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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)

@ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social
597 followers 398 following 104 posts

Founder, Producing Events & Experiences @ #TheBrandprint Arts Advocacy at Theatre Communications Group Project Manager at TheAfroGames South Africa 2025 Opinions = Mine

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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
AFSCME @afscme.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
This Library Workers Day, AFSCME salutes the workers who power public libraries. The White House is defunding the only federal agency that supports libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services. We are challenging the move in court: www.afscme.org/press/releas...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
My girlies group text is more secure than the nation. #BUTHEREMAILS
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Today a troll/hater told me to be "indecent and thorough"
media.tenor.com
two men are talking and one of them says " i do not think it means what you think it means .. "
ALT: two men are talking and one of them says " i do not think it means what you think it means .. "
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Proud to co-lead in this advocacy effort. Thank you to @aclu.org and the field for the support! tcg.org/Web/News/Pre...
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Keith Boykin @keithboykin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
After firing the Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top ranking Black officials, Trump's Pentagon is now deleting thousands of images of Black service members, women, and LGBT references in an effort to stamp out diversity. apnews.com/article/dei-...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
BREAKING NEWS: @aclu.org has filed lawsuit on behalf of artists and theatre organizations, including TCG, to challenge a new #NEA grant guideline mandating that applicants comply with the president’s anti-trans “gender ideology” executive order to receive funding. via @americantheatre.bsky.social:
americantheatre.org
Artists Mount 1st Amendment Challenge to New NEA Grant Requirements
Filed by the ACLU on behalf of theatre organizations, including TCG, the suit is aimed at a new anti-trans guideline recently added by the endowment.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
American Theatre @americantheatre.org · 03/03/2025
TCG’s newest annual report of U.S. theatres’ financial health, which covers 2023, shows plenty of cause for concern amid signs of resilience and promise. www.americantheatre.org/2025/03/03/t...
americantheatre.org
TCG’s Theatre Facts: Some Revenue Growth but a Drop in Assets
TCG's newest annual report of U.S. theatres' financial health, which covers 2023, shows plenty of cause for concern amid signs of resilience and promise.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Ma Dukes was a titan whom I first encountered at about 16 years old. She encouraged us young folk during our first meeting to have more "sticktuity" - to turn our youthful passion into sustained activism. Thanjs for the many lessons along the way.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
In the wake of sweeping layoffs and furloughs across the federal workforce, many Washington, DC-area theatres are offering complimentary and discounted tickets to those affected. Via @theatrewash.bsky.social: theatrewashington.org/updates/free...
theatrewashington.org
Free and Discounted Tickets for Federal Workers
In the wake of sweeping layoffs and furloughs across the Federal workforce, many DC-area theatres are offering tickets to those affected.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Today @dramatistsguild.bsky.social @ncacensorship.bsky.social @artistsatrisk.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social and others expressed deep concern over the Trump Administration’s recent moves to impose ideological control over federally funded cultural programs: #theatresky #artssky #advocacy
ncac.org
National Free Speech and Art Organizations Warn of a “Golden Age” of Propaganda and a “Starvation Age” for Culture
Related Posts Free SpeechI didn't want just the students opinion on Free speech in School (Does it Exist?)… Free SpeechMy experimental film is about the students that try to make themselves known and ...
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
NBC News @nbcnews.com · 22/02/2025
BREAKING: Judge blocks Trump administration from terminating DEI-related grants, calling the president's executive orders too vague to be enforced.
nbcnews.com
Judge blocks Trump administration from terminating DEI-related grants
The judge found the administration's mandate that grant recipients do not engage in "equity-related" programs was too broad.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Musk’s Companies Set to Add $613 Billion in Value Since Election
First Tesla Inc. surged. Then SpaceX became the world’s most valuable tech startup and xAI nearly doubled its valuation before looking to do it again. Now, X is looking to join Elon Musk’s other compa...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Black history. American history.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Fairly sure this grey is from trying to lead in this moment.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Actors' Equity Association @actorsequity.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Our statement on the Kennedy Center cancellation of the tour Finn, a musical for young audiences. Read the full statement on our website - www.actorsequity.org/news/PR/Finn...
