Join Motus Theater for a special presentation of their JustUs Monologues: Stories from the Frontlines of the Criminal Legal System with Music from The ReMINDers. Hear leaders who were formerly incarcerated share artfully crafted autobiographical monologues about the impact of the criminal legal system on them and their families. Lewis University Provost, Dr. Christopher Sindt, will join Motus' JustUs Project Strategist & Monologist Juaquin Mobley on stage to read Juaquin's personal story. Monologues will be woven with inspiring musical responses by nationally-acclaimed singers, The ReMINDers.
This performance will be coming to you in-person and live streamed from The Phillip Lynch Theatre at Lewis University. A perfect event for thoughtful dialogue and reflection on the ongoing civil rights and racial justice challenges of the criminal legal system.
When: April 26, 2023 - 7:30pm (CDT) / 6:30pm (MDT)
Where: Philip Lynch Theatre in-person and livestream
STREAMING HERE: https://www.luartsandideas.org/streaming_2022-23/MotusTheater_04-26-2023.html
JustUs was developed by Motus Theater in 2019 and premiered as a keynote at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference in front of 1,600 stakeholders. Since then, the JustUs monologues have been featured in several national and global conferences and have been read and embraced by religious, social justice, civic, and law enforcement leaders across the state. The powerful monologues explore themes such as racial profiling, inequality in the bond/bail system, human rights abuses in prisons, criminalizing substance abusers, and the systemic racism and poverty that pushes people into illicit economies.
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:
The ReMINDers are a rare and remarkable musical duo with undeniable magical chemistry. Members Samir and Aja have been married for over a decade. They seamlessly blend razor-sharp rhythms and raw, soulful vocals with reggae-tinged hip-hop beats to highlight their relevant and inspiring messages. The ReMINDers have been recognized and applauded for their work internationally through concerts, tours, music awards, and TV and radio appearances. They have shared the stage with artists such as Nas, Big Boi, Snoop Dogg, and Ms. Lauryn Hill.
Motus’ JustUs Project Monologist Colette Payne is an organizer, leader, student, mother, and grandmother. As the Director of the Women's Justice Institute, she engages 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 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 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 fall into the same traps 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.