Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Barnes.
Hi Stacy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in central Kentucky, in a small town called Cynthiana. As it happens, this is the town where the Walking Dead was born; the creators are from my tiny town. I moved to California in the late 90’s and to LA in 1998. Seems like yesterday, so it’s hard to believe I’ve now spent nearly half my life here.
My Aunt Nora always talked about her time in California during World War II, and I was always fascinated and in awe of her stories. She was one of the many women who worked in factories that kept our country going during wartime. She was an incredibly smart and independent woman. Once the war was over and her husband returned home, he wanted to go back to their log cabin in my hometown, so she did just that. I always had the sense that she would have liked to have stayed out west.
Once I graduated from college at Eastern Kentucky University, I decided to take the leap and come west. I love where I’m from, but I also wanted different experiences. I loved theater, movies and mostly the diversity that a larger city like LA has to offer.
During my years here, I have had the distinct pleasure of working in the entertainment industry from a large studio system- Warner Bros. to small 99-seat theaters – Boston Court in Pasadena. Along the way, I’ve worked with so many incredibly talented and committed artists and media-makers. My roles have been varied and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve worked in creative development, music publishing, marketing and communications and for the last fifteen years, I’ve been a fundraising executive; mostly for film and theater schools.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh goodness, is any road worth traveling smooth and without its curves and rough edges? I think not. When I came to LA, I didn’t have much. I lived in a garage and not a garage apartment. I didn’t have a car, so I walked to work. I was scared and worried that I might not have what it takes to make it in a big and expensive place like LA. But most people were good to me. I had a college education and was tenacious in my job interviews and little by little, I climbed up that ladder. But you know what, I know I’m fortunate. I know not everyone gets the opportunities I was given. Not everyone has the support system back home to get you through challenging times. Many people are struggling with mental health issues that really take a toll on their quality of life. For those of us who do make it to a certain level; it’s on us to help pull others up too. And for those who need an extra hand; we must offer that to them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work at LMU as an Executive Director for University Advancement. What does that entail you may wonder? My work is focused on raising significant major gifts for the university and working collaboratively with my colleagues across campus. We are charged with funding the vibrant programs and big ideas, the initiatives that savvy philanthropists are investing and supporting. When we come together in strategic ways, we enhance our opportunity to be funded by the studios, tech industry and philanthropic investors. I’m proud of the work I’ve been part of, and it certainly takes a village of people to be successful in this arena. This fall we will open our newly built SFTV Pavilion for the Film School; a project I spent several years fundraising for. We’ll also have a new outdoor stage this fall. My most important and cherished work though is in raising scholarship money to support talented BIPOC students. This work has been in collaboration, not only with partners across campus but with valued external partners as well such as BBBS of Los Angeles. For this work, I was honored to be a recipient of the 2019 Hidden Heroes Award. This award, given annually by The CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice to individuals and organizations that unassumingly exemplify justice in their lives and work. For me, that sums it up, I want to be an individual that consistently works towards justice and equality for every single human being. There is so much we need to do in our society towards this effort.
I have spent most of my years in LA living in South Los Angeles. This is an incredible community of neighbors and activists who cherish our diversity and the common bonds that keep us in South LA. Currently, I serve as a board member of the incredible 24th Street Theatre. Debbie Devine, Jay McAdams, Jesus Castanos-Chima and the entire staff of the theater are absolute heroes and mentors to me and our community. We know that if children and their families are introduced to theater and storytelling, their lives will be impacted in the most positive ways. This community of theater artists believes in the inter-connectedness we all share. I’m so excited to get back to live theater and know that the stories that will be shared and experienced together will be life-affirming for us all.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Nearly 25 years ago, this incredibly naive young woman decided she’d move to California on her own. She didn’t have any connections or friends on the west coast. And she certainly didn’t have some grand plan to succeed. Looking back, it was a big risk that ultimately paid off for me. It gave me the confidence to take other risks in my life; be they personally or professionally. I’ve taken risks in my career by completely changing fields more than once. I bought my first home in South LA nearly 11 years ago with my husband, Bryan Davidson. We were terrified. Neither of us ever really thought owning a home in LA would be possible. But here we are 11 years on, and we cherish our 1909 craftsman bungalow, our home’s history and our community. And just this past December, during this difficult pandemic, we took another leap and purchased an early 1800’s row house near my hometown in Kentucky. As we sped across the country; trying to beat the January snow, we asked each other if this was the craziest decision we’ve ever made? We had just bought a place sight unseen.
Like so many people did during the pandemic, we decided to take a chance on the unknown and move forward towards our future. This Kentucky gal always knew she’d have a space to call her own back in her home state and now she’s done just that. Who knows what the future holds? I can’t imagine leaving my friends and chosen family in LA. LA has given me so much; made me the person I am today, and I want to keep giving back to this place and the wonderful people here. And at the same time, as I get older, I’m drawn to the place I was born; to all the beauty in the bluegrass state and the ties, I have there. If I’ve learned anything in my nearly 49 years on this planet that I’d like to share, it would be not to fear the unknown; sometimes it’s in making those seemingly odd choices that make your life what it was meant to be. I have been able to have something my Aunt Nora didn’t; I have my LA home and identity and I have those Kentucky roots that I can easily get back to on a four-hour flight when I need some peace, quiet, grounding and some comfort food.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @saucystace
