052: Bringing core values to our professional work. Creative Director and designer Rebekah Miel does what she can to serve her community

How to chase seemingly impossible goals, showing up when and how we can, and living and working in alignment with our core values. In this episode, designer and business owner Rebekah Miel discusses fundraising for the school lunch debt project, her book project for kids and her position on the Durham Mayor’s Council for Women representing arts and culture.

The Mayor’s Council for Women meets at 6pm on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at City Hall.

You’ll no longer find Rebekah Miel sweating through a Tyvek suit in the lower 9th or eating curry in a refugee camp in Unawatuna, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less risk averse. These days Rebekah Miel is balancing the death defying feat of raising twins with the act of listening hard for how to be a good citizen in her adopted hometown of Durham, NC. Her current job title is Creative Director of her own shop, Miel Design Studio where she spends most of her time trying to make beautiful sense out of a complex world. Ask her what that means, but don’t be surprised if the answer has something to do with books or school lunch.”

This episode is brought to you by the Soapboxers, the official patrons of the Artist Soapbox. If you like these episodes and want more, get on the Soapbox! This episode was recorded at Shadowbox Studio. Artist Soapbox theme music by Bart Matthews. Additional audio editing by Merrybelle Park Productions.

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Time break-down:

[0:00] Episode intro and Rebekah Miel’s bio.

[2:15] Why does Rebekah’s print brand focus on social justice groups, non profits, and artists?

[3:16] How living out her core beliefs affects Rebekah’s business

[4:38] Rebekah shares the incredible story of the Durham school lunch debt pay down

[14:25] What happened to Rebekah’s business while she worked 40 hours a week on the school lunch debt pay down?

[15:58] Rebekah discusses why she often chooses not to separate her personal core beliefs from her business and what that looks like

[18:10] Working on saying “no”

[23:24] The Durham Mayor’s Council for Women: Rebekah tells us about the council, why it was formed and its goals within the community

[27:55] What does it mean to represent and advocate for Arts and Culture in Durham?

[32:12] Rebekah tells us about her upcoming book project that aims to help kids feel safe and help them understand safety drills at school

[37:46] The experience that made Rebekah realize that she could make change in the community

[39:57] Thanks and sign-off

Takeaways

    • When fundraising, contacting businesses can pay off
    • It’s ok to say “no”.
    • Explore the balance of taking care of yourself and your projects
    • Critical needs (housing, child care, access to space) impact artists
  • What would it mean to have someone who is paid to advocate for the arts?

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If you have feedback, questions, suggestions, please email artistsoapbox@gmail.com. FEEDBACK IS EVERYTHING TO ASBX.

Artist Soapbox

Artist Soapbox is a platform for original scripted audio fiction and an opportunity for artists to discuss their creative work in their own voices. We do this through our interview podcast, our blog, live events, and original audio dramas.

Artist Soapbox is an anti-racist organization. We believe Black Lives Matter. In addition, as a podcast production company, ASBX has signed the Equality in Audio Pact on Broccoli Content.

Artist Soapbox is more than just a podcast.

We lead writers groups, accountability support, workshops, and events. We produce and create audio dramas too! Listen to the Master BuilderThe New Colossus Audio Drama, Jesus Pancake, Declaration of Love, Food for Thought, and ASBX Shorts. Stay tuned to hear about more projects written by the Soapbox Audio Collective Writers’ Group.

Audio Dramas

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Jesus Pancake

Jesus Pancake is the newest scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox. Nine episodes of zany dark comedy.

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The New Colossus

The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

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Master Builder

This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2018 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Henrick Ibsen’s classic, The Master Builder published in 1892.

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Declaration of Love

Co-producers Aurelia Belfield and Tamara Kissane of Artist Soapbox commissioned eleven NC playwrights to craft short audio scenes based on the prompt “Declaration of Love.”

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Food for Thought

Three pilot episodes of new scripted audio fiction series inspired by the prompt Food for Thought.

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ASBX Shorts

ASBX Shorts are six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, our new audio fiction series in development.

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