Talk Forward reimagines the traditional post-show talkback by engaging community members from the outset of the artistic process rather than after a performance ends. Talk Forward centers the cultivation and care of Black audiences—inviting them to participate as active collaborators in meaning-making, dialogue, and civic reflection.
Through civic forums, listening sessions, and community town halls, SBT elevates the voices of Black leaders, artists, and residents so that lived experience informs both artistic inquiry and advocacy strategies. In partnership with Black-led nonprofits, businesses, and local schools, Talk Forward helps build a collaborative ecosystem where community insight shapes programming and organizational priorities.
These gatherings create sustained spaces where artists and community members can collectively process pressing social and political issues, deepen cultural connection, and generate community-informed ideas that can influence local advocacy and policy conversations.
