Move it Forward Monday, Faith, Art and Activism

We chatted with my husband, Kes, founder of Keystone Productions (@keystoneproductions) about art, faith and activism, and his recent creative projects - “Too Many Names,” a short film he produced for Family Survivor Network @fsnwork, which lifts up healing + community based solutions around #gunviolence.

Listen to our IG Live discussion here.

Kes is an award-winning videographer, photographer and creative director who has worked with local and national organizations like Moms Rising, FLO Giving, Maryland Institute College of Art, Morgan State University, In All Ways Human, Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. among others.

Kes lost his brother Micheal to #gunviolence and has dedicated his creative art to centering the stories & lived experiences of those living on the margins, along with Black and Brown folks.

Some Key Takeaways -

• Focus on your purpose (what drives you to make a difference) not the applause. God has given you a unique vision, remain rooted in this not the approval of others.

• As folks who are working for change we must be careful about over caring which can lead to burnout and overall being ineffective in the work we are called to do. Kes recommends the book Heart Math.

• Violence is not only physical, it’s also how we treat one another, how we talk to one another. What kind of energy are we creating in our communities with our daily actions.

• We must meet folks where they are… not where we wish them to be. We are called to an ethic of community care, and this calls for us to release a focus on “perfection.”

• LOVE doesn’t need an enemy to LOVE. 🙏🏾♥️🙏🏾

• Casa Coleman, one of our Pray with our Feet community members summarized some of the gems Kes shared in one sentence: “We can survive in our distraction or we can thrive in our purpose regardless of the praise we receive along the way.”