We recently connected with Shange Jaara Lilaa and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Shange thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was my Junior year in high school. There was an audition for a play called “Once On This Island,” and I decided to audition. I booked a role; it wasn’t a main character, but a few days into the audition process, one of the women who secured the role of Erzulie, the Goddess of Love, stepped away from the opportunity, and I was asked to fill the role. We auditioned almost every day after school, and I felt my voice becoming more powerful. During one of the evening shows, it was time for me to sing my lead song—a beautiful love song that made me feel so emotional. Once I completed the song, I received a standing ovation. I looked to the right of the stage where my chorus teacher was tucked away playing the piano, and she was in tears. My basketball coach’s wife, who was in the audience, was in tears, and I was in tears because there was just this great surge of energy within the room and everyone could feel it. My voice created that moment. That was when I realized my gift is my voice, my energy, and my ability to create sacred spaces through my artistry.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve always possessed a very creative spirit from a young age. I’ve always loved movement, music, and anything that gave me an opportunity to use my hands to build. I also enjoy supporting those in my community, especially those often overlooked and underserved. Early on, I joined the church choir, school chorus, dance classes, and was always volunteering in my community. This passion carried over into my educational journey where I studied Sociology, the study of life in action. After graduation, I became a Teacher in DC and Maryland schools, where I created spaces for my students to express themselves through their artistry, which had a profound impact on them.
Later, I explored a career in the nonprofit sector because of my love for the community. I was offered a position as a Community Health Worker, focusing on sexual health education, and went back to school for training. Shortly after, I became an Adjunct Professor at the same institution. I hosted psychosocial activities for women and youth in shelters, elders, and various community events. I also provided free HIV/STI testing and hosted a support group for women living with HIV. It was in this role that I realized my ability to build trust within my community, a responsibility I take very seriously.
While all the work things were happening, I attended open mics, auditioned for videos, and performed in stage plays to express myself and connect with other creatives. One day, I realized that despite my accomplishments, I didn’t have anything to call my own. So, I began writing down all of my skills and the things that uplift me—creativity, spirituality, and connectivity.
I curate wellness spaces primarily for women ages 23-44 who are on healing journeys. These spaces allow them to share their stories authentically and access various wellness tools, such as playtime (healing the inner child), jump rope, beading, crochet, watching childhood movies, and hula hooping. I create handcrafted self-care products like nourishing hair oils, herbal soaps, body butters, jewelry, and body scrubs to help myself and my tribe tap into our most divine selves. I also offer breath work, 1:1 confidential sessions, scalp massages, sound healing, reiki, and travel experience. I also provide trainings where my tribe can learn how to create content and experiences around their purpose work.
I’ve cultivated a community with various practitioners who share their offerings and wisdom with those seeking assistance. I believe it’s important to pay it forward, and my community excels at this because we recognize that everyone has an unique gift that can uplift the frequency of the world. I don’t solve problems for those I encounter on my journey; I curate spaces where they can identify their needs and choose their “medicines.” This means providing spaces where people can disconnect from the outside world and focus on their internal and spiritual well-being. I listen to my community members and do my best to locate the resources they require. That is my offering.
What sets me apart is my belief in leading by example – genuinely utilizing creativity, spirituality, and connectivity for self and others to utilize as tools for wellness. I’m most proud of the courage I’ve shown throughout this journey because it takes a lot of dedication to have an idea and execute it. Yep, I just said I’m most proud of me!
I want my tribe members to know that Rebel Assemblage is for those ready to be in a healthy community with themselves and others and that this requires vulnerability, nourishing the spirit, and innovation.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
In my view, society can best support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem by providing fair financial compensation and not undervaluing their talents. It’s crucial to educate artists on entrepreneurship so they can thrive while sharing their gifts. Investing in artists and recognizing the essential role creativity plays in our lives is key.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience is happening right now. Participating in this discussion, while knowing that my business is in a place where it needs support and I, as an artist, require support, truly showcases my growth. Admitting this openly and without shame is a testament to the internal work I’ve been doing. It’s proof that my commitment to my purpose work is far greater than my pride. I believe that Rebel Assemblage has the potential to become a universal blueprint for both individual and communal wellness. What I need now is a community of people who believe in this vision and can support me on both micro and macro levels. To be specific, I am looking for, mentors who can provide guidance based on their own experiences, financial backers who are passionate about wellness, creativity, and spirituality, collaborators who can bring unique skills to the table, and a supportive network that can offer emotional and motivational support. This journey is not just about my own resilience; it’s about creating a resilient community that thrives together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rebelassemblage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelassemblage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rebelassemblage/featured
