About leigh

I came to this work as an artist, organizer and activist who discovered a passion for supporting individuals and organizations to create substantive change in their lives and in their communities.

 In 2000, I started organizing in Omaha as the voter canvassing coordinator against the so-called Defense of Marriage Amendment. Ever since I have been dedicated to developing and supporting change-makers. A trans, queer, genderqueer white and Native person with disability, I have spent my entire adult life working at the intersections of art and social justice and equity, utilizing Theatre of the Oppressed techniques and working with the queer and trans movements. I work with organizations, businesses, community groups, faculty and students to strengthen understanding about power, privilege and oppression and to provide stronger tools to make positive change in the world.

I have worked for several nonprofits including the ACLU, GLSEN, Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation and The Forum Project. I also have worked for large and small businesses in service, finance and retail industries. I hold a BA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a individualized Master of Arts from NYU, focusing on political and social change with course work in community studies, public policy, nonprofit management and campaign strategies. I have studied Theatre of the Oppressed and other creative pedagogy techniques since the late nineties, working with facilitators from around the world, and have trained with TO's founder Augusto Boal multiple occasions. I was also a Out in Front Leadership Fellow with Stonewall Community Foundation in 2011.

I am proud to have served multiple terms as a Board Member and one term as Board President for Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed for over ten years since 2005 to present. In 2014 I won an award from the Brooklyn Borough President for my “record of advocacy and social justice art in Brooklyn supporting the LGBTQ community” and was a recipient of the Center for Racial Justice in Education’s 2013 Community Partner Award for “racial equity and anti-oppression work in New York City.” I currently co-teach feminist studies at SUNY New Paltz.

Our home in Munsee Lenape territory (Kingston, NY) houses our kid, my husband, a dog and a cat. I love to garden and forage and build community in any way I can. I am passionate about everything, talk with my whole body and laugh really loudly. You can learn more about my artistic practices, wellness work and Theatre of the Oppressed offerings at sleighthompson.com.

Some Clients Include

Business

  • Ralph Lauren

  • Conde Nast

  • Mount Sinai

  • Global Strategy Group

  • HR&A Advisors

nonProfit

  • Sierra Club

  • Florida Immigrants Coalition

  • Hot Bread Kitchen

  • The Solutions Project

  • International Rescue Committee

arts

  • Lincoln Center

  • Roundabout Theatre

  • New York Theatre Workshop

  • Disclosure

  • Big Apple Performing Arts

schools

  • Kingston City School District

  • Georgetown University

  • Montclair Cooperative

  • Columbia University

  • Washington University