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Call and Response Collective

@call_loveresponse

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Communal performance art events and programming
Founder @ash444stevens

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Calling all Chicago based artists!!!

We are thrilled to announce Call and Response Collectives residency at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago is approaching.

June 15th-July 11th we will cultivate rich dialogue on decolonizing the book of Exodus. Reimagining the story in a timeless world where the oppressed people stay and the oppressors leave.

Writing prompts about how we create characters that spiritually liberate themselves and others. Dancing prompts about what does embodied freedom groove like?

❤️THIS IS PROCESS OVER PRODUCT 🥰

Malachi Ashley Stevens is delighted to guide the collective but this is not about one voice but about the collective honoring the past as well as creating a promising future. I hope you are able to join us.

Shout out to photographers @mreidphotog and @tomikoyounge for these beautiful photos.

Click the link in the bio to join Call and Response Collective. by @call_loveresponse

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

July 11th, 2026 was so fruitful!

Thank you to everyone who came and supported us that evening. The open rehearsal shared art, history, and food! Thank you to First Presbyterian Church of Chicago @chicagofirstchurch for allowing Call Response Collective to partake in your residency program. The future of this dance play we have started together is bright. Thank you to the dancers who moved brilliantly to the sound score. Thank you to every single person we interviewed and every collaborator of the music score. This is just the beginning!!!

Thank you to Max Li @omaxlgzo for being a liaison for the project.
Thank you Messejah Washington @messejahxssac for taking these beautiful photos.
Thank you Chef Dozzy for the wonderful meal prepared.

We cannot wait to build this artivist play even more in the future. Stay tuned. Power to the people. ❤️❤️❤️ by @call_loveresponse

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a month ago

Tomorrow we are so excited to present X at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago.

Our dancers will begin a movement meditation to an audio score that holds theological, mythical, and historical significance. We curated portions of the book of Exodus, Chicagos abolitionist history, and one another’s relationships of faith to guide our movement.

We hope you join us in supporting SouthSide Together through your donations upon entry. Peri peri Chicken, Jollof Rice, plantains, and hibiscus tea will be served at 6pm and during the entire event.

Don’t miss out on this process immersive sharing of our research reimagining Exodus.

Only Pharaoh will leaves this time.

We are so grateful for this opportunity to grow and nourish our community. taken in The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago by @call_loveresponse

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3 months ago

Call and Response Collective is so proud to present a work and progress sharing of “X”

Communal based storytelling of spiritual freedom.
Our stories sprouted from the desire of reimagining Exodus, we have not done it yet, but we are thrilled to invite you into the process.

This sharing is an exploratory improv play as a means of education and entertainment. Chicagos history of abolition is quite important and we hope you will come join us in hearing facts about the city of Chicagos underground railroad.

We have only had 8 workshops of thrilling conversations and movement meditations that we think the public should see.

This performance is donation based entry for Southside Together. Little bio below.

“We build people power by organizing Black, poor, and working-class community members in Woodlawn, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Park Manor and all adjacent neighborhoods, to secure economic stability and advance human rights.

We cultivate grassroots infrastructure and develop leadership to enable self determination and take back resources for our communities.“

If you are a vocal artist of any sort please come and present your work in response to our call. We would love to hear your answers to our questions.

As the 11th gets closer we will share more of who is involved in the sharing.

Thank you to First Presbyterian Church of Chicago for providing us space and time to dance and create together.
Thank you Max Li for your leadership and guidance.
Thank you Chef Dozzy for providing a wonderful cuisine for the community.
Thank you to every single person who has come to our sessions and is apart of the Call and Response Collective.

Stay on the lookout for out more information including an open mic sign up google form ❤️💕❤️💕❤️

Power to the people now and forever!!!

Photos of “The Last Tree”
@tomikoyounge taken in Chicago, Illinois by @call_loveresponse

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3 months ago

Today is the first day of Call and Response Collectives residency at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers who have signed up!!! We are very excited to begin this journey with you all!

