Silent Partners

 
Logo: Jaylen Taylor

This page is an archive of the original Silent Partners website, which went dormant in June of 2022. All copy, images, and content below was created collaboratively by the Silent Partners board, co-founder D’hana Perry, and designer Jaylen Taylor. For my (Ben Sisto’s) part, I co-founded the project and did all the fundraising and a lot of admin, but was 100% removed from decisions around copy, images, brand, and the grant issuing itself. If you scroll to the bottom there are also two screen grabs of Jaylen’s original site design.

Here’s What We Did, 2020–2021

Silent Partners was/is a group of Black artists and community organizers working to combat unequal outcomes resulting from institutional white supremacy within traditional granting opportunities. Silent Partners believes artists and community organizers are essential workers who are too often underpaid and overworked. In the face of ongoing - and heightened - social, cultural, and economic precarity, our project provided approximately two $1,000 grants per month to support Brooklyn-based Black artists and community organizers who needed it. As a collective focused on intentionality and equity, we prioritized financial support for Black folks further marginalized within Blackness (e.g. queer, trans, disabled, etc). We supported work that is rooted in/reflective of the community and has the potential to enrich the collective. 

Over the course of roughly one year, we supported a diversity of ideas and kinds of labor; grants went towards art and organizing practices, and also towards supporting our grantees’ basic needs like rent and bills. We never asked for receipts.

 

Grant Recipients

Featured
Throughout the years, Armando Alleyne’s visual art has centered jazz and jazz artists as subjects. However, his artistic focus tends to shift based on current events that impact him greatly.

Throughout the years, Armando Alleyne’s visual art has centered jazz and jazz artists as subjects. However, his artistic focus tends to shift based on current events that impact him greatly.

Bre andy is a visual artist who works in charcoal, pastel, and oil paint mediums to create large scale/life size portraiture of people of color, mainly black women. She uses her immediate community as inspiration and intends to depict the individual

Bre andy is a visual artist who works in charcoal, pastel, and oil paint mediums to create large scale/life size portraiture of people of color, mainly black women. She uses her immediate community as inspiration and intends to depict the individuality, influence & beauty of that community.

Ana María Agüero Jahannes is a space-maker, handicrafter, and acrobatic dancer based in Brooklyn and New Orleans. From festivals and sporting events to sofas and shoes, she creates not only sites for social and cultural interaction but also the obje

Ana María Agüero Jahannes is a space-maker, handicrafter, and acrobatic dancer based in Brooklyn and New Orleans. From festivals and sporting events to sofas and shoes, she creates not only sites for social and cultural interaction but also the objects we love to use in them. She is the creator of Field Day, her reimagining of track and field as a realm for Black queer and trans people to experience athleticism, aesthetic liberation, and collective joy on their own terms.

Casiano R. Hamer is a graduate student pursuing an MFA in Film and TV at NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Creative Writing from Pratt Institute. He is very interested in telling stories that illuminate marginalized communities and

Casiano R. Hamer is a graduate student pursuing an MFA in Film and TV at NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Creative Writing from Pratt Institute. He is very interested in telling stories that illuminate marginalized communities and the complex obstacles they face.

Cheri Stokes is a performing artist, choreographer, scholar, educator and community organizer, born and raised in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Her work embodies Hip-Hop vernacular from that era, blended with movement that is innate. The

Cheri Stokes is a performing artist, choreographer, scholar, educator and community organizer, born and raised in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Her work embodies Hip-Hop vernacular from that era, blended with movement that is innate. The essence of her movement style, choreographic process, and philosophy on embodied experiences are influenced by growing up in a black musical family, interacting with people in her community and the evolution of Hip-Hop culture.

Clarivel (we/us/you) from Ayiti Kiskeya (Hispaniola/Dominican Republic/Haiti), born/raised in NYC on the ancestral bones of the Lenape people. Our art practice: to decolonize & unravel racialized framework we live in, healing wounds created by e

Clarivel (we/us/you) from Ayiti Kiskeya (Hispaniola/Dominican Republic/Haiti), born/raised in NYC on the ancestral bones of the Lenape people. Our art practice: to decolonize & unravel racialized framework we live in, healing wounds created by eurocentrism.

Cy X is a a cyber witch and sound artist whose practice is rooted in the synthesis of disparate mediums. They are the co-founder of Synth Library NYC, a DIY community hub providing education, connection, and access to electronic music equipment with

Cy X is a a cyber witch and sound artist whose practice is rooted in the synthesis of disparate mediums. They are the co-founder of Synth Library NYC, a DIY community hub providing education, connection, and access to electronic music equipment with priority access going to BIPOC and people of marginalized genders.

