Meet Marthame Sanders | Artist & Advocate

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

Hi Marthame, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The bulk of my professional experience and training has been as a congregational pastor. In that line of work, we are taught to think of our employment as a “vocation” or a “calling”. I spent many years shaping my life around that assumption: my work came first (after all, it came straight from God), and everything else came after it. Not surprisingly, this thinking led to an unbalanced life, one which needed – and received – serious realignment.

There were a number of factors that contributed to a transformation in this way of thinking, including mentors, colleagues, friends, and my unparalleled spouse. While I would still use that language of “vocation”, I now define that as a calling to be me. This calling includes a variety of roles, including spouse, parent, justice advocate, musician, producer, improviser, pastor, and – simply – me. As a result, the question for me is no longer about a work/life balance, but about what it takes to be “whole”.

My professional career looks markedly different now, focused on art, faith, and justice. I produce and host podcasts, create and play music, lead workshops on improv and leadership, and consult with churches trying to figure out how to live authentically with equity and technology. It’s all still ministry. It’s all still a calling. And it is a part of my wholeness.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In 2016, I left my job as a congregational pastor to start something new. That transition necessitated a number of “side hustles”, including Uber driver and speechwriter, among others. I thought that this “new thing” was a church, and began connecting with folks – especially artists – along those lines. Instead, these connections led to the creation of a podcast. AIJCast (which stands for art, inspiration, and justice) is coming into its sixth year of weekly episodes.

The side hustles are now gone, and I have launched my own business. Mudeif Productions provides professional production services for organizations. We focus on organizations whose social values reflect our own toward building a more just and equitable world, especially when it comes to celebrating Black lives and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Mudeif is an Arabic word meaning “host”. It is a nod to the profound impact three years living in Palestine has had on my life, and to the extravagant hospitality I received during my time there. Mudeif Productions seeks to act as a host for those who are trying to find their footing in the unfamiliar world of technology. Our niche is justice-oriented churches and ministries whose faith pushes them to seek a more just world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are some rather well-known spots that deserve attention, including the Carter Center, the King National Historical Park, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Woodruff Arts Center. I would add to these the Apex Museum on Auburn Avenue, which presents history from an African-American perspective.

For the “outdoors” inclined, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History has both impressive exhibits and wonderful nature trails. And Mount Arabia is an easy drive from Atlanta with moon-like landscapes and fantastic views.

As a resident of Chamblee, I’d take them for coffee at Southern Roots Spice cafe, lunch at Taco Veloz on BuHi, and dinner and at Southbound.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to my partner and spouse Elizabeth, who has not only been along for the whole ride, but has helped steer! Shout out to my kids, who remind me what’s important, keep me on my toes, and make the ride a lot more interesting and fun. And a shout out to the many friends, too numerous to mention, who have taught me (more patiently than I deserve) about our society’s persistent injustices and the urgent need to act toward building a more equitable world.

Website: https://mudeif.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mudeifproductions/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mudeifco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mudeifproductions

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWPjmO8DU5TQOQetguTNkUA