Thank you to Javon Hardy for filming this beautiful promotional reel. @imnotjavon

Thank you to Preet and Jordan for dancing with me. @jordan.muhammad_ @sky.gulati

Music Venus by Emma-Jean Thackray

June 15th-July 11th
Monday writing sessions from 5:30pm-7pm
Wednesday dancing sessions from 5:30pm-7:pm taken in The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago by @call_loveresponse

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4 months ago

Excerpt of the perspicacious poet @alexisdoves “who is allowed to partake in the dreaming?”

Performed May 4th, 2025

We are all becoming more aware of truly how denied the dreamers are in the United States.

Truly it was a pleasure to hear your response Alexis Doves to CRC prompt “What does it mean to be a patriot and are you one?”

So much gratitude and appreciation for all who had came and performed. CRC will be posting more content from event to shout everyone who was a part of the cipher as well as get more people involved in the next iteration of a CRC production.

Stay tuned comrades of love.

Cover photo - @tomikoyounge by @call_loveresponse

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a year ago

The Last Tree (5/4/25)

Thank you God for giving me the space to uplift love and denounce harm in public with such exquisite human beings!!!!

Still struggling to process this past Sunday. No words can describe the honor of giving back to the arts and the LA community. All the love and grief touched our ears during the soft chirps of swallows flying above us.

My heart is more healed now because of all of the lovely people and talent that heard my call and responded with commitment, attention to detail, freedom, awareness, and grace. This being my first directorial debut I was taken aback with people that were on top of their game who knew my weakness and strengths allowing me to lead without being stressed!!!! Breathing is easier now after receiving the answers to my prayers.

The open mics were brilliant and so inspiring to bear witness. I have many videos I am going to ask the performers for permission to post. What an honor to hear the audiences creative nourishments!!!

I desperately want to live in this artivist work forever.

Thank you to my gorgeous cast and beautiful hosts @melissazlai and @hashtagbbr both of your hearts led the space so well and seamlessly.

Thank you to @bhsostatepark for allowing us to breathe life into this gorgeous space.

Thank you to @kwiiiiiilks for building the tree with me 💕

Thank you @usckaufman for guiding me and my peers into being rounded artist with profound knowledge on dance.

Thank you @matthewteutimez for allowing me to interview you!!! The knowledge you and your ancestors hold deserves to be heard by the whole world!!! I am immensely grateful!!!

Thank you to my parents and especially my Aunty for guiding my heart and my mind. I surly could not have done this without your support!!!

Thank you to every single individual person who came and left a donation!!! We have raised a substantial amount and will continue to have donation based entries for future projects.

Call and Response Collective has more to do for the LA community and we cannot wait to carry the torch for more live arts in the city that gives back to the city!!!!

Only up from here baby!!! Walk with intentionality, determination, and love!!! by @call_loveresponse

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a year ago

Beyond grateful for the call and response collective. We brought more life into the space at Baldwin Hills and a piece of that life will breathe in my lungs forever!!! I am immensely proud of everyone who performed including those in the open mic. I couldn’t have done this without so many peoples support and time.

We have raised a substantial amount of money but also raised awareness about our relationship to earth and ourselves. Let it be known that this is only the beginning and we will aim farther moving forward!!! Safe to say yesterday was one of the best days of my life thanks to these people and everyone who came and supported us!!!! Thank you @janaeholster for making these graphics!!! by @call_loveresponse

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a year ago

May the 4th be with you to join us at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook from 4:30-7:00pm. Watch live dance theater and join the conversation through our open mic!!!

All proceeds go towards @radicalhoodlibrary and @waterdropla.

Thank you for capturing us @gerpma and @qbjr_28

Link in bio!!! by @call_loveresponse

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a year ago

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a year ago

“Loving you until the day that you are me and I am you.” As by Stevie Wonder

I still try to day dream dancing at @jacobspillow everyday!! Sending so the Pillow so much gratitude into this new year!!!

All the love to @hbdance and @kyle_abraham_original_recipe

Thank you @becca.vision and @rhaine.marquardt by @call_loveresponse

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2 years ago