Actors’ Equity Association Statement on Kennedy Center Cancellation of “Finn” - It is disturbing to see the new leadership of this institution move so swiftly to suppress viewpoints they do not agree with. And it is beyond appalling that the art they find so dangerous is a joyful children’s musical encouraging young people to be true to themselves and follow their dreams. Actors’ Equity Association Statement on Kennedy Center Cancellation of “Finn” continued - Actors’ Equity Association stands with the company of this production and is watching developments carefully. The union intends to fully enforce our contracts with The Kennedy Center.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Google knows everything about me, you, yo mama and your cousin too - but can't "sustain" remembering when it's Black History Month. That's a Gulf of BS
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
The #KennedyCenter website is now "under maintenance". #theatre #theatersky #arts #artssky #theatrebsky
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
NPR @npr.org · 12/02/2025
UPDATE: The White House defended its decision to block The Associated Press from covering two official events on Tuesday because it did not refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
npr.org
White House defends blocking AP from event for using 'Gulf of Mexico'
The White House blocked the Associated Press from covering two official events on Tuesday because it did not refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
protectmypublicmedia.org
protectmypublicmedia.org
Protect My Public Media
Take a stand for the local stations and programs you love.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
...
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
NPR @npr.org · 11/02/2025
The NEA will no longer fund arts programs that promote DEI or "gender ideology." The federal agency has cancelled grants that have funded programs for underserved communities for more than 20 years.
npr.org
'Chilling effect': Arts organizations react to end of DEI initiatives from fed agency
The NEA will no longer fund arts programs that promote DEI or "gender ideology." The federal agency has cancelled grants that have funded programs for underserved communities for more than 20 years.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
So Interim Executive Director isn't a job under the current Kennedy Center structure.... but umm... www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
Trump names loyalist Ric Grenell interim boss of Kennedy Center
Grenell held several posts during Trump’s first term, including ambassador to Germany.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
American Theatre @americantheatre.org · 10/02/2025
The NEA's new arts grants guidelines prioritize art celebrating next year's U.S. semiquincentennial, though not to the exclusion of other applicants. The bigger issue: All applicants must comply with President Trump's anti-DEI and anti-trans executive orders. www.americantheatre.org/2025/02/10/n...
americantheatre.org
New NEA Guidelines Require Compliance With Trump’s Anti-DEI, Anti-Trans Orders
Other updates include a cancellation of Challenge America grants and a new emphasis on patriotic ‘America250’ projects.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
American Theatre (@americantheatre.bsky.social): New NEA Guidelines Require Compliance With Trump’s Anti-DEI, Anti-Trans Orders www.americantheatre.org/2025/02/10/n... #theater #theatresky #2amt #theatre #dei #executiveorders #tfoc #gender #nea #nationaledowmentforthearts #nea
americantheatre.org
New NEA Guidelines Require Compliance With Trump’s Anti-DEI, Anti-Trans Orders
Other updates include a cancellation of Challenge America grants and a new emphasis on patriotic ‘America250’ projects.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
US farmers sold $2 billion of food to USAID. Not any more. - US farmers provided 41% of food delivered by USAID - $340M of purchases/shipments are now paused. Over 680,000 tonnes. - Food stranded in Houston - Aid stopped in transit. The world’s poor starving, food rotting & US farmers screwed.
washingtonpost.com
Gutting USAID threatens billions of dollars for U.S. farms, businesses
U.S. businesses that sold goods and services to USAID are in limbo, including American farms dealing in rice, wheat and soybeans.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
From Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: "During crises, focus on your key levers of organizational stability: strong internal controls; sustainable revenue mix; strategic HR; ethical leadership." minnesotanonprofits.org/resources-to...
minnesotanonprofits.org
Resources to navigate uncertainty
Resources and tangible steps nonprofits can take to help you navigate with confidence.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Laura Collins-Hughes @collinshughes.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Press release from the Kennedy Center, responding to the president’s post about purging its board and taking over as chair.
Emailed press release with the subject line A Statement From the Kennedy Center:

