In Full Color (IFC) is an award-winning organization that empowers women of color and other marginalized BIPOC through education and the arts. We do this by:

 

• Addressing social, racial and feminist issues

• Creating opportunities for artists in multiple media

• Empowering BIPOC to become their best selves

• And doing whatever else it takes to uplift the marginalized communities we serve

​

Above all, we offer BIPOC creators a unique platform to tell their stories and perform work written for them, by folx like them, or even themselves! -- an elusive level of realness we call Authentic Representation.

​

We also  prioritize queer, Disabled and other similarly marginalized sub-populations of POC. We create opportunities for artists in theater, education, literature, visual art, music, comedy, dance and other fields.

​

The program was birthed from the eponymous In Full Color, an annual theatrical event celebrating women and TGNC of color.  These monologues have sparked dialogues about numerous social issues -- everything from the double-edged sword of Indian domesticity and the perseverance of Latina sexuality, to exactly what matters about Black lives. Today, these discussions are more important than ever.

​

Founded in 2015 by director Summer Dawn in Jersey City, N.J., as Thinking In Full Color, the program has since included work by artists from all over the United States, with most hailing from our home state New Jersey, New York and California. Other areas served include Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington. We've also served Botswana, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico and Thailand!

​

In Full Color is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of In Full Color must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

​

To donate and support women and TGNC of color, click the link above in our website header or click here.

​

Thinking In Full Color LLC (DBA: In Full Color) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, treatment of or employment in, its services, programs or activities.  Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in In Full Color services, programs and activities. In Full Color has a designated coordinator to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as required by Section 35.107 of the U.S. Department of Justice regulations, and to coordinate compliance with Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

 

While the above laws mandate equal access to people with disabilities, In Full Color makes it a priority to establish a work place and environment that embraces the spirit of the law ensuring an optimal experience for all. We are especially attentive to how both visible and non-apparent Disabilities shape the intersecting identities of our BIPOC artists as well as audiences of all genders and colors. Advocating for Disabled folx is an extension of our passion for ending oppression and creating opportunity where marginalization has long dwelled.

​

HONORS

​

IFC has received two commendations from the New Jersey State Assembly and won the Jersey City Arts Council's Performing Arts Award in 2018. Their show In Full Color has also received around 30 BroadwayWorld New Jersey Award nominations including Best Community Theater Company.​

​

MISSION

​

• To inform and entertain audiences of all ages at colleges, universities, corporate offices, community centers, educational institutions, outdoor events, among other venues. 

• To help BIPOC become their best selves in multiple areas including arts, career, culture and wellness.

• To create cross-cultural exchange in which both commonalities and differences are embraced and cultural perspective is gained by all parties involved. Audience members find themselves relating to the feelings, thoughts or experiences of people from different backgrounds while also learning about cultural issues they may have no experience with.

• To foster cultural curiosity. Focusing only on commonalities is an unrealistic solution that sometimes leads to cultural erasure. Embracing our differences and having genuine, respectful interest in each other’s cultures, however, creates dialogues that are a step forward for race relations between many groups.

• To bring awareness to the need for diversity and authentic representation in the media and arts. The program discusses race-blind casting, whitewashing, cultural appropriation and other issues in American and Western pop culture. We will also discuss possible solutions and the ultimate goal, which is having diverse casts in which people of color are more than people of their color.

• To encourage racial harmony. By showing a fuller picture of POC as humans with desires, needs, thoughts, feelings and challenges in various subjects, we hope to show that people of all colors are people – people who deserve love, respect, peace and freedom.

• To expand society’s views of women’s issues. We aim to tell a wide range of women’s stories that show the diverse topics that are important to women: family, body image, relationships, friendships, jobs, education, sexual liberation, political rights and more. Women of all colors are also people – people who deserve love, respect, peace and freedom. We also pay special attention to LGBTQ issues as they affect women, femmes and other marginalized genders.

• To create paid artistic opportunities for women and people of color. We recruit women of color for as many of our positions as possible, from writing to acting to graphic design. We do, however, enjoy working with people of all genders and all colors. We believe a diverse working environment is key for IFC to accomplish its objectives.

• To help artists of color grow. We provide educational opportunities for creatives to enhance their skills, deepen their understanding of subjects they love, explore new ideas and meet new collaborators. We do this through classes, workshops and other fun events.

​

IMPACT

​

As of December 2022,  In Full Color has served thousands of audience members and about 300 artists.

​

• 93% are people of color! (The rest are white allies who typically volunteer for support/tech roles)

• 78% are women or people of other marginalized genders! (The rest are men of all colors in supportive roles)

• At least 25% are LGBTQ!

• In 2022, we paid almost $10,000 to artists. Our artists' most lucrative year was 2021, when they received $17,000 in paid opportunities -- double what we've helped folx earn in 2020! This feat was made possible in part by our friends at Dixon Place, which presented our mainstage show Death in the Family in October, and our partners at Visit.org.

​

 

 

SEE OUR 2022 ANNUAL REPORT FOR MORE DETAILS