Morgan joined The LP team as our Interim Director of External Affairs in September 2022. Get to know more about her!
In what neighborhood do you live?
Madison Heights, Virginia (previously Harlem, NY and originally from Bed-Stuy)
How did you first become connected to The LP, or hear about The LP?
I was introduced to The LP by friends—initially by Robin Cembalest, and then by another friend-turned-colleague Ben Millstein.
So, what attracted you to The LP? How does working here relate to your professional goals?
I was attracted to The LP’s unique positioning within the social justice world—everything from its hyper-local focus to its intersection of the arts and SJ. I’m originally from Bed-Stuy and have always been engaged in both performing and visual arts. Professionally, I’ve focused my career on strategic communications with a racial and gender justice lens, so I’m so excited to bring my skills to The LP and learn from the team here!
Do you have your own creative practice? If so, tell us more!
I’m a writer (short stories, essays and a forever-in-process novel) and classically trained opera singer. I grew up performing (theater, show choir, a cappella, etc.) but now mostly relegate that to a karaoke night with friends. Currently I’m applying all my visual art-loving skills (and it seems budget!) to decorating my first home.
Can you tell us about an artist or project that has inspired you?
I’m inspired by the patience, consistency, vision and faith with which several actors have navigated their careers: Sandra Oh, Noma Dumezweni, T’Nia Miller. I love to watch them on screen. As for a visual artist, I am also deeply inspired by the talent, confidence and vision of Uzo Njoku whose career has evolved so excitingly in just a few years! And from a politics and arts crossover perspective, I was also inspired by the 2016 billboard campaign from For Freedom, the artist activist group co-founded in 2016 by Hank Willis Thomas, Eric Gottesman Michelle Woo and Wyatt Gallery. For similar reasons, I’ve loved seeing the mural work of Tatyana Fazlalizadeh throughout NYC.
What is your favorite… film? …album? …food?
Film: Hereditary (I’m a big horror fan) // Album: Regina Carter’s Paganini – After a Dream // Food: My mom’s pound cake!
Where do you do your laundry?
At home
In your opinion, why does art matter?*
Art, in all of its forms, is our opportunity to connect with and deepen our relationship with ourselves and each other. It is a forum to experiment, to challenge, to demand visibility, to call in and out, to dazzle and to escape. Art matters because numbers and measurable metrics cannot adequately capture what it is to be human or to witness humanity. It’s expansive, and it’s for everyone!
What LP value do you most related to and why?*
Absolutely to practice abundance. Living under capitalism, many (most) systems are designed to keep us yearning for That Thing Just Beyond Our Grasp. As a new homeowner, this is particularly treacherous as I actually do need a lot of things (having moved from a tiny Harlem apartment I just don’t own enough furniture to fill all my rooms!). But I love the practice of an abundance mindset because it reminds me to focus on how we have – I have – everything I need and more, or whatever I need is within an easy reach. It’s empowering and exciting to see that as a central value of an organization that is working so intentionally within a community.
Morgan Fletcher (she/her) is a communications professional, facilitator, and strategist with over a decade of experience. She is the founder of Fletcher Ventures, a boutique consulting firm serving organizations in developing narrative-changing digital content and building high-performing communications teams. Previously, Morgan founded and led Girls for Gender Equity’s Storytelling and Marketing team which lead messaging and campaigns that centered Black girls and gender expansive youth of color with an an anti-oppression, anti-carceral, and Black feminist approach. Morgan received a Bachelor’s of Arts from Columbia University’s Columbia College.