William Etundi on Activism, Creativity and Evolution - E19

How to bring people together for experiences that change lives.

In this episode entitled Fuelling Creative Fire to Inspire Culture Change, Amisha is in conversation with William Etundi, a curator and creator of "events that touch the world". From jubilant mass political protests to mind-expanding mansion parties, William's events blend social commentary, art and public spectacle. Together Amisha and William discuss their experiences of race, difference, place, belonging and embodying cultural bridges. William speaks about his experience growing up as a mixed race man with African heritage in both America, as well as his early childhood experiences of activism as the son of a politically engaged pastor in a proudly gay district. From taking days off school to attend protests as a child, William grew up and moved to New York to immerse himself in the community of activists and culture creators of the late 90s and early 2000s. He describes the energy and hope of young people reclaiming the streets and speaking truth to power, and the crushing disillusionment that followed the brutal police suppression of protests around the 2004 Republican convention in New York. Amisha and William share stories of entering inside the mainstream political and judicial system, getting burned by what they saw and experienced there and how this led them both to turn their energies towards the soft, small, interpersonal actions at the roots of society and the call of the creative fire inside. William Etundi's work has been featured in the pages of Vogue, i-D Magazine, Paper Magazine, and more, with the New York Times proclaiming him "an impresario of the underground." In 2012 he launched SeeMe, an international artist network that grew to over 1 million members. He is also the founder and creative director of You Are So Lucky, one of the most sought-after tickets in New York City.

"I think it is essential that when you feel that creative fire inside to be true to that. It doesn't mean it's going to save the world but it might save you and that could be just as important". William Etundi

Links from this episode and more at https://allthatweare.org/2018/06/28/e19-william-etundi-on-activism-creativity-and-evolution-fuelling-creative-fire-to-inspire-culture-change/

Learn more about SeeMe at https://www.see.me/

For Amisha's book INTUITION - https://amisha.co.uk/intuition/