Conversations with Steven Meeks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Meeks.

Hi Steven, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In regards to organizing, there was always a need for someone to take initiative to mobilize people to plan activities. As a youth being in and volunteering with NGO’s such as PTA, Boy Scouts, Jack and Jill, it helped propel me to always having an insatiable desire to help on all levels – personal, professional and community. I attended a summertime leadership training institute for Black, Brown and Red youth at Howard University and it opened my eyes to what was happening in the world. When I got back to LA, I “hit the ground running.” When there is a lack of leadership in taking initiative to get something done, someone has to do it. One of my motto’s is, “Don’t say what you’re going to do, do what you say.”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is always a struggle no matter what class one is in – the privileged and the not so privileged. I have for the most part been around people who always wanted change so people stepped up. The challenge is sometimes, the work falls a few, then it becomes somewhat of a struggle to complete a project. As MLK said in regards to my people – “Beautiful Struggle.”

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a lover of the arts/creativity – period.
As an organizer, we were ALWAYS planning some type of cultural, artistic, protest event. I think because of this, I was often asked to serve on one type of board or commission here and there. So even now, I find it difficult to NOT either organize or be part of organizing events – whether it’s film screenings, exhibitions, meetings, conversations, attending events in groups – so on and so on.

I’m addicted to film. I think because film parallels life in a form that replicates humanity.

Some people belong to AA because of an appetite to certain substances. Several friends, well maybe we should belong to AA not because of an appetite to substances but for an insatiable appetite to visual art – hence AA (Art Anonymous).

Though I don’t listen to a lot of music, the magic of music is something I’d never want to loose. The sound of music evokes emotion and spirit in us. Especially in our struggle as a people, music helped us pull through toward freedom.
Also without music, there is no dance – so to speak.

One of my most revered times as a musician was performing with Horace Tapscott and the Pan African Peoples Arkestra in my youth. Later on as a professional musician (who BTW has never performed in a night club) was performing all original music with our pianist, George Florence.
Though I don’t really perform live now, I’m slowly gathering numerous small ensemble, choral and orchestral original compositions together to record and to perform live.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Because so many youth need help, I strongly believe in mentoring. Girls need POWER and boys need to learn how to allow them to respect them for their power.
Having close friends as parents, I have loved being a part of the lives of several young girls and boys. I just naturally took interest in always wanting to take them places. No matter what culture – we would go. It was all done on having personal relationships with the parents. I did not need to become part of an NGO to reach out. If the need was there – you just do it.
I heard a saying several years ago. “Children are like film, If you expose them, they will develop.”
Being the lone parent for most of her young life, I exposed my daughter to everything.
As adult mentorship, I am always trying to hook people up with others who have similar/same interest. I guess it’s me having this desire for unity/camaraderie amongst friends and people I meet.

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