I first heard of EST when I saw that actress Ruby Dee would be performing in Elizabeth Van Dyke's Going to the River festival in 2009. The first few things that hit me were: 1) Who is EST? 2) How did they get Ruby Dee? and 3) They must be amazing because not everyone can get Ruby Dee to grace their stage.

As a Black woman, it was not every day that I could go sit in an audience, watch Ruby Dee sing the Black National Anthem on stage, and see everyone in the audience stand up and sing along. I was in tears. I was moved. I wanted to know more about a company that supported stories and programming like this. This is when my journey with EST began.

If it was not for the generous support of people like you, that experience would never have happened. Your engagement allows EST to create programming that represents different voices, backgrounds, and experiences on stage. It allows people from all walks of life to walk through our doors and experience a story that speaks directly to them, and allows everyone an insight to different forms of humanity.

This past year has been a year of having the hard, difficult conversations towards change, it has been a year of transparency, and a year of art. I’ve been a part of this journey with EST for many years now, including being a part of our leadership Transition Team alongside Elizabeth Van Dyke. We are having deep discussions on how we as a company continue on the path of being a dynamic community committed to inclusion across all aspects of identity and perspective. Alongside this work, the staff’s love and commitment helped keep EST’s doors open and we are now back with our in-person programming.

I ask that you please join us on this journey toward becoming an anti-racist organization by making a donation to EST. Our company is evolving and growing into a healthy, inclusive, diverse, and welcoming home for artists. I am excited for new leadership and new voices that can lead us into our next chapter and make this a home for all.

Much love,

Erin Cherry
Emmy Award Winner, EST Board Member, EST Member Artist