Cortico Staff Feature: Meet T. Marie King, Activist & LVN — Alabama Lead
We are delighted to introduce T. Marie King, Cortico’s Head of Local Voices Network — Alabama. T. Marie brings decades of experience in racial justice and equity, community organizing, and youth work. She also once convinced the owner of a movie theater to lend it to her for a private screening earlier this year.
What is a value that has shaped who you are, and how it brought you to your work at Cortico/with LVN?
I truly value community and how a diverse group of people can shape your life in the most magnificent ways. Having an opportunity to uplift community through conversations is what attracted me to Cortico/LVN.
What is a community that has shaped who you are today?
The arts community has definitely shaped who I am as well as my worldview. I think from a creative lens and that shapes my work, how I respond and what refuels me.
What is a sound that you love? What about one that you hate?
I love and miss the sound of my grandmother humming. She doesn’t do it as often but sometimes I catch it. I really dislike the sound of snow on TV, even though you don’t hear it as much now.
What are your favorite/least favorite words?
My favorite word is movie and least favorite word is at-risk (used in the context of “at-risk youth”).
What is something you’re excited about working on?
I’m excited to learn more about how to use tech in a social and restorative way. I have no idea what that means but it is stretching for me.
What profession other than your own would you attempt?
I still want to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.
What’s one of your favorite LVN Conversations or Highlights and why?
I truly loved the conversation with the men of Brother Let’s Talk and thinking about sometimes we need to reframe the way we look at things, like rebranding mental health. In this Highlight, Jacques, from Birmingham, AL, talked about the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for talking about mental health in the context of policing.
Which reality show would you have the highest likelihood of winning? Double Dare or Legends of the Hidden Temple.
What is one piece of media (newspaper, magazine, podcast, etc.) that you would recommend to others?
I purchased a year long subscription to Masterclass and I have really enjoyed learning things from a variety of people. Everything from the principals of how to be a performer to how to write a screenplay. Most of the things on there I will never do but I love learning new concepts that I can figure out how to apply to my life.
