Briyana D. Clarel

Melding grounded research, creativity, and a vision for liberation, Briyana helps organizations use storytelling to build a better world.

Before landing at Big Duck, Briyana led development initiatives, youth programs, and arts spaces in New York City, Austin, and Philadelphia. They are a 2016 recipient of the Acts of Greatness LGBTQ Youth Community Award, a 2020-2021 Core Playwright with InterAct Theatre Company, and a 2020 Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grantee. Their poetry and prose are published in cavity, Black Youth Project, MELANINzine, TAYO Literary Magazine, and print anthologies. Briyana earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Princeton University and is one-fourth of the sketch comedy team, The Rhubarbs.

When they’re not at Big Duck, Briyana enjoys cultivating queer cheer, watching wholesome kids’ animation, and dreaming of new Black trans and queer stories to tell.