Meet Aurica Hurst | Social Justice Activist,Actress & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aurica Hurst and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aurica, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
When I think about where I come from, what I had to overcome to be where I am at today, what inspires me most are my ancestors, the hard working people that I have seen in my life and those that made it possible for me to exist. As a young girl seeing my mother work hard to take care of us four children stuck with me. Ultimately, resiliency is what inspires me. I use that to push me to keep going. My history being scattered inspires me to tell my story and always use my voice. I have been inspired by the resilience in people that come from my city and choose to go after their dreams or just live happier lives in spite of the adversity. Inspiration for me came out as writing. Writing creatively, reading and writing poetry to voice my pain and joy. I would read Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. The words of the people who use their experiences to tell the stories have always spoken to me. I have always been inspired by the creativity I’ve seen in my community, the music, HIPHOP, the hustle and the heart of black folks. The hardworking mamas of the hood, my sisters, that take care of their children much like myself who came from a hard working single mama. My friends I grew up with who are parents and not letting that stop them from pursuing their dreams as well. Inspiration for me comes from the culture. I am a dream chaser from Philly.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career in community started when I started as a housing justice organizer and event coordinator where I brought out young voters, first time voters and the best performers of the city. I hosted open mics and at the same time was an instructor at Social Justice Leadership Institute. I came to Los Angeles to follow my dreams after serving my community in Philly. As an activist in Philadelphia, i was attacked physically and verbally by elected officials and police. I knew then that my life mattered more to me and it was time for me to reclaim my power. While working and building a career here in Los Angeles as a pandemic broke out, moving back to Philly seemed easier but thats never been an option for me in life. Seeing the bigger picture and not focusing on what Im struggling through has kept me going. Homelessness, abusive relationships, I still kept fighting for what I believe in and that’s myself. Improv acting and comedy have been my first moves in LA, finding new ways to laugh at life and seeing how I far Ive come has been my self love space. Before the pandemic I was booked for a stage play and was regular at Flappers Comedy club after attending an open mic. My determination is unique because my hunger for knowledge of the craft of acting is insatiable. I made it my business to keep up submitting and take classes. I earned a diversity scholarship from Groundlings, currently taking HIP HOP theater taught by Ron Johnson at Historical Stella Adler theater with the Townestreet theater company, and a semester with Somatic Scene study with Jamie Wollrab and Commercial Technique at Alyson Horn. I come from a city of people that go out and grind everyday just to show up the next day and chase our dreams. I landed a role in a Indie film, the same time I found out that I was in the middle of a high risk pregnancy. I went into labor early and missed the filming.I pushed through days of breast pumping on set, in a tight stall and storing my milk in the refrigerator in holding and being on set with some of the greatest talents of my time, to picking up my son from the babysitter. Making sacrifices, is motherhood and to be patient with myself and life overall. For the past few years i have been an after school instructor, substitute teacher and became an ABA therapist, although this is a way I earn money it is something I still very much care about. Doing work that makes a positive impact in someones life is important to me. Working with children is something that comes natural to me, I think its because of how chaotic my childhood was. Overall I find it easy to take on the task because I like a good challenge. The people I do it for are worth it. I hope to one day have a theater/arts program for youth. As a social justice advocate I hope that I can help others overcome challenges that I faced as a young person. I struggled a lot as a young person and used to get in trouble a lot. As an actress and performer I want the world to know that theater and arts saves lives and teaching people how to build up and save their communities is necessary. My brand as an actress/creative is Uplift, Inspire. most importantly Keep Hope Alive. Im a dream chaser from Philly.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With so many gems in LA, I think for breakfast/ brunch I would definitely take them to the Breakfast Republic in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd and Formosa. Then to walk off our delicious meal we would drive to Elysian park and hike around and check out dope views of the city. Then we would go get some good vegan food from Leimert Park and shop the local vendors. I would love to end the night with a rooftop dance party at Mamas Shelter Hosted by the dopest DJ group in the city Utopia Tribe one love. For the second day I would start off with a nice easy hike up to solstice canyon in Malibu, The stream is nice midway through the hike and the waterfall at the end of the hike is truly amazing. It’s a spot I can get lost in all day. For dinner I would take my bestie to Bossa Nova restaurant. The next day we would visit the California African American Museum and take a walk through the Exposition Park Rose Garden. For some evening entertainment check out shows at The Groundlings for improv and Laugh Factory for some gut busting jokes, Since I love hiking and being outside I would go to Santa Monica trails and go to Venice beach to get the sunset and get some good drinks from Whalers bar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give credit to my Philly family, my cousins, siblings, teachers who saw my greatness even when I did not believe in myself. Especially my teachers. My teachers always played a pivotal role in my life growing up. School was an outlet for me to explore myself and my thoughts. I want to thank my fourth grade teacher Mrs, Cheatwood who introduced me to Shirley Chisolm. My highschool teachers like Ms Hart my AP English teacher, and my cheerleading coach Melissa Lawson, Katherine Turner, from Journalism Professor at Temple University. Special Thanks to Gail Clouden, Shout out to all the educators and mentors I’ve had in my life. The book that I would say I am encouraged by is Audre Lordes “The Masters Tools Will Never Dismantle the Masters House.

Website: https://auridgold.wixsite.com/bwegbusinesswellness

Instagram: pot_ofgold

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aurica-hurst-1971b944

Other: I started a business during covid called B.WE,G (Black women Empower Group). I began this journey due to the discrimination that black women still face in the workplace, in getting loans for business and do amplify the voices of black women. I started this group to uplift , encourage black women businesses and entrepreneurs/ black women artist.

Image Credits
first photo; headshot (zachariah shoots phography)