Maurice Broaddus: Humanities Hero
August 9, 2021Like many superheroes, Maurice Broaddus takes on a few roles and responsibilities. He serves as a teacher at Oaks Academy Middle School, an Afrofuturist-in-residence at the Kheprw Institute and a science fiction fantasy author.
Like many superheroes, Maurice Broaddus takes on a few roles and responsibilities. He serves as a teacher at Oaks Academy Middle School, an Afrofuturist-in-residence at the Kheprw Institute and a science fiction fantasy author. In the world of a superhero, anything is achievable. Maurice achieves quite a lot by utilizing his storytelling, creativity and the humanities to bless his Indianapolis community. At the core of his community is the Kheprw Institute.
When Indiana Humanities’ digital media intern Mike Lee asked what the Kheprw Institute provides, Maurice explained the organization’s role as a nonprofit focused on people-centered work that brings about community wealth, with an emphasis on encouraging others to move through life in a way that isn’t transactional but rather relational.
In his role at the Kheprw Institute, Maurice hosts Afrofuturism Fridays, a monthly discussion group that seeks to reexamine events of the past, critique the present-day dilemmas of the African Diaspora and create a space to imagine and dream of possible futures. The program is supported by an INcommon grant from Indiana Humanities.
One of Maurice’s greatest powers outside of his creativity is his ability to collaborate and bring other artists along to create impactful change in communities. Knowing the world-changing power of art and the humanities, Maurice believes that artists can paint visions to lead the way and help others see what the world could look like with different systems and practices. Through his work with the Kheprw Institute, Maurice has the room to not only dream alone but also in community.
Maurice received a 2020 Indiana Authors Award in the Genre category for his esteemed book, Pimp My Airship. The inspiration for his book stemmed from a visit to The Catacombs, a series of intricate underground passageways that lie beneath The Indianapolis City Market. A key theme explored in his book through the character Sleepy is using one’s talent as an artist to create change in one’s community.
Maurice Broaddus is a Humanities Hero! We are grateful for all the work Maurice has done to engage the Indianapolis community in the humanities. Learn more about how you can be a Humanities Hero in your community through an Indiana Humanities grant here.
Learn more about Maurice Broaddus on his website and his work at the Kheprw Institute here.
Video created by Mike Lee, Indiana Humanities Digital Media / Storytelling Intern.
