Waco Theater Center

“The board members sign a written conflict of interest and disclosure statement and policy each year in writing. The employees are notified by agreeing to the annual conflict of interest policy in the employer handbook each year.”

“Richard lawson tina knowles lawson president treasurer husband and wife melba l.farquhar ralph farquhar board member board member husband and wife”

“The 990 was presented in its draft form to the board for approval.”

“The organization consistently monitors compliance with conflict of interests' policy.”

“Independent board members closely reviews available market data to determine and approve compensation of the officers.”

“The artistic directors and ed have been paid employees for more than 3 years and have not received a raise since their hire.”

“The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available upon request for public review. The organization's tax return filings are available for view at www.guidestar.org and upon request from the organization.”

“Waco (where art can occur) theater center is a performing and visual arts organization that presents, commissions and develops artistic works dedicated to stories of the african diaspora. Co-founded by richard lawson and tina knowles, waco provides artists and young people a platform to voice and showcase their creativity to connect and inspire others. Waco's artistic and education programs are driven by four values. We create work that unapologetically: centers black art and culture from a diasporic lens and voice; incubates and launches new creative ideas to memorialize the past and envision the future of black life; is collaborative and leads with an ubuntu mindset, "i am, because we are- and serves the needs of the community including the social, economic, and civic priorities of our neighbors and black los angeles. Now in our eighth season, we have continued to elevate an emphasis on the history of the african diaspora and culture in our programming. We firmly believe in the power that art and mentorship must be transformative. We fulfill our mission through the following program areas: performing arts, presenting live and virtual dance, theater, music, film, and interdisciplinary events by emerging and established artists; visual arts, showcasing the work of visual artists in our gallery across various artistic disciplines, including painting, drawing, sculpture and more; mentorship, building dreams of the next generation through mentorship, to facilitate growth of young people from 8th grade through high school graduation and beyond; education, providing opportunities for our audiences to move the culture forward through public dialogue and hands on experiences-linking communities, artists and audiences together.”

“Waco's fy24 programs included the production of still here including a written publication and live event experience featuring stories and resources that center black women living with and impacted by hiv. The magazine will print and distribute 20,000 copies across the country and present live experiences inside beauty salons of los angeles, houston and baton rouge during the 2025/26 program year. Still here is a creative intervention to reduce stigma and educate black women about their health and the growing rate of hiv diagnoses in the community. The experience is powered by the voices of local and national activists, advocates. 32 black women writers were commissioned to write stories from various points of views and a team of 20 creatives were hired to collaborate on the development of the live experience which will be performed in los angeles, baton rouge and houston. As a second presentation of the witness exhibition at waco, we collaborated with curator genet ambrose of good mirrors institute and tedwomen. The exhibition saw 2500 visitors and received support from pivotal ventures, and featured new artists from local hbcu art programs at spelman college and clark atlanta university. Our inaugural two-weekend festival of black art and ideas, featuring the multidisciplinary work of five la-based artists. 500+ audience members joined us to experience work from a dynamic group of artist-citizens including: jamaal tolbert, nickolas vaughan, semaj miller, tashara gavin- moorhead and yazmin monet watkins. Led by award-winning playwrights aleshea harriss and dominique morisseau, the black playwrights gathering curated a convening for and by black playwrights. 110 writers gathered in los angeles on juneteenth to connect and build community. The event was produced in partnership with artequity. Waco off-stage humanity event presented on the shoulders of lorraine in partnership with support black theater, the drama guild foundation and the lorraine hansberry initiative. The event featured a panel of artists and activists with audience members reflecting on the life and legacy of playwright lorraine hansberry.”