Brian Kaiser, Director of Center for Community Engagement, SUNY Cobleskill

In a truly enlightening performance, Qurrat Kadwani delivers powerful, universal messages that appeal to college and community audiences alike. By re-enacting her experiences as an Indian immigrant looking to assimilate into the melting pot of the Bronx, Ms. Kadwani eloquently conveys the struggle to define ones identity and the challenges of confronting change. In her interaction with traditional parents seeking to preserve her heritage and her marriageability, Ms. Kadwani strikes a delicate balance between allegiance to family, the quest for individuality, and womens empowerment. In the ensuing catharsis, Ms. Kadwani emerges as a stronger, more confident person, one who speaks with the wisdom of experience which connects her to her audience in a way that creates lasting impressions.

Bryan Hulbert, Womens Center, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

I read over thereviewsand watched the trailer and I was immediately sold. One of the problems we run into on our campus is that people tend to associate the Womens Center with white middle class women, so we attempt to offer an array of programming that addresses many different issues from many different angles and perspectives.This performance and talk back gave us the opportunity to accomplish that goal from several different angles all at once. The student response to the performance has been wonderful and we are so glad that we brought Qurrat to our campus to perform.

Anje Woodruffe, Professor of Performance Studies, Hofstra University, NY

I wanted my students to experience performance as narrative. I teach performance as a mode of communication and inquiry. My students were captivated and connected with the issues of race, culture & identity. The characters were depicted with a sense of purpose, honesty and perspicacity. The pervasive message of self love & self acceptance was well received by all who attended.

Donna Gaspar Jarvis, Director of Office of Multiculturalism and Diversity, University of New England Biddeford and Portland, ME

This was so thrilling to bring this show to both campuses because its so important for students to hear. It builds a sensitivity and awareness to look for commonalities between cultures. The show is provocative in terms of making people think about their own assumptions. Its planting seeds, its building awareness. There are universal themes and it gives the students an opportunity to think about their own coming of age story.

J.H. Atkins, Assistant Vice Presidentfor Diversity, Centre College, KY

I thought that the pre-show music set the stage for a very diverse program. There were lots of themes for diversity and inclusion. Every student can relate personally to some part of the show. We cannot find in our records a performer of Indian-American background. Our goal was to show our students that diversity has many components and it changes everyday. We achieved our goal because it shows them that you bring your story forward its notthe black and white story, its a colorful story.

Jonathan Osborne, Coordinator, Director of Office of Multiculturalism and Diversity, University of New England Biddeford and Portland

The performance is really amazing. it allows students to take their own journey to see if they identify with themselves or what others see in them.

Stephanie Williams, Director of Multicultural Affairs, Anna Maria College, MA

I really appreciated how multicultural this performance was. It touched on the intersectionality of identity as the characters progressed. It touched on culture whether or not to assimilate and maintain ethnic authencity while trying to maneuver through life. Its relatable for all students with so many golden nuggets! The closing tied everything together with a really nice message and leaves you with a nice philosophical thought leaves you questioning yourself. I want to bring you back!

Max Swanton, Learning Specialist, Academic Support Center, Daytona State College, FL

This type of programming is educational and the best section was when she didnt feel Indian OR American. The woman she meets in India is very inspiring.

Alejandro Acevado, GlobalFriends President, Daytona State College, FL

Our goal was to promote the Falcon Passport Program and the Global friends Club by offering a unique co-curricular activity with international flavor. I think the performance helped us achieve these goals by offering students a personal narrative similar to theirs (in many cases) via a performance style that many may not have previous exposure to. The event attracted the attention of many of our ESOL students who were also provided information on the FPP and the GF Club.

Charles Interface Ministries, Tennessee State University

I felt that most people need to see the show because it will help them to get out of their comfort zone and how important that is. The mold within which Im squeezed how can I be the unique person Im meant to be? My favorite character is the father I think as fathers we struggle with how to support and love our children. You cant choose for people people have to choose themselves.

Arlene, Office of the President, Tennessee State University

I had a blast I thought the performance was amazing. I am also from another country, being caught between two different worlds. My accent is not Trinidadian and its not American. My son says, Mom, youre a woman with no country. Congratulations!

Mark Brinkley, Director of International Relations, Tennessee State University

This show gives our students a different perspective from an international side.Weve had so many students come up to us at the reception who have said that theyd like to go to India and see some of the characters you portray.

Mark, Coordinator for Community Service, Centre College, KY

There were a lot of parts that spoke personally to me. I am from Ghana and I grew up there until I was 15, so just the whole concept of trying to fit in, being around a different population, the parents, all was the same. My favorite character is Alicia because I eventually came to identify with African Americans who shared similar beliefs on a predominantly White campus.

Kris Hall, Program Coordinator for Center for Excellence in Interprofessional Education, University of New England Biddeford and Portland

We have 13 different health professions and a lot of them came to see the show today. This was a fantasticly genuine demonstration of one persons travel when you dont feel youre native to a place from a variety of points of view. Maine is not terribly diverse and I think anytime you can hear someones story on how theyre different and how they cope can help them to be more empathetic to their future patients.

Maggie McCampbell Lien, Associate Director of Student Engagement Intercultural Programs, Shenandoah University, VA

The event told one story from multiple perspectives, and that is something we try to teach students - how to see things from multiple perspectives. It was a moving performance and led to very good conversation afterward. Some of our international students really related to Qurrat, and all of the students learned something new.

Amanda Morrison, Ph.D., Coordinator, Our House Intercultural Center, Santa Rosa Junior College, CA

The beautiful thing about “Q” is that, although the main character shares a unique ethnic and immigrant experience, it is easily relatable for students who are a major part of our campus’ demographic: Latina/o immigrants or second-generation children of immigrants from Latin America, in terms of the balancing act or “dance” of assimilation to mainstream U.S. culture and maintenance of traditions. So the performance was both engagingly specific and highly relatable.

Rachel Mariano, Student Life Director, Gwinnett Technical College, GA

After seeing Q’s promo videos we knew that she had a highly engaging and unique way of opening doors of understanding. The evaluations of the performance were full of things like “fresh look” , “brings value to all of us”, “self-love”, “appreciating each other”, “embrace my heritage”, “everyone is important”. Learning outcomes like these are priceless.