Who is Natalie Battles
Natalie Battles is a force to be reckoned with and is an all-around threat! An actor, director, producer, teacher, event coordinator, poet, model, dancer, radio personality, motivational speaker, event host, photographer, videographer, and historian. She uses her skills to help heal and educate the Melanated community by creating content that tells their stories, shapes artists, aids in finding their voices, and seeing themselves in a positive light. Natalie got involved in the arts in Middle School and never looked back. Shortly after, she started formal training. She went through Teen Talk Radio Theater for four years where she learned radio broadcasting, scriptwriting, acting, hosting, and a host of other skills.
Natalie then went on to get her B.A. in Theater Studies with a focus on acting, directing, and properties from Northern Illinois University. While in college Natalie acted and was the lead props director for many productions with the NIU Theater department. She performed, directed, event-coordinated, instructed, became programming vice-president of Neptune Hall council with the Resident Hall Association, became President of Black Theater Workshop, and was inducted into Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated.
After finishing her undergrad Natalie started teaching theater and performance workshops to the youth. Natalie has worked with youth from middle school to College level and adults as well. One highlight of her experience is The Teen Talk Theater Program where she taught and mentored teens on how they can use their talents to create change in the world around them. She also hosted the Teen Talk Radio Theater show until the show ended in 2017. In February 2016 Natalie became Office Manager at the South Side Community Art Center where she soon added program director to her title. Natalie launched her career in motivational speaking during a city-wide tour in the summer of 2016. The tour was focused on empowering Chicago’s youth. In 2019 Natalie was honored and awarded as a Melanated Queen in recognition of servant leadership. In 2020 Natalie was featured in several interviews and documentaries as a historian speaking on the Melanated history of the south side of Chicago and beyond. One of which was The Jam television show on WCIU/ The CW. In 2020 Natalie also made her film making debut with her documentary short "At Their Feet" after completion of The Digital Storytelling Initiative (DSI), a joint project of the Community film Workshop of Chicago, Jonathan Logan Media Center and Logan Community Arts. Between 2020 and 2021 Natalie has performed in 5 short films, produced and directed the scripted series Melanated in America.
Today Natalie has founded Melanated In America, a production company that is a cultural media platform, which includes a television show, events, clothing line, and so much more to tell true Melanated stories while highlighting black-owned businesses and artists. Natalie is also a co-founder of the “Sister Circle of the South Side,”. Which is a group of women of all ages that come together to support, assist, and empower each other through all phases of womanhood. Natalie is also the co-founder and president of The Healing Academy working to open a school and community center focused on the arts, literacy, social emotional learning, holistic health, healing, and African and African -American history. Natalie is also the host of several online talk shows to help people heal and deal with the pressures of life and traumas. “Oh We Gone Talk” every Wednesday night, “A Mothers Love” every other Wednesday, “The Breathe Experience” and “Free Your Mind Friday” through The Healing Academy. She is also a lead/ founding team member of “Talking Trash” a community clean-up initiative. Natalie creates content and helps mold artists so that Melanated people can truly see and know themselves now and from whence they came.
“You may never see me again but I have planted seeds and those seeds will grow. The world, life, and universe will water them.” -Natalie Battles
Natalie then went on to get her B.A. in Theater Studies with a focus on acting, directing, and properties from Northern Illinois University. While in college Natalie acted and was the lead props director for many productions with the NIU Theater department. She performed, directed, event-coordinated, instructed, became programming vice-president of Neptune Hall council with the Resident Hall Association, became President of Black Theater Workshop, and was inducted into Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated.
After finishing her undergrad Natalie started teaching theater and performance workshops to the youth. Natalie has worked with youth from middle school to College level and adults as well. One highlight of her experience is The Teen Talk Theater Program where she taught and mentored teens on how they can use their talents to create change in the world around them. She also hosted the Teen Talk Radio Theater show until the show ended in 2017. In February 2016 Natalie became Office Manager at the South Side Community Art Center where she soon added program director to her title. Natalie launched her career in motivational speaking during a city-wide tour in the summer of 2016. The tour was focused on empowering Chicago’s youth. In 2019 Natalie was honored and awarded as a Melanated Queen in recognition of servant leadership. In 2020 Natalie was featured in several interviews and documentaries as a historian speaking on the Melanated history of the south side of Chicago and beyond. One of which was The Jam television show on WCIU/ The CW. In 2020 Natalie also made her film making debut with her documentary short "At Their Feet" after completion of The Digital Storytelling Initiative (DSI), a joint project of the Community film Workshop of Chicago, Jonathan Logan Media Center and Logan Community Arts. Between 2020 and 2021 Natalie has performed in 5 short films, produced and directed the scripted series Melanated in America.
Today Natalie has founded Melanated In America, a production company that is a cultural media platform, which includes a television show, events, clothing line, and so much more to tell true Melanated stories while highlighting black-owned businesses and artists. Natalie is also a co-founder of the “Sister Circle of the South Side,”. Which is a group of women of all ages that come together to support, assist, and empower each other through all phases of womanhood. Natalie is also the co-founder and president of The Healing Academy working to open a school and community center focused on the arts, literacy, social emotional learning, holistic health, healing, and African and African -American history. Natalie is also the host of several online talk shows to help people heal and deal with the pressures of life and traumas. “Oh We Gone Talk” every Wednesday night, “A Mothers Love” every other Wednesday, “The Breathe Experience” and “Free Your Mind Friday” through The Healing Academy. She is also a lead/ founding team member of “Talking Trash” a community clean-up initiative. Natalie creates content and helps mold artists so that Melanated people can truly see and know themselves now and from whence they came.
“You may never see me again but I have planted seeds and those seeds will grow. The world, life, and universe will water them.” -Natalie Battles
Words on Natalie
“Ms. Natalie Battles is a sister who understands the value of excellent Black Art, in all of its forms and
genres, as critical to the development of Black youth and Black adults into a conscious and capable
community committed to its liberation and a higher level of human life for all in it,”
genres, as critical to the development of Black youth and Black adults into a conscious and capable
community committed to its liberation and a higher level of human life for all in it,”
- Kamau Tyehimba, co-founder of Reel Black Filmmakers
"During our 2020 Production Institute, Natalie Battles was a dedicated and committed cohort.
She brought positive energy to every session and always went above and beyond established
requirements. We expect Natalie to continue to grow as a filmmaker and create more projects that
educate, uplift and inspire.”