Motus Theater’s JustUs Monologues with Music from The ReMINDers
Stories from the Frontlines of the Criminal Legal System with Atlanta-area Leaders Co-Reading the Personal Stories of People Who Have Experienced the Impact of Incarceration.
In partnership with the Dekalb County & Douglas County District Attorney’s offices, Motus Theater presents a special JustUs performance. During this special performance, Dekalb County District Attorney, Sherry Boston, Douglas County District Attorney, Dalia Racine, Retired Atlanta Police Homicide Detective David Quinn, and Renowned Broadcast Journalist Monica Kaufman Pearson, Peachtree TV (WPCH-TV) co-read autobiographical monologues of Motus’ JustUs monologists who were formerly incarcerated. Featured monologists are: Brandon Wainright, Colette Payne, Daniel Guillory, Dereck Bell, and Juaquin Mobley. Monologues will be woven with inspiring musical responses by nationally-acclaimed singers, The ReMINDers.
In collaboration with Fair & Just Prosecution, Motus Theater is touring JustUs monologues with district attorneys across the country to inspire thoughtful dialogue on the impact the criminal legal system has on communities. The JustUs project was developed by Motus Theater in 2019 and monologues have since served as keynotes for 12 national and international conferences. Motus Theater’s mission is to create original theater to facilitate dialogue on critical issues of our time, using the power of art to build alliances across diverse segments of our community and country. JustUs monologues were developed in collaboration with Motus Theater’s artistic director, Kirsten Wilson, as part of an 18-24 week workshop.
The event will feature:
Dekalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston stands among the elite in the world of prosecution. She is one of only three African-American female District Attorneys in the State of Georgia, and among the rare one percent of African-American females currently serving as District Attorneys nationwide. In her capacity, DA Boston oversees the prosecution of felony offenses filed in the Superior Court of DeKalb County. Since taking the helm as District Attorney in 2017, Ms. Boston has restructured and redefined prosecution processes and increased the Office’s capacity to serve victims with an expanded victim services unit. Observers have taken notice of DA Boston’s efforts. She was recently lauded by Atlanta Magazine as one of metro Atlanta’s 500 Most Influential People. Through her work with the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution and the Fair and Just Prosecution initiative, DA Boston has also become an integral part of the national dialogue on criminal justice reform.
Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine brings almost 15 years of prosecutorial experience to her leadership and service. She has specialized in homicides, crimes against women and children, and human trafficking. Dalia also served as an Attorney Advisor with AEquitas, where she provided training and technical assistance around gender-based violence investigations and prosecutions to prosecutors, law enforcement, and allied professionals across the country. Dalia has championed the responsibility of elected prosecutors to keep their communities safe by implementing innovative practices and policies that reduce the number of repeat offenders who cause harm. Dalia has integrated Smart Justice while holding dangerous offenders accountable in our prison system. Additionally, Dalia has made it a priority for the District Attorney's office to be an integral part of our community and to keep servant leadership at the forefront of everything we do. She has lived in Douglas County for over 13 years with her husband, a Douglas County educator, and their 3 children.
David Quinn is a retired homicide detective with 30 years of service with the Atlanta Police Department. He has unparalleled skill and experience in law enforcement that is a direct result of a decades-long career starting as a patrolman assigned to the highest crime sectors in Atlanta, GA, to a decorated detective who participated in hundreds of homicide cases. During his service as a homicide detective, David was directly responsible for the investigation that resulted in the first successful gang prosecution in the history of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Immediately after retirement, David was retained as a Consultant for the Atlanta Police Homicide Unit. He was responsible for mentoring and providing instruction, guidance, and historical perspective to detectives conducting criminal homicide investigations. Other responsibilities include periodical training in crime scene, interview and interrogation, cultivation of witnesses, and courtroom testimony.