A Statement From the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of congress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened in1971, we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion.
While we are a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are also a unique public-private partnership. The Center is supported by federal annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget. Support for the Center’s artistic programming comes from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources.
The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration. 
Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.

If you would rather not receive future communications from John F Kennedy Center For The Performing, let us know by clicking here.
John F Kennedy Center For The Performing, 2700 F Street, Washington, DC 20566 United States
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 07/02/2025
Breaking News: President Trump said he planned to take control of the Kennedy Center and intended to fire several board members and install himself as chair.
nytimes.com
Trump Says He Will Install Himself as Kennedy Center Chairman
The move by the president, whose authority to make the changes was not clear, is the latest attempt to bring a Washington institution under his control.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Lily Janiak @lilyjaniak.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
My colleague Zara Irshad reports on initial Bay Area reactions to the NEA's new grant guidelines: www.sfchronicle.com/entertainmen...
sfchronicle.com
‘This is a trap’: Bay Area arts organizations voice concerns over NEA’s new grant guidelines
The National Endowment for the Arts’ latest update to its grant guidelines has stirred concern among art communities in the Bay Area.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
"Trump Takes Over the Kennedy Center The president intends to replace members of the institution’s board as he adopts a more aggressive approach toward the arts." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc... #arts #theatresky #artssky
theatlantic.com
Trump Takes Over the Kennedy Center
The president intends to replace members of the institution’s board as he adopts a more aggressive approach toward the arts.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
The National Endowment of the Arts has released new guidelines for FY26 grants, including compliance with the executive orders banning promotion of DEI: www.arts.gov/grants/legal...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
www.wbur.org/news/2025/02...
wbur.org
Boston arts organizations uneasy over possible loss of federal funding
A vague directive from the new administration in Washington has caused unease among local arts groups and for the future of their programming.
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Reposted by Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her)
Howard Sherman @hesherman.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Great news about the new head of Rehabilitation Through the Arts, Jermaine Archer, the first alumnus to lead the prison arts program showcased in the @a24movies.bsky.social film “Sing Sing.”
lohud.com
Former incarcerated man to lead arts group that inspired Oscar-nominated 'Sing Sing'
Jermaine Archer did time in Sing Sing and has been tapped to lead the prison-arts group that inspired the Oscar-nominated film 'Sing Sing.'
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
NFL: Our diversity efforts were the right thing to do! Also NFL: www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/n... I guess racism is ova. Let's celebrate! ✌️ out, choosing love #sarcasm
nbcnews.com
NFL will remove 'End Racism' from the end zones ahead of Super Bowl
The announcement comes the same day a White House official told NBC News that President Donald Trump would be attending the game.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
"“Offenses” for the workers listed on the website include working on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, donating to Democrats and using pronouns in their bios."
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Meanwhile, in the worst timeline: www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
nbcnews.com
About 100,000 eggs worth $40K stolen from trailer in Pennsylvania
The theft occurred around 8:40 p.m. Saturday at Pete and Gerry’s Organics in Greencastle.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
This cast is fire
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Thank you (at last) for the reporting on this. I have been shouting about it since last week *sigh*: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/a...
nytimes.com
Trump Dissolves Arts Committee Previously Restored by Biden
The disbanding of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities came amid a flurry of executive orders touching on art, culture and history.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
No words.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
I guess DEI raised the egg prices too. I'm infuriated today. I live a few mins away from where they are still searching for the human beings who lost their lives, and the blame is being placed on efforts to recruit people with disabilities. gtfoh
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Here are my two cents on this week's fed policy shiftiness and the threat to our theaters and #theater makers. If you are like me, you might have had your head on a swivel following the updates, particularly regarding federal grant funding. Opinions = my own #theatrebsky #theatersky #arts #2amt
linkedin.com
No Intermission: Fighting for Arts Funding in a Time of Chaos
Theater has always been a solace in times of change—a place where we gather to process, reflect, and find relief. I remember that feeling vividly, sitting in the theater for one of the first performan...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Welp. Meta has disabled searches for #obama, #kamala, #democrats, #voteblue and more on #Instagram. #Censorship has begun in America.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Who's cutting onions?! 🥲🥹 "I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first, Black, female #SupremeCourt justice to appear ona #Broadway stage". - #KentajiBrownJackson And she did! @andjulietbway.bsky.social #theater youtu.be/weF4g29YnSo?...
youtu.be
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in & Juliet (Live on Broadway!)
YouTube video by & Juliet Broadway
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
I am feeling the loss of NYC's small performance venues. They used to be a plenty. They are gone.
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
media.tenor.com
a man in a red jacket is talking to a man in a black shirt
ALT: a man in a red jacket is talking to a man in a black shirt
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Streaming football is a mess. It took me almost an hour to figure out how to watch a game today...
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Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Holding space for all the theaters doing Christmas Carol that was to spice it up next year... #theater #theaterbsky #Christmas #Marley #Scrooge
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