On September 5, 2022, Ms. Afrika Abney posted the flyer announced the Kaleidoscope widely on social media. Services provided by Ms. Abney.
Ms. Afrika Abney 's work often makes appearances at events held by the organization and in 2022, her abstract finger painting entitled: Summer Blossoms appeared on the cover of a book.
Esther Productions, Inc. is dedicated to using a variety of vehicles—traditional and nontraditional—to develop communities throughout the United States and Europe. It was created in 2004 by Jonetta Rose Barras, award-winning journalist and author of Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl? Some of its signature programs include: The Fatherless Daughter Empowerment Project, Discovering Me…Without You Essay Contest, KALEIDOSCOPE WOMEN’S WRITING COLLECTIVE, and Me, Myself and Our Story.
The Fatherless Daughter Reconciliation Project is now called The Fatherless Daughter Empowerment Project, "a division of Esther Productions Inc, a nonprofit, tax-exempt company based in Washington, started by Ms. Jonetta Rose Barras, pioneer of the fatherless woman's movement. The Fatherless Daughter Empowerment Project was originally the Fatherless Daughter Reconciliation Project, founded in 2004 by Ms. Jonetta Rose Barras, creator of The Fatherless Woman (Daughter) Syndrome.
It is a constellation of programs that include The Fatherless Daughters Speak Out, Discovering Me…Without You: An Annual Personal Essay Contest, Daughters Circle and Awakening: Women Power and Magic.; and Kaleidoscope: A Monthly Writing Club.
Specifically designed for teen girls ages 13 through 17, The Fatherless Daughters SpeakOut guide participants to the path of self-actualization using fun arts-based interactive and intervention techniques. These sessions include PaintSpiration; MoveOver, and SayWhat!
KALEIDOSCOPE WOMEN’S WRITING COLLECTIVE is a monthly writing club for women 18 and older. This is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-racial group of women who share their in-progress writings. Occasionally, the convenor, jonetta rose barras, or a guest author provides a writing prompt to instigate new creations. The group just published its first collection of poetry. More is expected as it grows.
Discovering Me...Without You: An Annual Personal Essay Contest is for Teen girls 14-17 who live in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Region. It is designed to aid in the healing of fatherless girls by using the personal essay to help them discover their strengths and resilience. Cash prizes are presented to the winners and the writings of all finalists are published in a chapbook that is released in the spring of each year.
(Photo credit from Esther Productions, Inc's programs)- https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/aachildrensliterature
On December 9, 2023, Esther Productions Inc and The Black Student Fund announced the winners for the contest which took place from September 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 during the Discovering Me Summit and Awards Ceremony held at Trinity. Among them include Kenya Thomas (received the top prize of $1500.00 for her heartfelt essay), Simaya Hammond (The newly established $500 President's Award), Vanity Ewart-Smith and Makda Nana (In the middle school category, cash awards were presented to 1st and 2nd Place winners respectively, receiving more than $700 in total prizes) and Kariana Bates (Honorable Mention).
The Discovering Me Summit and Awards Ceremony included special appearance by The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, plus mini workshops, led by dynamic clinicians, wellness experts and healing artists.
Should you have any questions, please contact: Esther Productions, Inc at estherproductionsinc@gmail.com
Esther Productions, Inc. is dedicated to using a variety of vehicles—traditional and nontraditional—to develop communities throughout the United States and Europe. It was created in 2004 by Jonetta Rose Barras, award-winning journalist and author of Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl? - estherproductionsinc.com
"The Black Student Fund (BSF) provides essential advocacy, academic and retention support to academically motivated African American and other underserved students to facilitate their access, admission and successful matriculation and graduation from member schools. BSF partners with member schools to provide financial assistance, as well as instruction, evaluations, feedback and monitoring necessary to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a supportive and responsive environment." - https://blackstudentfund.org/
The Discovering Me Summit and Awards Ceremony celebrates teen girls who entered the Discovering Me Without You Personal Essay Scholarship Contest which was presented by Esther Productions, Inc and the Black Student Fund.
The entries were judged by a team of successful professional leaders and youth. Some of them include Ana Acevedo, co- chairperson of Esther Productions Inc.; Patricia Bitondo, Woman’s National Democratic Club; Dr. Misty Freeman, a local psychologist who works with students; Ana R. Harvey, a former senior executive in President Barack Obama’s administration; Alicia Henry, a nonprofit and government expert; Shelly Livingston; Leroy Nesbitt, executive director of The Black Student Fund; Winfield Swanson with the Woman’s National Democratic Club; and Addison Switzer, co-chair of Esther Productions Inc. and CEO of BuckWild Media.
"Reconciliation Week Created by Esther Productions Inc.the National Reconciliation Week: For Self & Family has been designed to:
Raise awareness about the importance of family in developing whole, healthy children and adults;
Raise awareness about the importance of family to developing strong communities and a healthy society;
Provide specific information and techniques for strengthening the family, whether traditional or blended;
Provide specific information to help young single mothers and fathers understand their roles as parents;
Provide tips to enable single mothers and fathers to become more expert at parenting while juggling other external responsibilities
Encourage more parents who do not live in the same household to embrace co-parenting as a process improve emotional, spiritual and healthy outcomes for their children and themselves;
Encourage the involvement of more fathers in the daily growth and development of their daughters; and
Provide specific guidance and counseling that would enable previously estranged fathers and daughters to reconcile"