“You have the ability see what connects people to each in the most specific aspects of themselves, and thus find their universal connection. You get this mirror of the tiny and the immense. And the human essence that connects us. And to that you bring your commitment to honesty in your project, whatever that may be. Honesty from the bottom up, from the inside out. So that honesty itself becomes an aspect of the project.”
“Not only do you see clearly and deeply, you see "kindly" which doesn't always come with seeing deeply. You are exquisitely attuned to the details that give such texture and color to your work, and that you see in the details the larger story and, vision. I don't think I have ever met anyone who could see so deeply and with such generosity into the reality that you are trying to capture."
“When I first met Jonathan, my ideas were all over the place and out of all those possibilities, Jonathan listened deeply and helped me find the kernel and the focus that would resonate most with my audience and prospective audience. ...I found in you a creative "partner" who can see the forest through the trees while also being able to focus on each individual tree with clarity and awe.”
"Jonathan/the creative[re]directors has an astute ability to bring to the project a "second sight" - an ability to discern the meaning of things that that lies beyond facts alone and bring that into the light. He has a great astuteness regarding human personalities; how they move and breathe and a deeper understanding of events beyond their surface appearance."
“I had a great time sharing my story. I guess I am always surprised at how, when telling one’s story, there are so many people that connect with it in so many different ways. It's easy to go through this world, on a day to day basis, feeling alone in our thoughts, feelings and experiences. When we share, like I did, it really brings me to the realization that I am not alone. Even though our physical experiences are different, our human and emotional experiences are the same. It gave me a feeling of connectedness in a room full of strangers. What more can we ask for?”
“I really enjoyed being part of the “The Curly Monologues.” For me, the best part was hearing a friend talk about experiences that were very similar to mine. I never knew that about her. It was also interesting and inspiring to hear stories from younger women about being and feeling accepted for who they are – curls included. It was great to be part of an event that celebrated something that caused me so much heartache and frustration for much of my life. Working with you was a privilege. Many people came up to me after the show to tell me they were moved by what I said. The knowledge that I had an impact on even one person is tremendous. Hopefully, events such as these will inspire people to fully embrace who they are and how they look.”
“I never thought I would thank someone for talking to me about my battle with Endometriosis. The safety I felt in the presence of you and your team allowed me to open up about deeply personal and emotional parts of myself. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Getting up in front of an audience and sharing what it was like growing up with curly hair was cathartic. It was an opportunity I never had before The Curly Monologues. Hearing other women share their stories helped me see the absurdity of our culture's perception of curly hair. It was a healing, fun and transformative experience.”
“So grateful to you for providing a platform for women, men and children of all cultures and ethnicities to express themselves and share their stories so openly and honestly. I'm sure I'm expressing the emotion of many when I say that it's so real and awesome of you to have such an interest that provoked such a desire to provide a platform for this kind of expression.”
“Thank you for providing a platform! Sharing is always such a cathartic experience. I'm still walking on clouds of peace today.”
“I am honored to witness and connect to the stories of others.”
“Speaking about the pain in my past brought light to a dark/shameful place. After I spoke, it was as though a weight was lifted (again), and I was reaffirmed by my fellow Curlies who came up to me after to let me know how my story felt so familiar. I realized (again) that living is a collective experience. You're never really alone. It has pushed me along the path of reconnecting with others like I've never done before because I've been so afraid of truly being myself. That somehow my true self may be rejected. But in a room full of people who didn't know me, I made connections and realize again that anyone who truly doesn't like my truth is not meant to share in it, and that is just fine.”