Kwanza Jones Joins Sarah Vie to Discuss Culture In Motion™
Culture In Motion interview begins at 23:20
Transcript
Sarah Vie (23:20)
Kwanza Jones truly embodies the spirit of creativity as abundance, seamlessly blending the worlds of art, investment, and philanthropy. As the creator and executive producer of Culture In Motion™, she is building a national cultural platform with the legendary Apollo Theater, bringing arts, access, and opportunity directly into communities across the country while celebrating diversity and human connection. Wow, what an intro. [laughter]
Welcome to the show. I love this so much. Welcome to the show.
Kwanza Jones (24:03)
Thank you so much, Sarah. It is so wonderful to be here.
Sarah Vie (24:06)
I just love your outfit, too. Um, so Kwanza, you know, in a time where the world often feels more divided than connected—
Kwanza Jones (24:15)
Oh, yeah.
Sarah Vie (24:16)
Why do you believe that the platforms of Culture In Motion™ matter more today than ever?
Kwanza Jones (24:25)
I’ll tell you, primarily it is because each of us has our own unique special powers, and I say that comes from a place where we are all supercharged.
And Culture In Motion™, as a platform, is showing that you can have an idea, similar to what you have done, and make it come to life. And it matters even more so because, as we see so much division and so many things going away, this is a way to show that culture never stops.
It’s constantly in motion, and it will continue to be carried forward by each of us who do our part to make that happen.
Sarah Vie (25:04)
It just kind of seems as if culture is kind of at a standstill. You know, the motion of culture kind of is at a standstill. This is so, so important. But honoring The Apollo Theater’s legacy goes beyond celebrating a historic venue, right? It’s about building a national movement with lasting cultural impact.
So, what inspired you to take this beyond Harlem and bring it to communities across the country?
Kwanza Jones (25:36)
Well, just imagine for a moment, so many decades and decades and decades ago, when folks did not have opportunities to perform in different places. Sometimes there were folks that looked like me. Sometimes there may be folks that looked like your friends.
So, people would come to Harlem, to The Apollo, because that was a space and a place of opportunity. So, with Culture In Motion™, what’s happening is that it’s actually going into all of the spaces and places where people came from because culture comes from communities, and the communities were brought to Harlem.
And Harlem is almost like a beacon, it’s a mecca, where you can go to The Apollo Theater, the world-famous Apollo Theater. But it didn’t always start there. It just culminated there. So, it’s simply going back. I call it an appreciation tour. It’s going into the communities to absolutely show gratitude and appreciation for what they brought to The Apollo.
Sarah Vie (26:36)
Wow. Amazing. Amazing. You know, The Apollo Theater has clearly been really meaningful in your own journey.
Kwanza Jones (26:44)
Oh, for sure.
Sarah Vie (26:45)
So, how does that personal connection influence the way you’re bringing this experience of your life, to others?
Kwanza Jones (26:53)
Well, I like to say that, like so many others, I’m an Apollo alum.
Sarah Vie (27:02)
Apollo alum.
Kwanza Jones (27:03)
Yes.
Sarah Vie (27:04)
I want to be an Apollo alum.
Kwanza Jones (27:05)
You might be. You know that…
And as I define it, the institution, The Apollo, is actually putting a lot of energy and effort into really working on an alumni association, in large part because there are so many artists that have graced that stage.
There are so many people who have worked there. There are so many folks who have been board members. I am a board member currently at The Apollo. Not only that, I’m one of the only board members that actually performed at The Apollo and won Amateur Night.
Sarah Vie (27:36)
And what did you do? Did you dance? You sang.
Kwanza Jones (27:40)
I sang. I was a student at Princeton University at the time. And when you talk about Culture In Motion™, and even now this platform, we literally have a bus that is going on a roadshow all throughout the nation.
And you see, that’s where part of the motion comes from. It makes me think of one of my early Apollo stories, which was a bus going from Princeton to The Apollo to go perform.
Sarah Vie (28:07)
Wow.
Kwanza Jones (28:07)
And even beyond that, my father had a law office and an employment agency diagonally across from The Apollo. And I would have to go with my siblings and work there every summer and some weekends, too.
So, walking by The Apollo all the time, it’s a part of my DNA and soul. And it also, for me, meant that just as The Apollo was part of me, I was also a part of The Apollo, similarly to so many other folks, too.
Sarah Vie (28:38)
That’s amazing. You know, if our viewers could take away just one lesson from your work and your journey, one insight that could inspire them to live more creatively and abundantly, of course, what would you say that would be?
Kwanza Jones (28:55)
It always starts with the mind and truly owning your power, living your purpose, and, most importantly for me, being of service. That’s what it means to be SUPERCHARGED: to tap into that thing in you that maybe you may be the only one who even sees it. You may be the only one who even feels it.
But when you tap into that, that is your source.
Sarah Vie (29:14)
This has kind of been the theme; it’s just like tapping in and knowing that we all have this power because it’s there. It’s there. You exude it. Amazing.
Kwanza Jones (29:27)
Yes. We feel it. I’m feeling the energy of it.
Sarah Vie (29:27)
So, thank you for the world. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with all of us. This is amazing.
Kwanza Jones (29:35)
Thank you. Of course. Thanks, Sarah. Thanks for having me.
Sarah Vie (29:37)
You’re welcome.
Well, that is it for us today on Living Abundantly. For even more content and inspiration, follow us on my YouTube channel, Living Abundantly with Sarah Vie. And I’ll see you next time.
And I always say, here’s to living abundantly.