PAST CONSULTANT LISTING (PARTIAL LISTING)

Ms. Afrika Abney has been offering various services including abstract art, art exhibitions, book promotions, email marketing, and social media marketing since 1992. She has worked with clients like New Harlem Gallery, Wisteria Artspace, and Emma Mae Gallery. She has also served notable individuals such as Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, Gloria Quirarte, and Doc Powell. These services have ranged from art exhibitions, dance performances, event management, event promotions, and social media marketing. Additionally, Ms. Abney has collaborated with institutions like The Phillips Collection and The Corcoran Gallery of Art. Moreover, she has worked closely with organizations such as Mundo Verde Public Charter School (2013-2014) and DC International School (2016-2017).

Furthermore, Ms. Abney has been associated with prominent figures like Mr. Ralph Nader (2016) and organizations like Higher Achievement Summer Camp Academy (2003-2004; and 2013). Notable institutions and programs she has collaborated with include Young Playwrights' Theatre (2012-2013), Edlavitch Jewish Community Center (2018), and Joy of Motion Dance Center (2013-2015).

In her involvement with these entities, she has showcased her skills in various areas such as social media marketing, press release distribution, and flyer designing. Her work has garnered recognition in the arts and cultural sector, with a focus on promoting diversity and community engagement through various art forms like drumming and dance. She has a rich history of working with diverse audiences and supporting educational programs that lift up marginalized communities. Her long-standing commitment to the arts and education has left a lasting impact on the Washington, D.C., community. 

NEW HARLEM GALLERY

• WISTERIA ARTSPACE

• EMMA MAE GALLERY

"Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, a native Washingtonian, is an ordained licensed minister, serving as Assistant Minister and Local Deacon at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC. She is the Founder and Chair of the DC Legendary Musicians, Inc., a 501c3 service organization, and a former member of the Howard Theatre Board and currently serves as chairperson of the Howard Theatre Community Committee. She is the programmer, writer, and ; producer of “Don’t Forget the Blues” on Wednesdays on WPFW Radio, 89.3 FM.

Dr. Butler-Truesdale is a DC historian and Rhythm and Blues historian. She has worked for several musicians, among them the late Ray Charles and James Brown. She continues to work to document the history of this great music and the musicians of the DMV.

Dr. Butler-Truesdale is co-author of the book, Washington DC Jazz."

• PHILLIPS COLLECTION

"The Phillips Collection is an art museum founded by Duncan Phillips and Marjorie Acker Phillips in 1921 as the Phillips Memorial Gallery located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Phillips was the grandson of James H. Laughlin, a banker and co-founder of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company." - https://www.phillipscollection.org/

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• THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART

"The Corcoran Gallery of Art was an art museum in Washington, D.C., United States, that is now the location of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, a part of the George Washington University. " - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corcoran_Gallery_of_Art

MUNDO VERDE PCS

"Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School is Washington's first "green" public charter school." It was originally located in Ward 1.

Gloria Quirarte

Gloria Quirarte supervises the implementation of quality enrichment for Before & After School Programs, as well as for school-wide special programming. Prior to Mundo Verde, she worked for five years as Director of Operations at Multicultural Community Services in DC. She was also Executive Assistant to the Director at CentroNía for three years, Project Director at the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and Program Specialist for Hispanas Unidas in San Antonio Texas. Gloria obtained her master's in social cultural anthropology from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and has a bachelor's in political science from Swarthmore College.

Juan Samperio

"Experienced Spanish Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Intercultural Communication, English as a Second Language (ESL), Event Planning, and Lesson Planning. Strong education professional undergraduate from UNLV and Graduate student of the iSchool, Syracuse University."

Andrea Molina

"Bilingual educador from El Salvador, currently teaching at Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School, Washington's first "green" school. The school is dedicated to educating young people to become global stewards in an increasingly complex world. I graduated with summa cum laude honors from College Of the Atlantic in 2013 with a BA in Human Ecology."

Victor G. Martinez

"He is currently in his third year as a third grade teacher at Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Martinez is from Downey, CA and received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis and his graduate degree from the University of Southern California. It was during these years that Mr. Martinez became interested in the education of students like me. He worked as an undergraduate and graduate researcher, undergraduate peer advisor, high school college advisor, and interned as a middle school counselor. Mr. Martinez moved to D.C. to conduct education and behavioral health research before transitioning back into the school setting (best decision of his life). After a year and a half as a teacher fellow, he became a real life teacher.

My work in education focuses on supporting the academic and social-emotional development of diverse students. This includes advocating for and implementing equitable school policies and practices that ensure opportunities for college, career, and life readiness. "

DC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

"DC International School is a public charter school in Washington, DC. It offers an IB education to students in grades 6 to 12. It is overseen by the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board." It was originally located in Ward 1.

