May 25, 2022

Dear Friends and Family,

I know it’s been quite a while since you’ve heard from me. Gosh there’s just been so much to say that it stopped me from saying anything. It’s been a struggle to write this for the last few weeks. It’s too much. Because I just couldn’t believe what’s going on in this country. I had too much to say about Roe and what’s going on politically. 
 
Two years ago today, George Floyd was killed. 
 
And now more elementary school children and teachers have been killed – killed at school. Killed by a high school student. A high schooler with a gun. Do we even know why? Does that even matter? 
 
I needed to write something today. These are my thoughts and my words as Janine Trevens, the person, not as Nina from TADA!. 
 
Less than two weeks ago we saw mostly Black people gunned down in a supermarket in Buffalo. There was also the shooting at a church in a California senior-oriented Asian community. NYC commuters are dealing with shootings on the subway. 
 
People are risking their lives just to get somewhere – to work, to school, to buy food, to celebrate, to worship, to learn, and to teach. This isn’t new. It’s too much. It has to stop. 
 
So, I had to say something. We all need to say something. We all need to do something. Something more than we’ve done before. 
 
I believe we need to ban assault weapons. I believe we need to make it harder for people to buy guns. I believe we need to figure out how to help people who are suffering emotionally and mentally. I believe this is only going to get worse unless something changes. 
 
I have signed petitions. I have donated to Brady. I have expressed my thoughts. I believe that part of living life is to figure out what we each can personally do to make the world a better place. That’s very global and lofty. Actually, I do what I can to make my community a better place to live and do what I can for the people in my community. 
 
What are you going to do? 

Best,

Janine Nina Trevens
Executive & Producing Artistic Director