About To Be Held

Through this audio storytelling project, I hope to practice vulnerability and courage in my own personal storytelling practice, find genuine community connections that uplift storytelling as a practice of community care and healing, and explore individual and collective wisdoms and resources for community care that can be offered as support and encouragement to those who may feel disconnected, isolated and/or alone. 

How might we bring awareness to the everyday acts of being held in life? Where do we find softness in the chaos and grief? How do we ebb and flow through this practice of caring for and supporting each other and ourselves? 

Listen in as I chat with people in community, as we explore the deep question:  “What does ‘to be held’ mean for you?” We will examine the many ways in which this practice has/has not shown up for us and reflect on our practices of being held through memory, art, grief, solitude, nature, love, and more. 

Aqiyla Thomas is an artist, storyteller, researcher, and community worker, who believes in the power of creativity to transform lives, elevate voices, and nurture collective healing. Her journey in the arts has been shaped by a lifelong commitment to understanding the complexities of human experience, especially within marginalized communities. Rooted in her AfroCarolinian and AfroCaribbean upbringing, she has always sought to rediscover and uplift the stories of those often unheard and unseen—especially the experiences of Black women, youth, and those navigating systemic injustices.

Upon receiving her BA in psychology and Masters in social work from UNC Chapel Hill, she conducted research in developing curriculum for children to discuss the complexities of their social, emotional, and racial identities and traveled across Ghana to intern at a rural primary school and research youth engagement in community-based programs. She also holds a certification from George Washington University’s Documentary Filmmaking Program and produced a short film documenting the lives of women of color impacted by homelessness and partnership violence.

For the past decade, she has dedicated her creative practice to documentary filmmaking, focusing on the intersection of personal narrative and social change. She has worked with award-winning media companies in Washington DC and NYC like Meridian Hill Pictures, American Documentary (POV on PBS), and Cinereach to educate, host community film screenings, and conduct research to better understand the types of stories communities want to see in the world.  Her human-centered approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a belief that storytelling is a tool for both personal and societal transformation. Stories are an opening for healing.

In addition to her work in film, she has spent years teaching and mentoring young people, helping them find their own authentic voices through creative expression. From leading arts education programs to training youth and adults in mobile filmmaking, she has seen firsthand the profound impact that telling authentic, community-based stories can have on individuals and the spaces they inhabit.

With a foundation in psychology and social work, she approaches creative projects with a deep understanding of how our social, emotional, and cultural environments shape who we are and how we relate to one another. She believes that the arts can be a catalyst for social change, bridging gaps in understanding and creating spaces where people can heal, connect, and grow. She is currently training in nature-based expressive arts therapy through the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute. 

Whether it’s through film, community engagement, and/or creative placemaking, Aqiyla is constantly exploring how the arts can foster collective healing and inspire a more inclusive, just world. Since returning back to her home state of NC in 2020 and re-rooting in the natural landscapes of the state's mountains, rivers, lakes, and agricultural spaces, she continues to seek new ways to engage with community and share stories that empower, uplift, and create lasting impact.