Celia "CT" TaylorSpecial Education Teacher

"She was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky and moved to Maryland in 2013. CT Taylor's teaching career began when she was chosen for Teach for America's DC Corps in 2013 and through TFA and George Mason University, CT Taylor received her master's degree and certification in special education. "

Maya Stewart

"After earning a degree in Communications from Arcadia University in 2009, she began working as an English teacher in the DC area."

Jorge Arana

"Jorge Arana was born in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico and he has lived in the United States since 1995. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Valley College (MVC) and later joined Lasallian Volunteers Program where he served as an educator and community organizer for San Miguel School in Chicago, Illinois. Educating and advocating on behalf of young persons has been a central component of all of Mr. Arana's work throughout his academic and professional life.

After a couple years of service, he returned to the Academy to pursue and earn a Master of Arts in Teaching from Christian Brothers University. Mr. Arana has been an educator since 2009 in Chicago, Memphis, and the District of Columbia area. Mr. Arana has taught a wide range of academic subjects which include: Mathematics, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Mr. Arana has also served as an advisor, Spanish and academic tutor, and sports coach.

He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Hispanic Literature and Cultures with aspirations to continue his studies until he earns his doctoral degree."

HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT SUMMER CAMP ACADEMY

Higher Achievement is "where talent and opportunity meet to launch lifelong success."

Samuel H. Dodson IV

"A Father to a wonderfully creative and joyous 4-year-old son. A husband of 14 years to a loving and supportive wife. A lifetime learner an artist, and a teacher of the craft for nearly 20 years.

Art is a huge part of my life inside and outside of school, so I feel blessed to be able to share my passion and knowledge with the students here at DCI.

Mr. Dodson graduated from Denison University in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree, and served as a founding member of the teaching staff at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School. After 8 years in the classroom, he took on more leadership opportunities with Higher Achievement as the Ward 6, and Kramer Achievement Centers for 10 years. Now, Mr. Dodson is in his 3rd year at DCI teaching art, and feeling at home in this awesome community."?

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' THEATRE (YPT)

Young Playwrights' Theater (YPT) "inspires young people to realize the power of their own voices. The only professional theater in Washington, DC dedicated entirely to arts education, YPT engages local students in an innovative, standards-based playwriting program then produces the student plays with professional theater artists on stages around the District." - yptdc.org

"Laurie helps manage and support teams who work with DC educators, school leaders, community-based and systems-level actors to effectively and equitably engage families in student success. She helps to design, refine and maintain systems and structures to support our teacher, school, and district partnerships to meet the complex ongoing needs of students and families.Laurie believes that improving our society as a whole begins with providing every child with a high-quality education, and that in order to achieve this, a focus on equity is necessary.

Prior to joining Flamboyan, Laurie was a Research Assistant with the Neuro-Education Initiative at the Johns Hopkins School of Education. She earned a Master of Education with a concentration in Urban Education from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to graduate school, she spent the first six years of her career as a Program Manager at Young Playwrights' Theater, a nationally recognized arts education non-profit in Washington, D.C. She has also worked in various capacities with the Kennedy Center, Imagination Stage, Arena Stage, and Roundhouse Theater. Laurie holds B.A.s in English, Theater Arts, and Education from Stonehill College.

Laurie lives in Takoma Park, MD with her husband and their cat."

"Nicole Jost has been affiliated with Young Playwrights' Theater since 2002 when she was a sophomore at Wilson High School. In September of 2007 the YPT Wire profiled her work as a college intern, teaching the summer playwriting class at Bell Multicultural High School. This past fall YPT was thrilled to have Nicole join its team as Program Assistant. She works with associate director Patrick Torres to administer YPT's programs serving over 500 students throughout DC.

Nicole's presence at YPT is a gift," says Patrick Torres. "Not only is she an accomplished writer, director and teacher in her own right, but she also serves as an example to our students of what they could be."

Nicole taught during the fall at Plummer Elementary and Capital City Public Charter School. "I've been very fortunate to witness playwriting take hold in my students. I've seen them completely shift their perception of what writing is," she says. "My students at Plummer Elementary School became really excited every time they got out paper and pen. They took ownership of their work, and found a space for imagination in the medium. It was beautiful."

Nicole plans to start her own theater company, where artists will work as an ensemble to create new work. For now, she's pleased to be back in her hometown of Washington, DC. She recently directed One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at her alma mater, Wilson High School." 