Monica Kaufman Pearson is the first woman and first minority to anchor the daily evening news in Atlanta, GA, where she worked for 37 years at WSB TV. After being retired for 10 years, Monica recently was lured back into the business by Gray TV to host an hour-long, monthly personality interview show, Monica Pearson One on One on Peachtree TV, WPCH-T During her 52 years in newspaper, public relations, radio, and TV, she has won 33 Southern Regional and local Emmy Awards for reporting, anchoring and her former celebrity interview show, Closeups. When she retired, she was honored on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by the bipartisan delegation of the State of Georgia for her years of service on and off the air to improve the lives of the citizens of Georgia. Monica was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in August 2016. She also is in the University of Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Press Club Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Monica calls retirement “rewirement” and now is also a voice-over artist; public speaker, emcee, and spokesperson. Monica is a native of Louisville, KY with a BA from the University of Louisville and an MA from the University of Georgia. She graduated Magna Cum Laude at the age of 67. She is married to John E Pearson Sr and has a daughter and bonus son.
Motus Theater JustUs Monologists:
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Colette Payne is an organizer, leader, student, mother, and grandmother. As the Director of the Women's Justice Institute, she helps engage women directly impacted by the criminal legal system, creating agents of change with solutions to end the incarceration of women and girls. In 2015, Colette joined a delegation to assess women’s prisons in Illinois as the first formerly incarcerated woman in this role in the United States. Colette is living proof that change is possible.
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Brandon Wainright studied communications for electronic media at Winston Salem State University. His education in radio allowed him to be a part of many different cultures in America. That learning inspired him, after 10 years, to give back to the community in which he grew up. He is a son to a mother, a brother to a brother, and a father to two beautiful daughters and one son. He is intent on supporting his community to speak up and challenge the status quo. Brandon hopes his work with Motus will inspire those that are just like him to finish what they start.
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Daniel Guilory is a minister, visual artist, poet and writer with the pen name JB. He is developing his voice as a motivational speaker. He is a grateful father and new grandfather. He is moved by his work with Motus Theater to not simply support Restorative Justice but to transform the entire criminal legal system.
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Colette Payne is an organizer, leader, student, mother, and grandmother. As the Director of the Women's Justice Institute, she helps engage women directly impacted by the criminal legal system, creating agents of change with solutions to end the incarceration of women and girls. In 2015, Colette joined a delegation to assess women’s prisons in Illinois as the first formerly incarcerated woman in this role in the United States. Colette is living proof that change is possible.
Motus’ JustUs Project Strategist & Project Host Juaquin Mobley is the Senior Vice President of Community Works and co-owner of Community Ties and The Community Barber Shop based out of Colorado Springs. Juaquin helps those individuals who were recently incarcerated and/or at risk of becoming incarcerated realize their true potential. Juaquin was once incarcerated for the better half of a decade and knows all too well how a “helping hand,” as opposed to a “hand out,” can motivate one to succeed. A proud father of three beautiful girls, he refuses to let the next generation follow the same footsteps and into the same traps both he and his peers fell into.
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Dereck Bell (aka N.I.F.F) is the lead artist in the hip-hop band, N.I.F.F, based out of Colorado Springs. He is the founder and owner of a marketing, promotions, and photography company called Still Maccin Entertainment Group LLC. In 2018, Bell was the Artist Auditions winner in Denver and the March Madness winner in Colorado Springs. In 2017, he was awarded the Best Collaboration award. He describes his work as “unfiltered and intellectual” in which struggle is infused with culture. Bell is a proud father and partner.
Motus Theater Artistic Director:
Kirsten Wilson, is the Artistic Director, founder and visionary of Motus Theater. She is a narrative artist, editor and master teacher in the field of autobiographical monologue work. She has created several award-winning multi-media performances exploring history through the lens of race and class. She excels in supporting individuals in writing compelling narratives aimed at opening hearts and minds. Her work has been featured in media as diverse as Theater Magazine, Washington Post, NPR, FAST Company Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Latino USA and USA Today.