immersive projects that includes films, documentaries, apps, games, VR/AR/XR, 3D animation and a wide range of emerging and innovative technologies.
In partnership with the nation's leading antiracist training organization, artEquity, this is an interactive online workshop with Sharifa Johka that provides antiracist approaches for the hiring process. These antiracist approaches are applicable for all industries and professional fields.
Some Testimonials:
"The clarity of the presentation. The breakdown of six concrete steps, all clearly explained with examples and specific takeaways that are easy to communicate to others in the organization. Looking at those specific issues also helps to generate conversations about larger organizational values in very specific ways".
"Just having all of this info organized in one place was great...and I was really taken with the idea that an individual can do something even if the organization is dragging behind."
Find more information at FTKrecruitment.com
Talking Back is a six-part conversation series that reveals the growing movement for justice in the theatre field. Hosted by artEquity Founder and Executive Director, Carmen Morgan, this series brings artEquity's practice of facilitating hard and necessary conversations to a broader audience. The curtain is pulled back and viewers will gain insight into the activism and progress that has been achieved by theater practitioners from across the field. Through engagement with self-determined founding Artistic Directors, newly appointed leaders, and activists who have operated at all levels of leadership in arts organizations across the United States, we learn what it takes to transform, not just an institution, but an entire industry.
Talking Back was created and produced by Sharifa Johka.
Find more informtion at artEquity.org
The Black Realities Creative Fund is a monthly cash award that is designed to financially support the development of creative content by Black creatives across screen-based mediums, including films, apps, games, immersive entertianment (VR, AR, XR) and storytelling projects that use emerging tech.
Find more information at blackrealities.com
Sharifa Johka formerly worked at the Tony award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. During her 10 year tenure she held several artisitic and adminstrative leadership positions, including as the inaugural Director of Equity (Diversity and Inclusion), a position she held for five years. In 2020, she led the launch of the organization's online digital streaming platform, O!