JOY OF MOTION DANCE CENTER (H STREET -- ATLAS AND FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS LOCATION) 

Joy of Motion Dance Center "is non-profit charitable organization founded in 1976, Joy of Motion Dance Center has since developed into the “the area’s most comprehensive dance institution” (Washington Post), engaging 60 faculty members and teaching artists, providing more than 400 weekly classes, and drawing nearly 9,000 unique students and artists annually to three studio locations (in two Wards of DC and in Bethesda, MD). With more than 40 years of history in the District, Joy of Motion has become the hub of a vast artistic community, committed to excellence both in high-level training and community-based arts experiences.

At Joy of Motion, Dance is for Everyone! Whether you love to dance, are a lover of the art form presented on stage, or support an emerging dancer, there is a place for you in Joy of Motion's dance family. Joy of Motion is committed to building strong, healthy communities of people who share a universal love of dance by challenging those served to reach their fullest potential, fostering authentic interpersonal connections, creating spaces for all to participate, and pursuing the highest standards of quality at all levels of dance education and performance."

joyofmotion.org

Tanya Nuchols

​Tanya Nuchols "is a dance fitness instructor certified in Barre Body, Zumba, Piyo and Pound. She currently teaches at several studios including Studio Body Logic and Joy of Motion Dance Center. Growing up, she trained in ballet, jazz and modern at Arlington Center for Dance and currently enjoys training in a wide variety of international styles from ballroom to bellydancing. Dance-based fitness keeps her motivated to stay active and loves to lead others in keeping exercise engaging and creative."

Sylvana Juliet Christopher

Sylvana Christopher "is a D.C. native, performer, choreographer and teaching artist. She is committed to bringing dance into people's lives as a means for expressing the inner self through physical motion. Her choreographic work has graced several spaces including The National Museum of African Arts, Museum of the Americas, The Phillips Collection, Jack Guidone Theater, The Atlas Performing Arts Center, Gallaudet University, Howard Community College and The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. With several choreographers and musicians, she presented 5 by 5 in 2016 at St. Columba’s Church.

Christopher believes in building community through dancemaking and used that belief to co-found Glade Dance Collective in 2009 with dance advocate Betsy Loikow as well as Dancing Rogues with Sara Herrera and Hayley Cutler. A graduate of The Washington School of Ballet, Christopher earned a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography from The Ohio State University in 2002 and her diaspora research extends to the Caribbean, France and Senegal. She has performed with Open Circle Theater, In Series and danced works by Michelle Ava, Meisha Bosma, Holly Bass, Lucy Bowen McCauley, Rita Jean Kelly Burns, Nancy Havlik, Kate Jordan, Kelly King, Assane Konte, Sarah Ewing, Gesel Mason, Natty McCube, Erica Rebollar, Juan Carlos Rincones, Melissa Saint Amour, Samantha Sobash, Erin Tunbridge and Cynthia Word.

SylviDances recently premiered 3 dances at Baltimore Theater Project in 2018: ash, a response to her fear of nuclear winter, Charades with DancEthos about volleys between dominant world leaders, and Who by Joan Nicholas-Walker reflecting on the many roles a woman plays in her lifetime. Then She Fell, created by Maggie Lockhart and Christopher for 5 by 5, was reset on Howard Community College Dance Company and selected for Dance Place’s New Releases Choreographic Showcase.

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You can catch Sylvana teaching for Joy of Motion Dance Center Atlas, The Washington Ballet @THEARC, Word Dance Theater at Dance Loft on 14, and Rainbow Dance with Inner City, Inner Child. She has also taught for Wolf Trap, City Dance, Washington Performing Arts, Dance Place and Sitar Arts Center."

BELE BELE RHYTHM COLLECTIVE

The Bele Bele Rhythm Collective "is an intergenerational group of women from DC & surrounding areas who have come together to form a sisterhood of the drum.

The Bele Bele Rhythm Collective is an intergenerational group of women from DC and surrounding areas who have come together to form a sisterhood of the drum. Founded in 2008 and led by "Drumlady" Kristen Arant, the BBRC performs tightly sewn compositions of polyrhythms on West African dun-un and djembe drums, complete with exciting breaks, contagious songs, and dancing. The BBRC performs to celebrate unity and diversity, and to spread the joy and healing power of West African drumming to the community at-large."

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BeleBeleRhythmCollective​

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YOUNG WOMEN'S DRUMMING EMPOWERMENT

Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project "gives rise to young women's self-esteem, positive development, and creative self expression through drumming and more."

In 2015, Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project presented a Summer Camp at All Souls Church.

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GREENBELT RHYTHM AND DRUM FESTIVAL

The Greenbelt Rhythm & Drum Festival is a one-day music event to celebrate drumming from around the world. The festival will feature performances from some of the area's finest multicultural drum ensembles as well as drum workshops, community drum circles, hula-hoopers, drum vendors, arts & clothing vendors, tasty food and more. Located in the Roosevelt Center in historic downtown Greenbelt, MD held from 2013 - 2015.

