Epilogue
Part of the “Soothing the Itch” Series
by Conrhonda E. Baker
Aside from my role as the Editor, I’d like to share a bit about the journey that led to the introductions you’ve experienced before each of the guest contributors’ offerings in “Soothing the Itch.”
In this age of rapidly advancing technology, I’ve pondered the potential of tools like Bard, ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Grantable to assist content creators in shaping their ideas and expressions. My initial curiosity evolved into nagging questions about if and how technology can assist grant writers in completing proposals and help funders author user-friendly application questions, guidelines, and FAQs. However, this exploration was not solely fueled by curiosity. It was also inspired by my cousin Calvin D. Lawrence’s book, “Hidden in White Sight: How AI Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism.” His text prompted me to consider how AI technologies can perpetuate existing inequalities, spurring me to explore this dynamic in my creative process with the GIA Reader.
I embraced the interplay between technology and creativity. I set out to weave together prompts, curation, and meticulous editing to craft the introductions accompanying the contributions in this issue. It’s been a fascinating journey, with each iteration and regeneration reflecting the careful balance between generative AI’s power and my human touch.
As you engaged with the submissions, I hope you’ve enjoyed the preambles emerging from this collaborative dance between me and the tools of the internet. Thank you for listening!
Warmly,
Conrhonda E. Baker
Editor, “Soothing the Itch”
GIA Reader – September 2023
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Decisive Moment
Conrhonda E. Baker is founder & chief copy editor of The Bese Saka. Her passion for the performing arts is grounded in her dance background, sparked by taking after-school classes at a county-wide recreational facility in rural northeast Georgia. Having grown up with limited access to the arts, she understands the importance of exposing children to creative outlets and creating opportunities for artistic expression. She believes in holistic trust-based, regenerative, and restorative approaches to grantmaking.
Her philanthropic, fundraising, government affairs, and program development experience developed through work with South Arts, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Alabama Dance Council, Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham Museum of Art, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation. She has sat on grant panels for Dance/NYC, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She has sat on grant panels for Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Dance/NYC, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to being a Women of Color in the Arts member, she serves on the Board of Directors for SOLE Defined and Arts Business Collaborative. She holds a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies, with a minor in Dance Education, from The University of Georgia.
