Diverse Representation Founder, Jaia Thomas

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">T</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">oday is my birthday…But I have a gift for you!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an artist, your divine purpose is to change the world through your creativity.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">And if you're called to be a part of the rise in social activism right now – I've got a story that will inspire you to further raise your hand (and your voice!). </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaia Thomas of Diverse Representation joins me on the podcast today and models how to connect the dots from creativity to activism – and how we are called to do this work (big and small). Jaia walked into</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black Panther</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">pumped to see all the Black actors on screen; after the movie, she rushed home and whipped out her laptop to learn more. When she discovered the teams behind the Black actors</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">were not</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Black she knew she had to do something about it (correction: she was able to find</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">one person</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">on Lupita Nyong'o’s team). </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As you’ll hear, it wasn’t always a walk through Wakanda – but Jaia put one foot in front of the other to create a company (and a movement): Diverse Representation connects acting and sports talent with Black agents, attorneys, managers, & publicists (and each other!). If you have any desire to make this world a better place, I know her story will inspire you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today is my birthday (it’s okay to say that twice on the actual day, right?) and honestly, the greatest gift you could give me – AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS PLANET – is to do what you were called to do (anything less would be selfish).</span></p> <p><strong>Thank you</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">for