Conversations with the Inspiring Lindsay Newman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Newman.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Where I find myself today is the result of happenstance, circumstance, and an urgent sense of curiosity. The start of it all, I suppose, can be traced to the feeling I first found through the sharing of a story – not one in particular, but the joy found within the experience. I started surrounding myself with stories of my family, of fearless friends, the ones that were brought to life through black text on the white pages of books and then- the more public sense of story, the ones found through film.

Around a year ago, I co-founded a story and film-based nonprofit called American Canary. Along with three other amazing women, we set a vision to create short films that can help us digest complex concepts, allowing us to embrace new ideas and discover we have more in common than we think we do.

The study of storytelling led to a degree in English Lit, and an acute sense of panic about how I was to live out my narrative. I bought a one-way ticket to the other side of the world and found myself working in New Zealand and Australia, meeting incredible people, gleaning alternative value systems, and listening to stories. Along the way, I became a part of an assembly of communities. I worked with arts and culture festivals and invested time volunteering for film festivals. I loved seeing people come together to learn and share space. It made these places feel almost like home, save the distance I had placed between myself and my family.

After two-and-a-half years, I returned to my home state. I earned a Masters in Nonprofit Management and embedded my passion for story with my deep-set goal of doing my best to do good in my community. I now sit on the board of multiple nonprofits, work for the Colorado Nonprofit Association, continue to work for an animal welfare organization in Kenya, and volunteer with film festivals throughout Colorado.

Has it been a smooth road?
Growing up, my family and I spent a lot of time on rivers. The way we moved down them is analogous to the way I move through life. Sometimes, the water is flowing; there is little need to paddle and no need to panic. Sometimes there is an unannounced rockslide that has led to a rapid, easily flipping all you have upside-down. Other times, you get stuck in an eddy. You start moving upstream rather than down; the only way to escape is to gather courage and lean back into the current. The struggles that I have come across have been both external influence of societal systems and internal fears that have kept me from moving downstream. Understanding your core values – what drives you regardless of what you are doing, will assist you in finding your way. As a young woman, own your power and your story and stay stoked for what lies just around the river bend. 😉

What should we know about American Canary? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Throughout high school and college, I worked for Telluride Mountainfilm, an experience that brought together storytelling, global awareness, and incredible feats of humanity. I was captivated by the films, the discussions they prompted, and the changes that ensued from an audience’s shift in consciousness. It was a tangible way to take an issue, or an inspiration, and impact strangers. A few years ago, I saw the film American Psychosis and met the filmmaker behind the work, Amanda Zackem. I was completely in awe of the way she translated an intricate subject into an emotive story. Her vision, my knowledge of nonprofits, and our co-founders Bridget and Laura’s unique and unwavering drive led to the creation of the American Canary. We are akin to cinematic TED talks and are still very much an in-progress organization. However, I would say as an all-female team, what sets us apart is our approach to the perplexing subject matter in an empathetic way. With so much of our current culture focused on visual expression and rapid ingestion of ideas, American Canary converts the brilliant text of modern authors into short films. These films are distributed to festivals, classrooms, communities, and individuals along with a purposeful toolkit to drive follow-up action, instigate internal questioning, and change perceptions.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
My work in nonprofits has led to a lot of discussions around mission, vision, and values. These are the essential elements in creating an organization that requires deep reflection on how an org is working to show up in the world. My advice is to create a personal statement of mission, vision, and values. Find it within yourself to discover what you want to be doing for your community and the world, the core values that will drive every decision you make, and what you and your world would look like as the most accomplished version of your life. Then, revisit, review, and rewrite them again and again as time passes. Don’t be afraid of change, stay curious, and share your story.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://americancanary.org/
• Phone: 9707087227
• Email: lindsay@americancanary.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americancanary/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americancanary/

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