Have you ever felt left out?

Like you didn’t belong?

Have you ever felt... weird?

Uhhh... Yeah. I've spent most of my life feeling like the weirdo. I've been called "weird" plenty of times. Sometimes I feel like I don't quite know how to be human - how to function and communicate in a "normal" way.

But the older I get, the more I wonder... are any of us really normal?

The whole reason that we judge other people who are different than us as "weird" is because we have this ridiculous idea that "normal" even exists.

Newsflash! It doesn't!

Each one of us have a set of lived experiences that shapes our idea of "normal".

Those are the ideas I set out to examine when I created my one-person show / theatrical keynote performance, Towards Together: A Vision for a Kinder, More Inclusive World.

I wrote, produced, and performed my first one-person show last summer. On Friday, July 19, 2019, I premiered "Embrace Yr Weird" at the back theatre of The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret in New Orleans. (You can learn more about the process of creating my one-person show here or watch a full-length video of that night's performance.)

Since then, I've renamed the show "Towards Together", partially because Felicia Day's book Embrace Your Weird: A Guided Journal for Facing Your Fears and Unleashing Creativity came out a few months after my original performance. But I'm also glad that I renamed it, because while redefining what "normal" vs "weird" means is still a big part of my message, Towards Together is ultimately about becoming more aware of the judgements we have towards ourselves and other people, and shifting from a mindset of judgement, to a mindset of curiosity, compassion, authenticity, and allyship.

It's about moving Towards Together so that we can can stop the bullying, violence, and divineness and come together to work towards solving the world's most pressing problems.

"Our country and our world has become increasingly divided, and it can be easy to look at the news and feel hopeless. An overwhelming number of students have seen or experienced bullying, and according to the Workplace Bullying Institute, more than 60 million U.S. workers are affected by workplace bullying. But I believe that in spite all of our differences, there are things that connect us all as human beings. I believe that curiosity, vulnerability, and sharing our stories can bring us closer together, so that we can stop bullying and start working towards solving the world's most pressing problems."

This month, I'm launching a new movement & social storytelling campaign: January 27-31, 2020, we're going to flood Instagram and social media in a collective movement called #TowardsTogether.

We'll kick off this week-long celebration with a performance of my one-person show, Towards Together: A Vision for a Kinder, More Inclusive World on Sunday, January 26 at 8pm at The Twilight Room at The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret (2240 Saint Claude Ave, New Orleans). Buy tickets here.

Here's a short video trailer of what you can expect:

The #TowardsTogether Pledge

We are united in the belief that all human beings want & need to belong and feel included.

We believe that curiosity, vulnerability, and sharing our stories can bring us closer together.

We believe that when we help other people feel seen, heard, understood, and included, we also create a deeper sense of belonging for ourselves.

Join the #TowardsTogether Movement:

If you feel the same, I hope you'll join us and share your own belonging story on Instagram, LinkedIn or your favorite social media platform. Here's how:

Write #TowardsTogether on a piece of paper (or your artistic medium of choice!) and take a picture holding it. Examples below:

Post the picture on Instagram, LinkedIn or your preferred social media platform during the week of January 27-31, 2020. Videos are encouraged too, if you prefer!
In your caption, share a story about a time when you felt like you didn’t belong, when you felt judged by other people, or felt like you were “weird” or not “normal”.
Optional, you can also share why diversity, inclusion & belonging is important to you AND / OR why you want a kinder, more inclusive world.
In your Instagram caption, tag & mention: #TowardsTogether @TowardsTogether & @Mallory.Whitfield⁣⁣⁣

RSVP to get updates & learn more at: TowardsTogether.com

#TowardsTogether New Orleans Events

If you're in New Orleans, you can also join me for 2 local events: We'll kick things off with a performance of my one-person show, Towards Together: A Vision for a Kinder, More Inclusive World on Sunday, January 26 at 8pm at The Twilight Room at The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret (2240 Saint Claude Ave, New Orleans). Buy tickets here.

On Thursday, January 30, join me for a #TowardsTogether meetup from 5-7pm at The Domino (3044 St Claude Avenue). RSVP on Facebook here.

What will 2020 bring?

Y'all. This world can feel overwhelming at times. But recently, as I was putting together the mission statement for #TowardsTogether, I found myself remembering a quote from the Star Wars movie, Rogue One:

"Rebellions are built on hope."

I believe that it's my mission to spread joy, hope, and optimism whenever possible. The harsh realities of this world exist, but whenever possible, we can also share actionable ways that people can make it better.

Last fall, I performed Towards Together as the keynote for Diversity Week at West Texas A&M University and for a group of students at Gulfport High School, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where I grew up. I'm planning to bring this show & this message to more audiences in 2020, including conferences, associations, colleges and universities.

If you're planning an event or know of a group of people that could benefit from a message of hope, compassion, curiosity, authenticity, and inclusion, please reach out!