Interview: cultural producer, community organizer, and artist Asad Ali Jafri

Hayat spoke with cultural producer, artist, and community organizer Asad Ali Jafri about culture, hard work, and making a life out of your passion.

How did you get started in your work? What’s your journey been like? 

I grew up with a lot of culture – poetry, music, art – and always felt a connection to it. I was also immersed in Hip Hop culture early on, first through listening to music and observing dance cyphers, and then later in high school as someone practicing all the elements. Eventually I learned how to DJ early in college as a way to share music and bring people together. This quickly transformed into what some may call ‘cultural organizing’. Two decades later, I’m still DJing and doubling down on bringing folks together. 

My journey since those early days has been interesting. I started by organizing within the Hip Hop community, which also led me to embrace additional aspects of my identity, including my Muslim-ness and South Asian-ness. I worked for a number of non-profit organizations, at first in Youth Development and Organizing and eventually as a Director of Arts and Culture, Curator, Cultural Producer. I’ve worked for organizations like Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) in Chicago and Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Honolulu, and have produced work, performed and led workshops in over a dozen countries.  

I led Sukoon Creative, an arts consulting company for five years and now work with a number of organizations including Pillars, Words Beats & Life, the Old Town School of Folk Music. Most recently, I co-founded SpaceShift Collective, a creative hub for collaboration and experimentation. 

It can be hard to describe my work, because it is really a calling–something I feel I have to do. I work as an artist, an organizer, a producer, but none of those terms really encompass enough (or much) to me. I’m also committed to changemaking and I know that’s a lifelong journey as we live in an imperfect world. But it is a journey I am committed to! 

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? 

I love working with people and communities. Connecting folks with ideas and resources. Watching magical moments take place and being able to contribute even a tiny bit to them. I love being able to reflect with others years after a project, event, happening or meeting and see how it impacted them or people around them. 

What’s the most difficult part?  

I would like to help make positive changes in communities and taking on that work can be challenging. It can be challenging to try and rework systems that are not beneficial to the majority of people, or break down oppressive systems and rebuild them or come up with alternative systems that are truly beneficial. It’s difficult because systems of power are deep-rooted, well-funded and often can be down right nasty, less concerned about the individual or community! In community work it can be difficult working through the effect of inherited power dynamics or generational trauma. It can also be a challenge for you as a person, especially for your mental, emotional or spiritual health. However, it’s the magic making, the people connecting and the small changes that keep me going. 

What are you working on now/any current projects? 

The most exciting project I’m working on is one through SpaceShift Collective that has allowed us to experiment in the South Asian neighborhood of Chicago, Devon. We started an initiative called Aao Mil Baithen with street-level events, released a zine called Day on Devon, and last fall, opened up a temporary arts space called starlight. In 6 weeks, we hosted 38 programs and had over 1,000 people come. It’s been a great learning experience but also a passion project that allows our collective to work in new ways. 

We’re now working on the fourth phase of this project, so stay tuned for that! 

Visit: https://www.spaceshiftcollective.com/starlight

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What advice do you have for other young people, especially people of color, who are interested in breaking into the field? 

If you’re going to do something you’re passionate about, know that it will take a lot of effort. If you love it, my hope is that the late nights, stress, questions and doubts will all be worth it. Going into the arts is definitely not the easier route. In fact, you really have to be the best to do it! If possible, find a mentor early on. And stay humble, stay learning, stay dreaming!