Photo by Jeffrey Filiault
Meena Malik (she/her/hers) is a musician, arts consultant, conflict mediator and coach, who is known as a mover and shaker re-defining what conversations around equity in the arts look like. As the founder of Magpie Cultural Strategies, Meena is actively engaged in a national community of practice for anti-oppression work in the arts. She is an alumna of the artEquity Facilitator Training, a member of the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute Facilitation Cohort 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” in October 2017 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.
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. She is currently participating in the Intercultural Leadership Institute as a Year 5 Fellow.
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 in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory and a Masters 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.
Upcoming Events
May 3, 2024
Join me for a free virtual sound meditation session! No previous experience necessary. Click on the image above to register.
May 29, 2024
I will be co-facilitating the session “Keeping Creativity Alive” during the Yale Innovation Summit.
June 5, 2024
Co-Presenter for the workshop “Creating Healing Cultures in Our Organizations and Justice Work” during the EPIP 2024 Conference.
June 20-22, 2024
Co-facilitating two sessions at the TCG National Conference 2024.
October 19, 2024
Aristides and I will be performing our program “Remembering” as part of Boston Court Pasadena’s Diaspora Festival.
Past Events
April 8, 2024
I will be featured guest speaker for a session addressing belonging and engagement hosted by the Unity Alliance at the University of Arkansas.
March 5, 2024
I will be a featured speaker for Longy School of Music’s Multifaceted Career Speaker Series.
December 2023
I offered a dialogue with Quita Sullivan as part of a Guest Editor series on the GIA Reader. Click on the image above to listen to it.
November 7, 2023
Presenter at the Grantmakers in the Arts annual conference.
October 10, 17, 24, 2023
These sessions are supported by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and are offered for free to Boston artists, arts educators and creative workers. UPDATE: THIS WORKSHOP IS AT CAPACITY
October 16, 21, 22, 2023
Co-presenter of the Transformative Justice session and a co-facilitator of the virtual two-day convening for the NETneXt National Circle-Up Series.
September 4-5, 2023
As one of the Hyphen+Asian Committee member, I curated the Hyphen+Asian Pre-Conference Symposium.
August 16, 2023
Guest presenter for Rest! (Revisited): A WOCA Collective Care Circle.
August 11, 2023
Presenter for the workshop “Creating Healing Cultures in Our Organizations and Justice Work.”
May 2023
Guest on THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE... The podcast that explores topics and talks with leaders of the professional theatrical touring industry.
“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.”