Leveraging my skills to make a positive impact in the world through the arts.
The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. It is an organization whose core values completely resonate with my beliefs and principles.
Being part of the Coalition, especially when I advocate for our #RightToBearArts on Capitol Hill I feel aligned with my purpose. For several years, I have had the privilege of explaining to legislators the importance of the arts and how access to the arts changed my life and those of my clients and family. This advocacy work synergizes my legal skills with my deep appreciation of the role the arts have in all of our lives, and in our society. When someone is going through a life crisis, the opportunity to have an outlet to express, connect, and heal is immeasurably important. Creating art can have a cathartic release or even a temporary escape from the stresses of a crisis. When someone feels isolated, the ability to share a creative experience can reduce anxiety and create supportive networks. For others, having a platform for storytelling can make sense of what is otherwise bewildering and foster resilience for whatever challenges are ahead.
The Creative Coalition
“Jackie Barnett has been an integral part of The Creative Coalition’s mission to promote and protect the Arts in the United States. She is passionate, articulate, and highly effective in delivering a message that is important to the future of Arts and Arts education. - ”
“Jacalyn Barnett is an exceptionally smart and global advocate for the arts - she leverages her extensive skills to strategically articulate the efficacy and power of the arts in our communities. Jackie is part of a national braintrust that underscores both the positive emotional benefits and economic impact that the arts have in our society and expertly communicates that to national policymakers and other community leaders. We are honored to have her as part of The Creative Coalition, the premier 501c3 charity of the arts and entertainment communities. ”
The Women’s Forum of New York, which was created by civic leader and philanthropist Elinor Guggenheimer in 1974, provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with women in diverse leadership positions in the New York area. Their network has given me access to leaders I never could have imagined knowing, much less befriending. Consequently, I have been able to help open doors for others.
The Women’s Forum of New York
While my daughter, Jamie, was less than two years old at the time of the Anita Hill hearing in 1991, having mentored so many younger women, I felt compelled nonetheless to take her to Washington, D.C. to be physically present at a tipping point in feminist education and awareness. Jamie’s middle name is “Hope”, because she represented Hope for the 21st century, a dream she has fulfilled more than I could have imagined. In a full circle moment, many years later, I had the privilege of meeting Anita Hill and sharing that story with her. The t shirt of the Women Senators walking up the stairs of the Capitol proclaiming “Women Tell the Truth” and that photograph are treasured memories and inspire me each time I have had the honor of participating in the #RightToBearArts for the Creative Coalition and walked up those same stairs of the Capitol ready to tell the truth.
I have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1999 due to my participation in broadcasting. Part of my advocacy is educating the public about the nuances of family law and how to protect oneself in these circumstances. Being part of SAG has enabled me to better contribute to these conversations.
Screen Actors Guild
For more than a dozen years I have been involved in investing in various theatrical productions hoping to bring meaningful stories to life just as I have tried to do in the courtroom. Whatever Matters, LLC is the culmination of my efforts to support the arts. It is the vehicle through which we are supporting theatrical productions and other artistic endeavors.
