"Last year I performed at the Black Women In Comedy Festival... It was Feb 28th, my birthday, and I turned 39 years old surrounded by dozens of hilarious black women telling their stories onstage. I can't emphasize enough how profound of an effect the BWIC Festival impacted me. All these years of doing comedy I've been told the reason there weren't more women on the same show (yet alone black women) was because they didn't want us to repeat the same jokes. During the BWIC Festival I saw comedian after comedian take the stage and tell their own original hilarious stories from endlessly different perspectives. Even as I write this today, I feel encouraged to keep telling my own story. That's why one year later on February 28, 2020, I'm celebrating my 40th year of life by recording my first comedy album at the Brooklyn House of Comedy. I hope to see you there." 

-Calise Hawkins