Photo by Jeffrey Filiault
Meena Malik (she/her/hers) is a musician, sound healer, arts consultant, conflict mediator and coach. She believes that everyone should have access to healing and provides it to her community and beyond through her performances, sound healing practices and facilitation work. She is a fierce advocate for equity in the arts and uses her voice and skills to create change. She is the founder of Magpie Cultural Strategies, a social impact firm on a mission to realize a collective liberated future for the arts field and beyond. She is an alumna of the artEquity Facilitator Training, the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute Facilitation Cohort, Intercultural Leadership Institute and a Senior Associate of The Aspire Group.
Meena has worked in the performing arts community as facilitator, grant panelist, educator, speaker, mediator, coach and consultant with organizations such as Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET), MAP Fund, The Boston Foundation, City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles, Community Partners and many others.
Formerly as the Senior Program Manager of Theater at the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), she managed the National Theater Project (NTP), a grant program that supports the creation and touring of devised ensemble theater work. Meena organized and led “Beyond Orientalism: The Boston Forum” and is a co-founder and steering committee member of Boston’s first API (Asian Pacific Islander) Arts Network.
Meena has performed with Opera Providence, MassOpera, Boston Opera Collaborative, New England Orchestra among others. She was a founding member and performer with Voci Angelica Trio, an international band that created a musical fusion of world folk and classical music, for 14 years. With Voci Angelica, Meena toured to the USA’s East Coast, Midwest and Southern regions, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Currently, she offers in-person and virtual sound meditation and sound healing sessions to her community.
Meena is on the Advisory Board of Las Fotos Project and a proud member of Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA). She serves as an advisory member of the Theatre Communications Group's Accountability For Abundance National Initiative. She is also a member of the Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAAC), served as a mentor in their Mentorship Program and a former fellow of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) Emerging Leadership Institute.
Meena is certified in Equity-Informed Mediation from Resolutions Northwest, in Life, Leadership and Executive Coaching from the Institute of Coaching Excellence and in Social Emotional Learning, Wellness, Mindfulness, and Mindful Movement through Breathe for Change. Meena holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory and a Masters of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University.
Who are my people?
(This section is a work-in-progress and I plan to work on it little by little)
I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the amazing people in my life who have shaped me and supported me. I am grateful to the universe for connecting me to these people and grateful to each one of these people. I continue to learn from all of them and we continue to grow together.
Kimiyo Takahashi Malik and Rabinder Nath Malik who brought me into this world and raised me. Okaasan, I continue to be inspired by your growth mindset. Daddy, you are an ancestor now, but I still feel your presence. The way you created deep relationships with people and how you honored them stays with me. I honor the gift of “voice” you gave me. I hope to continue your legacy through it.
Aristides Rivas, my life and musical partner. You have a beautiful soul and I am inspired by how you dream beyond what we can see.
Luca Rabinder Rivas, you and the future generation are the reason for everything that I desire for the world. Each day, you teach me lessons that strengthen my conviction.
My dear colleagues, who I am lucky to be in community with as we move our world towards a more liberated future: Quita Sullivan, Kim Pevia, Ti Wilhelm, Dafina McMillan, Deidra Montgomery, Diane Burbie, Kaisha Johnson, Kayla Kim Votapek, Alex Meda, Rad Pereira, and many more.
Upcoming Events
November 1, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
December 6, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
Past Events
October 23, 2024
I will be guest lecturing on EPIP’s Philanthroplogy, an in-depth critical study of philanthropy through a social justice lens that includes academic and practitioner perspectives.
October 19, 2024
Aristides and I will be performing our program “Remembering” as part of Boston Court Pasadena’s Diaspora Festival.
October 4, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
September 6, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
July 12, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
June 24, 2024
Led a sound healing session after Kyle’s Cardio Dance class at the Torrance South Bay YMCA.
June 22, 2024
Co-facilitating “Navigating Conflicts and Building Bridges in Mixed/Multi-Identity AAPI Interactions” at the TCG National Conference 2024.
June 22, 2024
Co-facilitating “Theatre for Activism: Rise Up.” Register for this hybrid session by clicking on the image above.
June 7, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
June 5, 2024
Co-Presenter for the workshop “Creating Healing Cultures in Our Organizations and Justice Work” during the EPIP 2024 Conference.
May 31, 2024
Join us in a session to set intentions, release unwanted energy, and to simply rest. You’ll be immersed in the healing sounds of crystal singing bowls and will move through guided meditation, movement, breath work, and journal reflection.
May 29, 2024
I will be co-facilitating the session “Keeping Creativity Alive” during the Yale Innovation Summit.
May 15, 2024
This will be a 90-minute session tailored for NAAC Boston members, where we empower ourselves to recognize the signals of our activated nervous systems and learn how to regulate them.
May 3, 2024
A free virtual sound meditation session offered monthly. No previous experience necessary.
April 8, 2024
A featured guest speaker for a session addressing belonging and engagement hosted by the Unity Alliance at the University of Arkansas.
March 5, 2024
A featured speaker for Longy School of Music’s Multifaceted Career Speaker Series.
“Meena is a thoughtful, process-oriented curator and facilitator with an infectious commitment to her core values. She is practiced at elevating those around her, and brings a sense of joy to her work. Meena’s unwavering sense of justice is inspiring - a model for me and for all leaders in our arts and culture industry.”