Deep Dive Session: The Power of Language

Turn your theater practice into a force for community change.

You already know art can change the world.

You’ve seen what happens:

• when a story cracks open a heart
• when a room breathes in the same rhythm
• when a moment on stage becomes a moment of awakening

What if your art could do even more?

What if we could support our arts organizations and improve our communities at the same time?

What if we could attract new audiences and funding while increasing understanding, empathy, and action on the most pressing issues?

At Out of Hand, we’re doing it.

Since 2018, we’ve quadrupled our revenue—while moving our neighbors to action and elevating the role of the arts in our community.

It’s a win for art, a win for business, and a win for our community.

And now, we’re sharing the model with you.

Created by Out of Hand Theater,The Community Impact Lab is a 6-month accelerator in Arts-Based Community Engagement (ABCE).

Our Deep Dive Sessions are evening explorations for those ready to meet the deeper currents—where equity becomes embodied through art, dialogue, and co-creation.

The Power of Language with Terra Gay & Adria Kitchens
February 5, 2026 | 6pm-8pm EST

What You'll Learn:
Words as art, stories as systems.

Participants explore the creative and systemic power of language. This session makes visible how culture is shaped by words and invites participants to practice conscious, transformative speech that generates equity.

You’ll leave with tools to:

• Analyze how language reproduces or resists inequity
• Use story and performance as methods of truth-telling
• Cultivate ongoing practices of conscious, equity-centered communication

You’ll fit right in if you’re a…

• Director or producer who wants your work to create more than applause
• Teaching artist or facilitator craving more depth, connection, and impact
• Equity lead or changemaker tired of surface-level DEI and ready to embody the work
• Theater org looking to grow your community partnerships and creative mission

If you’re ready to stop checking boxes and start cultivating something lasting—this is for you.

Schedule

🕛 All Deep Dive Sessions are 6–8PM EST

• November 20, 2025 | Uncentering Whiteness with Terra Gay
• January 8, 2026 | Eradicating Racism with Dr. Vonnetta L. West
• February 5, 2026 | Power of Language with Terra Gay & Adria Kitchens

Institute Faculty.

ADRIA KITCHENS

Adria Kitchens has supported women in transforming their lives for over a decade. She specializes in working with self actualizing women; executives, experienced coaches, therapists, local and global leaders. Adria is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, a Certified Cultural Competency Facilitator, and a Senior Faculty Coach at The Institute for Woman Centered Coaching, Training and Leadership specializing in women’s Transformational Leadership. (Learn more)

ARIEL FRISTOE

Ariel is the founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater, winner of The New York Times Best Theater of the Year, the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge, and the Governor’s Award in the Arts and Humanities. Out of Hand advances racial and economic justice through programs that combine theater with information and conversation. In 2024, Harvard Business School published a case study on their business model. Ariel leads the Concentration in Arts Management at Emory, where she is also an Innovator in Residence at The Hatchery. She is published in the International Journal of Arts Management and American Theater Magazine. Ariel is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Leadership Buckhead, Regional Leadership Institute, and Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta, and a LINK Trip delegate. The AJC named her an Everyday Hero, and Georgia Trend named her one of Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders. She is a Synchronicity Women in the Arts and Business Arts Honoree. Ariel won the Lewis Sudler Prize in the Arts, Loridans Artist Encouragement Award, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange. She is a foster parent, and she serves on Families First’s Advancement and Wellroot Family Services’ Marketing Committees, and the Advisory Boards of the Atlanta Science Festival and Emory Center for Creativity and Arts. (Learn more)

CICELY GARRETT

Cicely is a consultant adept in a wide variety of projects involving design thinking, strategic partnerships, food sovereignty, and economic mobility. Cicely spearheaded the transition of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability to Office of Resilience under the 100 Resilient Cities program pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation to address challenges and opportunities arising in Metro cities as a result of urbanization, globalization, and climate change for 2 years. Prior to joining the Office of Resilience, Cicely served as a community builder, facilitator and program manager for 8.5 years at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. There she led the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and in 2013 she transitioned to Food Systems Innovation Manager working to improve fresh and healthy food access in Atlanta's inner-city neighborhoods via GA Food Oasis-Atlanta initiative.

DR. DIETRA HAWKINS

Dr. Dietra Hawkins is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who holds a faculty appointment as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University School of Medicine, Program for Recovery and Community Health. She has spent nearly two decades helping individuals, communities, and organizations apply research-based approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Learn more)

TERRA GAY

Rated as stellar, clients and participants have touted the benefits of Terra’s trainings. She has trained youth, staff and community members around the country via partnerships with 826 National, Citi Foundation, The Corporation for National and Community Service, Habitat for Humanity International, The Magic Johnson Foundation, The Chaka Foundation, Target, Bank of America, Starbuck's, Price Waterhouse Cooper, Jet Blue, Office Depot, The Learning Channel (TLC), The King Center and many, many more.Description goes here. (Learn more)

DR. VONNETTA L. WEST

Vonnetta L. West is founder and CEO of Go West Consulting, LLC facilitating experiences and producing content, purposed to connect, transform and engage people for good. She is Lead Nonviolence Trainer for The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center). Vonnetta is a student of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings, having studied Dr. King’s writings and speeches, and facilitated workshops and trainings derived from Dr. King’s concepts and ideals for 20 years. (Learn more)

Testimonials.

"Thank you so much for sharing your light, your wisdom and your valuable time with me today. I come away knowing we were meant to connect. I have and even greater sense of clarity and assuredness after our time together. I am grateful for you."

— Penelope W.

"I want to thank you again for your loving support. You had a huge impact on my life, and I will forever be grateful for the hour we shared. I broke through another barrier! Be well and thrive!"

— Eleanor C.