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Transcript
0:00
[On screen image] sNAPAshots Logo
Interviewer 0:08
Welcome to Snapchashots: Conversations with Professional, Practicing, and Applied Anthropologists.
0:14
[On screen text] Kamela Heyward-Rotimi. Executive Director, Knowledge Exchange Research Group.
Interviewer 0:14
[On screen text] How has th anthropological mindset enhanced your contributions to your workplace?
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi 0:25
So I will go back to grad school for this question. My department was truly four-field, so by default, I was exposed to different research approaches and different subfields. For example, I worked as a research assistant for a medical anthropologist studying Black maternal health. I…during that time, I also learned a healthy respect for quantitative data as a complement to qualitative analysis, and I was in an archeology course where I learned how to find symbolism and artifacts. The class that really steered me towards practicing was a class that, even though the the class was taught by an anthropologist who was in the Department of Architecture, interestingly enough, in this class, we were assigned to work with nonprofits in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to address environmental injustices, and this really found it gave me the foundation to learn how to collaborate with groups, excuse me, that I work with. So I learned how to analyze and assess and conduct diverse data assessments. I learned about holding on to the hallmark of collaboration and to respect interdisciplinary approaches, and these these approaches are still fundamental to my current research and policy work.
Interviewer 0:25
[On screen text] Do you recall a moment that changed the way you practiced Anthropology?
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi 2:03
Yes, a huge moment was my realizing that I needed to learn more about practicing skills and how to incorporate them in the work that I wanted to do, because I was not trained in a practicing program, my graduate program definitely had strong engaged anthropology, had a strong engaged anthropology focus, which was wonderful, but there was no practicing focus. When I realized I wanted to do both practicing and do my scholarship and research, I recognized that I needed to expand my examples of how to do anthropology, and that is when I I really leaned into “What is practicing anthropology?” Are there many different ways to do it? Because I knew that the way I was doing it may not be the way that another practicing anthropologist does it, but I knew that there were so many vast examples. I was very encouraged to learn more about what that what that practicing anthropology would look like for me
Interviewer 3:44
[On screen text] How has anthropology been particularly useful in addressing challenges you have encountered at your work?
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi 3:47
I would say the most difficult thing is…So earlier I said there are many different ways to do practicing anthropology, and probably because there are so many ways to do practicing anthropology, there is no clear box, which is what I love about it. But that also means that sometimes you spend a lot of time trying to explain what it is that you do and what you bring to the table in whatever industry or or field you’re working in, so I think that that would be one of the tougher parts of being a practicing anthropologist. I address that in my work, the difficulties by leading with what my focus is or my focuses are, and basically sitting down with if I’m consulting or if I’m doing work with my research group, or if I’m doing some policy work, I start with explaining the fundamental skills that I have. Once I just explain those skills, you know, ethnographic assessment or skillful assessment, qualitative and quantitative data. I sort of lead with that and then back up into, and this field that I learned those skills in is anthropology, and just let my work speak for itself, and and I guess hopefully, it’s a clear example of one of the ways that anthropology can be used to actualize change and to be applied in real life situations and and issues.
Interviewer 6:02
[On screen text] What advice would you like to pass onto future anthropologists seeking roles in professional fields?
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi 6:02
One of the things that I would advise for aspiring practicing anthropologists is to get an early start reaching out to other practicing anthropologists. Use those research skills to connect with practicing anthropologists and to read up on the different ways that anthropology is practiced, a very good source is you know Napa’s website. Find different ways to…sNAPA shots, what I’m thrilled to do right now, and then you know, just making sure that there is an understanding that there are different ways to apply your expertise in industry, nonprofits, educational institutions, and beyond, that there’s no one way to do it.
Interviewer 6:05
[On screen text] Looking back, what key moments in your childhood hinted at a future path in anthropology?
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi 7:04
There was this key moment when I was a kid. There was a King Tut exhibit at LACMA, the Los Angeles Community Museum of Art, which is where I’m from. I was about nine or 10 years old, and when I went into the exhibit with my mom, and I was walking around, I was looking at the statues, and I remember asking, and this is this is true, this is not made up. I said, do the Egyptians know their art and sculptures are here, and why are they here in Los Angeles? And so, from my nine or 10-year-old mind, I was like, “Were they taken without permission? And as I grew, and those those questions grew With me, I realized that I was asking questions behind what items and artifacts are considered national and international treasures. How are they stored, and how do those artifacts get defined as Knowledge and how are they tied to historical and present international systems, structures, and policies? So that that quest for what knowledge is being, how knowledge is being constructed. What items are claimed as knowledge worthy? What communities, nations, are recognized as having the right to say where their items should go. That still that still influences my work.
Credits 9:07
PRODUCED BY Niel Tashima Cathleen Crain Joshua Liggett CREATED AND DIRECTED BY Reshama Damle EDITED BY Reshama Damle FOOTAGE VIA PEXELS MUSIC VIA PIXABAY: “Fat Chillin” by Lazy Chill Zone, “mood” by alexproductions, “LoFi Girl” by Snoozy Beats
Interviewer 9:07
[On screen text] Like what you see? Let us know. Find us at practicinganthropology.org, LinkedIn, Meta X, Blue Sky, and YouTube.
Interviewer 9:32
[On Screen Text] Many Thanks to NAPA’s Governing Council for supporting sNAPAshots. NAPA is a section of the Anthropological Association.
Volunteer Plug 9:21
[On Screen Images] Starbursts with the words: Social Media, Organization, Promotions, and Events. [On Screen Text] Want to volunteer with NAPA? We’d love to hear from YOU! Contact: [email protected]
AAP Plug 9:44
[On Screen Text] Stay connected with 40 Years of The Annals of Anthropological Practice. [On Screen Image] AAP Cover Page. [On Screen Text] https://practicinganthropology.org/communicate/submit-to-the-annals/
Interviewer 9:49
sNAPAhots
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