We recently connected with Jarrett R Crowthers and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jarrett R thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

Decolonizing spaces is vital to every industry attempting to advance into tomorrow. As the world continues to develop, the language, awareness, and knowledge surrounding different identity-based topics continue to grow. As we see with the expedient development of technology, people in every industry has had to re-invigorate, update, and re-learn a lot of policies, procedures, and mandates that have changed in the name of proactivity. This same re-invigoration and adaption of process applies to areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion of identity-based topics. These topics– ranging from bathroom access, cultivating safe spaces of work, re-assessing language use across branding and communication, and simply providing a process for change to occur productively and proactively– are important in all industries that require a human presence. There is an impossibility in wholly separating persons from work; in the fact that we are all human and to ignore such fact for the name of work productivity would be rather paradoxical. But, there is indeed a way to invigorate a space through decolonization. By decolonization, I mean the deconstructing of old, outdated practices that inhibit success and forward momentum and the creation of policies that encourage inclusivity, understanding, and proactivity. Most of the time, these practices and policies exist but are either not enforced on a macro-level or are ignored in the name of productivity. It is so simple to implement practices that actively engage with the diversity that exists in the workplace, like adding a line for an individual’s pronouns in all communications. We tend to forget that inclusiveness is easy, it just takes some work.

Jarrett R, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

JARRETT R. CROWTHERS [they/them] has worn many hats and titles atop actor/dancer/singer in their life– farm kid, experiencer, signer, public speaker, leader, Christian, advocate, gay kid, athlete, weirdo, listener, manager, foodie, film enthusiast, do-er, & reader.
The most used hats, however, say ‘inspiration seeker’, ‘student’, and ‘storyteller’.

They found their passion for the stage in the middle of their family’s sheep barn in a small, rural town north of Cincinnati, OH. It was in this town where they participated in theatre from the age of 5, played every sport imaginable (except hockey…), was involved in over 10 student organizations, and became actively involved with the deaf community. When they graduated high school, they headed to The Ohio State University to pursue a career in political science and food/agricultural/environmental sciences. Their upbringing inspired them to want to advocate for others and create social change. However, following a last-hoorah production of the summer before attending tOSU, they switched their major on move-in day to a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Stage Management. They soon transferred to Ball State University where they received a BFA in Musical Theatre & Dance with a minor in American Sign Language.

Outside of theatre, Jarrett is still active in the agriculture and deaf communities. They enjoy reading as much as they did when they were an awkward tween, they love food as much as they did when they were a hungry kid, and are as active as the soccer player no one thought could be good because they were gay. They have fallen in love with the world of dance and ballet since their first ever class in the fall of 2019. That love for both advocacy and ballet has taken them all over the country and they hope that their journey allows them to dance for the rest of their life… for story, for space, and for love.

They are currently a part-time writer for a publishing firm based in LA on top of performing globally as an actor, singer, and dancer.

All their love goes out to their friends, their family, their mentors, their 4 bodies, & to God. No one can ever inspire them as much as their mom.

“Shine bright, stay you, and do your thing” 🤟

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew how to ask my fellow colleagues for help. The world can be so isolating, but we are truly all going through the same shit. Find your community and ask for HELP!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have been on Instagram and Facebook since the beginning. I have been an avid user who has stayed connected with past friends, colleagues, and trends. I use my social media as an extension of my life. A way to track and keep people up to date with happenings and connections with people, and as a platform for my values, thoughts, and feelings. Especially with how the world is today, I like to think of social media as a form of community building and grassroots organizing but for my own community of folx.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jarrettrcrowthers.com
• Instagram: @jarrettrcrowthers
• Facebook: Jarrett R Crowthers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf4vUc7xrQ35r_KGCFAhTg

Image Credits

Gilded Sun Photography for Headshots and Editorials