Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world? Remember, everyone not only belongs, but thrives. You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo and share storeys that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show.

So adjust your earbuds and settle in. It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites.

And today is episode 204 with the title Centering the Margins. And I have the absolute honour and privilege to welcome Nena Gilreath. Nina is one of the co founders of the Bath Ethnic Ballethnik. That's easy for me to save my teeth in this company who have spent over three decades reshaping ballet to centre black excellence, belonging and cultural truth. When asked Nina to describe her superpower, she says that it is holding the line for black dancers creating space, legacy and possibility where none was offered before. Hello, Nina. Welcome to the show.

Hey, Jo, how are you today?

Absolutely fantastic. We're not far from Christmas. It's cold and wet here, but where are you in the world?

Okay, today I'm in Athens, Georgia. I am in a place that I love, a community called Athens. But I'm at the Herd Park. Why can I get my things right? Today I'm at Heard Recreation. Today I'm working here because there's a renovation on the building where I usually work.

So what's the weather like? You know, us Brits, we like to talk about weather. Is it. Is it hot and sticky? I mean, last time I was In Atlanta or 25 years ago, it was a really hot and sticky place. Is it. Is it still hot and sticky this time of year?

Today is not hot. Atl today I have a scarf on my neck. It's cold. And for people in the south, it's very cold. We're in the east and typically in the winter. Yeah, typically we're in the 30s or so. It's cold.

Has ice on the car. That's really cold. 30s?

Yeah.

For those who are like me, I work in centigrade, so. But 30s is water. Freezes at 32. So yeah, that's cold. Yeah, that's cold. Yeah.

Yeah, we have to wear a jacket and real socks and real shoes and most of the time we don't.

It's not like the summer where you're wearing sandals and T shirts and things.

Yes, shorts, shorts, shorts.

Yeah, well, yeah, you can just about get away with it here in the summer, but yeah, most of the year it's not quite short, whether in the UK where we are. But yeah, it sounds lovely. And you're not far from Atlanta then. So that. So Atlanta is the capital of Georgia.

Yes.

And so you're, you're not far from there, what is it, about an hour and a bit away.

Yeah. Like I always say, for me, I drive there several times a week because I work in Athens during the week and on the weekends I go home to Atlanta. So 90 minutes door to door if there's no crazy traffic.

So do you have those big freeways with sort of 20 lanes that all kind of snarl up and things like that, do you?

There's so much traffic here, especially after the Olympics, so we do have a lot of lanes. I usually take a little side street so that I can listen to podcasts like we're doing today, and then I end up getting on the expressway. So I love. It's a time for me to reflect, but also to listen and meet new great people. Like meeting you today.

Yeah, I remember my times in the States when I was driving and in. Either in LA or actually in Georgia or South Carolina, that sort of area. You join the freeway or the expressway and you stay in the same lane and before you know it, you've managed to move your lane to move all the way over, and then you end up getting filtered off in another lane by doing nothing other than drive forward. Is 6, 7, 8, 10 lane motorways sight to behold, really nothing really to have anything that big in the uk, but they're phenomenal.