Veronique LaShell MacRae

Veronique MacRae is the Founder and Executive Director of Stage and Spirit, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through the transformative power of the arts. Building on the legacy of VMJ Arts Collective, Veronique leads Stage and Spirit with a mission to integrate creative expression, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and personal growth to foster community wellness, promote social justice, and inspire positive change.

Under Veronique’s leadership, Stage and Spirit offers a range of impactful programs focused on arts-based education, community outreach, and performance arts. These initiatives provide creative opportunities for underserved populations, promote emotional intelligence, and facilitate healing through the arts. Whether through workshops, consulting services, or collaborative projects, Stage and Spirit creates spaces where individuals develop self-expression, emotional resilience, and social advocacy, empowering them to thrive personally and collectively.

Veronique is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at The Catholic University of America, with a focus on integrating the arts into therapeutic practice to support mental health and well-being. She is also actively working toward certification as a Drama Therapist and Expressive Arts Therapist through the Center for Creative Arts Therapy in Downers Grove, IL, and the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), further enhancing her ability to integrate creative expression with mental health practices.

Veronique is the author of The Artist Escape: Refreshing, Renewal, and Rejuvenation for the Creative Soul, a devotional guide designed to help artists reconnect with the wellspring of their creativity. This book provides a bridge back to the source from which creativity flows, offering moments of solace and encouragement. Each chapter addresses the challenges artists encounter on their journey, from rekindling the passion to fulfill their dreams to refreshing the soul when the creative spark feels dim. It serves as both a source of inspiration and a guide for artists to renew their spirits and continue pursuing their artistic passions.

Her premiere poetic work, In a Field Full of Lavender Trees: Poetry and Prose of a Soul Seeking Freedom, shares Veronique’s personal journey through poetry, prose, and short narration. The collection reflects the evolving experience of the soul through moments of love, loss, laughter, longing, and liberation. From unrequited love to unexpected adventures and moments of despair and triumph, this work offers a candid exploration of the human experience and what it means for the spirit to navigate life’s journey.

In 2023, Veronique was selected as a local theatre resident in the Social Impact Programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she developed the solo performance piece When Birds with Broken Wings Fly. Inspired by the working documentary The Myth of the Black Superwoman and the book In a Field Full of Lavender Trees, this powerful production explores the spiritual, mental, and physical journey of Black women when the world negates and exploits their “Black Girl Magic”. A multimedia experience combining monologues, poetry, song, dance, and music, the piece navigates the challenges and triumphs of Black women as they move through a world that often imitates their essence while erasing their existence. With themes of self-awareness, relationships, family, independence, grief, healing, and joy, this production seeks to elevate the voices of Black women while reclaiming their sovereignty, divinity, and power.

Additionally, Veronique has had an extensive career as a professional actress, writer, and director. Her performances and productions, often tackling themes like identity, social justice, health awareness, and faith, have reached diverse audiences and sparked important conversations. As the Director of Creative Arts and Consulting at VMJ Arts Collective (now part of Stage and Spirit), Veronique directed and produced works that connected communities and inspired action.

Veronique’s career is a testament to her dedication to artistic expression, mindfulness, and mental health. Through Stage and Spirit, her writing, and her therapeutic work, she continues to create spaces of healing, self-discovery, and transformation, empowering individuals and communities to unlock their potential and foster positive change.