DonChristian is a founder of Public Assistants. Public Assistants is built to grow within its community, and they understand that we cannot thrive if we do not first understand.

DonChristian is a founder of Public Assistants. Public Assistants is built to grow within its community, and they understand that we cannot thrive if we do not first understand.

Efe Osaren is a Nigerian-American Student Midwife, Full Spectrum Doula, and Reproductive/Birth Justice advocate based in Brooklyn, NY. She likes solo traveling, permaculture youtube, and hot yoga without the Bikram.

Efe Osaren is a Nigerian-American Student Midwife, Full Spectrum Doula, and Reproductive/Birth Justice advocate based in Brooklyn, NY. She likes solo traveling, permaculture youtube, and hot yoga without the Bikram.

Mars Dixon is a techie who is using their love of technology to restore broken computers and donate them to Queer and Trans BIPOC.

Mars Dixon is a techie who is using their love of technology to restore broken computers and donate them to Queer and Trans BIPOC.

Felicita Maynard is an interdisciplinary artist who works across traditional analog and alternative photography processes to create artwork to further understand themself and their ancestors.

Felicita Maynard is an interdisciplinary artist who works across traditional analog and alternative photography processes to create artwork to further understand themself and their ancestors.

Messina Wattley is a multifaceted artist: jewelry maker and chef. Her goals are to bring her people good jewelry and good vegan meals.

Messina Wattley is a multifaceted artist: jewelry maker and chef. Her goals are to bring her people good jewelry and good vegan meals.

Imani Russel is a Black queer+trans actor, singer-songwriter, poet, & playwright from Crown Heights. In their work, they have discovered their joy for writing fun, absurd stories and celebrating their own narrative voice instead of writing for t

Imani Russel is a Black queer+trans actor, singer-songwriter, poet, & playwright from Crown Heights. In their work, they have discovered their joy for writing fun, absurd stories and celebrating their own narrative voice instead of writing for the acceptance of an audience.

Myles Mugler joined the ballroom scene, a place where femininity is glorified and expression is appreciated, in 2018. It opened his eyes to art, black joy, black unity, family that understands, queerness. It was there he found his art and passion fo

Myles Mugler joined the ballroom scene, a place where femininity is glorified and expression is appreciated, in 2018. It opened his eyes to art, black joy, black unity, family that understands, queerness. It was there he found his art and passion for vogue.

Joelle Dupton writes music under the name O R A C L E. Music has been a way for them to make sense of their inner world. They call themself O R A C L E because they believe their inner thoughts, visions, and dreams are messages sent to them to awake

Joelle Dupton writes music under the name O R A C L E. Music has been a way for them to make sense of their inner world. They call themself O R A C L E because they believe their inner thoughts, visions, and dreams are messages sent to them to awaken their consciousness; a light that is created through the fertile darkness.

Nasani danvers is the cofounder of DAWNE, an organization created with the goal of bettering the Black community economically, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Nasani danvers is the cofounder of DAWNE, an organization created with the goal of bettering the Black community economically, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Komikka Patton uses ballpoint pen, ink, paper, and assorted printmaking techniques to create works that are centrally based on the African Diasporan human condition.

Komikka Patton uses ballpoint pen, ink, paper, and assorted printmaking techniques to create works that are centrally based on the African Diasporan human condition.

Susy Oludele, noticing the lack of hairdressing education for differently-abled students, began an initiative to teach the valuable skill and spread a little love to everyone.

Susy Oludele, noticing the lack of hairdressing education for differently-abled students, began an initiative to teach the valuable skill and spread a little love to everyone.

Kyian Williams is a Black transfemme artist, writer, and scholar who works fluidly across sculpture, video, and performance. They also support movement work that uplifts the livelihood of Black trans and nonbinary folks.

Kyian Williams is a Black transfemme artist, writer, and scholar who works fluidly across sculpture, video, and performance. They also support movement work that uplifts the livelihood of Black trans and nonbinary folks.

t'ai freedom ford is a Black, queer writer, educator and artist. Her writing is informed by the many identities with which she identifies: Black, woman, masculine, lesbian to name a few.

t'ai freedom ford is a Black, queer writer, educator and artist. Her writing is informed by the many identities with which she identifies: Black, woman, masculine, lesbian to name a few.

maps.google.comLisa M. Barr is a Brooklyn based writer and MFA-2022 candidate who helps other writers of color in MFA programs become more visible through publication and promotion.

maps.google.comLisa M. Barr is a Brooklyn based writer and MFA-2022 candidate who helps other writers of color in MFA programs become more visible through publication and promotion.

The Free Black Women’s Library is a social art project, interactive installation and book collection that celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women writers. The library features four thousand books written by Black women, a

The Free Black Women’s Library is a social art project, interactive installation and book collection that celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women writers. The library features four thousand books written by Black women, as well as workshops, readings, story circles, performances, cultural conversations and a monthly reading club.

Liyah James is a model, a mama, and an artist. As head of her organization, The Freedom Birth, she works to increase the number of birth workers of color by funding their education. She wants to ensure that mamas feel seen, heard, and understood.

Liyah James is a model, a mama, and an artist. As head of her organization, The Freedom Birth, she works to increase the number of birth workers of color by funding their education. She wants to ensure that mamas feel seen, heard, and understood.

Tina Colleen is a Black, queer, body liberator and social disruptor who uses art to promote activism that inspires love and healing for BIPoC.

Tina Colleen is a Black, queer, body liberator and social disruptor who uses art to promote activism that inspires love and healing for BIPoC.

Marley Lubin knows her purpose is to raise the vibration of humanity by assisting others in embracing their greatness and spreading unconditional love across the globe. She uses Her art to heal and uplift - otherwise, she says, it’s pointless. She i

Marley Lubin knows her purpose is to raise the vibration of humanity by assisting others in embracing their greatness and spreading unconditional love across the globe. She uses Her art to heal and uplift - otherwise, she says, it’s pointless. She is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, creative director, and so much more.

Violet Davenport is an educator who throughout her career has fought for equity, inclusion and diversity in classrooms across NYC.

Violet Davenport is an educator who throughout her career has fought for equity, inclusion and diversity in classrooms across NYC.

 

Funding Model

The Silent Partners model— an attempt to decentralize the role of white people in the narratives of Black creativity and prosperity —took inspiration from two sources: the Awesome Foundation, and Mireille Cassandra Harper’s text on non-optical allyship. Partners (white people who provided funding) were asked to refrain from discussing their involvement online in an effort to reduce virtue signaling. Partners were removed from the grant giving process entirely; they never saw applications or knew the makeup of our panel. 

While many of our grant recipients are now publicly known, partners participated with the knowledge they may never know exactly where their money was going. Additionally, we stated a position that any conditionality— asking for grantee project receipts, documentation, etc  —would undermine the concept of Reparations. Partners were however, asked to contact other potential funders and initiate conversations about Silent Partners, antiracist project models, and their own roles in upholding white supremacist systems. For more about non-optical allyship, please check out the original thread from Mireille Cassandra Harper on Twitter. The post has also been transcribed on Medium by James Arthur Cattell.
 

Some of the Team

Silent Partners was formed by two long-time friends and collaborators; one white cis man, Ben Sisto and one Black trans person, D’hana Perry. D’hana is a new media artist and lecturer with a parallel career in public health. They have a B.A. in sociology, a MFA in Media Art, and are a founding member of the beloved KUNQ DJ collective. Ben is an artist, and beyond the initial brainstorm for Silent Partners, mainly did fundraising and admin support; nothing to do with awarding grants. 
Shortly after Silent Partners’ launch, Manhattan-based designer and social media manager Jaylen Taylor joined the team to build out the project’s online presence. At present, our Black leadership panel is still anonymous.
 

FAQ for White People

Silence? I thought silence = violence? Why the name?
Our exercise seeks to decentralize the role of white people and white money in the narratives of Black creativity and prosperity. The silent in Silent Partners is about making space, and is specific to this project. To be anti-racist, white partners must continue to be vocal supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement at both public demonstrations and with their vote. This isn’t just a box one checks to be absolved of additional labor.
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What if the money is given to an individual partners disagree with?
Black people are not a monolith. Silent Partners is not here to say what Black views, opinions, and projects matter, or to impose any sort of litmus test. We are here to say all Black views, opinions, and projects matter and to that end, once funds have been handed over are fully trusting the Black community to allocate the funds in ways they feel are most appropriate. Funders may opt out at any time but we don’t do refunds.
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Are you a 501c3? Is this a scam?
No and no, but we understand the concern. It’s a big ask, especially during a time of economic instability resulting from a global pandemic, to ask people to give money away without knowing exactly who the recipient is. We are not a 501c3 or 501c4; this model isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. We’re an option, not the answer. Our project relies heavily on trust and personal relationships, and we encourage potential funders to ask a lot of questions. Even if you don’t fund, the process can lead to great and necessary talks among white people about racism and institutional white supremacy.
It’s mentioned elsewhere but just to be extra clear: we are not a 501c3, do not provide info for your taxes, do not offer refunds, and do not guarantee Partners will know exactly where their funds are going, beyond generally supporting our two monthly grants, panelist honorariums, and paying our designer.
 

Screen Shots