AKOMA DRUMMERS

The Akoma Drummers "are a West African drum troupe based in Washington DC."

"KRISTEN ARANT is a percussionist, vocalist, teaching artist and activist living and working in the Washington, DC region. Originally a classically-trained oboe player with a degree in music, she began her drumming career upon moving to Washington DC in 2000, when she helped initiate the activist drumming ensemble Rhythm Workers Union, known for its hand-built drum cart the “MotherDrumShip,” and its legions of drummers who created a spectacle at hundreds of protests, rallies and events through 2007. Enthralled by the healing and unifying power of the Djembe drum, Kristen began to study West African drumming in 2002. She spent time with masters such as Baile McKnight, Mamady Keita and Tammi Hessen. In 2004 she began teaching drumming at DC public schools, and through these experiences discovered how the drum could transform the self esteem of young people and help them to become self-actualized. In 2005 she started a DC non-profit organization, the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project, which enrolled young women ages 12 and up from across DC, taught them how to play West African drums, and guided them through poetry, song-writing, theatre and dance workshops that culminated in final performances. These performance showcases “wowed” communities across DC as they witnessed young women coming of age via drumming – an innovative Rite of Passage." 

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SOUL IN MOTION PLAYERS

Soul In Motion Players is a non-profit performing arts organization, founded in 1984 by Percussionist Michael Friend, specializes in African Dance, African Drumming, Theatre, and Spoken Word.

"MICHAEL Friend - Artistic Director, founded Soul In Motion Players, Inc. in 1984. Michael wrote and debuted his first theatrical production entitled, We Are Africa in 1991. His other works include Henrietta Marie, Malcolm, What If., and Ile Ife - House of Love. He started his music/acting career in 1969 with the world renowned Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble and Theatre Advocate, in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Friend furthered his studies at Fisk University and graduated Howard University in 1981, receiving his B.A. degree in Communications. Michael has gone on to record/perform nationally and internationally, including a Jazz tour in 1989 to Cameroon, West Africa. As a percussionist, Michael performed with The Four Kings of Rhythm and Blues for over 10 years, featuring Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Ben E. King, and Lloyd Price. Friend's regional accomplishments include performing in the Arena Stage production of Derrick Walcott's The Odyssey and with The Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Kennedy Center. He's a former board member of several local arts organizations: Black Rock Center for the Arts, Joe's Movement Emporium, and The Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County - serving as Vice President of Grants for 3 years. In 2011, as director of Soul in Motion, Michael won the prestigious Montgomery County Executive's Community Award for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities, in 2014 he was the recipient of the Empower Magazine Player Award and on March 19, 2016 Joe's Movement Emporium honored Michael as a Mighty Joe with the Creative Visionary Award."

MENTORS OF MINORITIES IN EDUCATION (M.O.M.I.E)'S TOTAL LEARNING CIS-TEM (T.L.C)

​Mentors of Minorities in Education (M.O.M.I.E)'s Total Learning Cis-tem (T.L.C) provides dynamic and innovative educational programming for at-risk children, ages 4 to 15, living in Washington, DC. The mission of M.O.M.I.E's T.L.C is to nurture children's genius and develop a transformative system to improve educational outcomes. M.O.M.I.E's achieves this through high quality and culturally relevant out-of-school-time programs, parent and community involvement, and the creation of educational tools and resources. M.O.M.I.E's TLC operates programs at sites based in Ward 4 and 1.

Chitra Subramanian is the founder of chitra.MOVES, which she created in 2018. This collective of diverse female dancers performs a fusion of hip hop and Indian dance. Based in Washington D.C., chitra.MOVES has performed in many venues in the Northeast and presented its first evening-length work, Temple, in December 2019. Subramanian currently works as a manager at Lee Montessori Public Charter School. She was formerly the director of M.O.M.I.E.S TLC Summer Camp held in 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/chitramove/about/​

DANCE INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON (DIW)"Developing talent and broadening horizons one child at a time. Through intentional inclusion and equity, the Dance Institute of Washington increases diversity at every level of pre-professional Ballet training. We provide additional training in key genres to create a well-rounded dancer that can successfully enter the dance industry at large. Through this exemplary effort, DIW positively impacts racial and economic inequities in dance globally."

R.I. P ---

KADIATOU CONTE, BALAFON WOMEN'S ENSEMBLE (BALAFON WEST AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE)

"Kadiatou Conte Forte (affectionately referred to as Mama Kadiatou) devotes her life and career to passing on her African dance mastery and creating authentic dance experiences. Whether experienced artists, young people, or members of the community of all ages, she encourages everyone to know and embrace their own style and challenge themselves. Her extensive career <link to the full bio or CV> teaching and performing around the world has earned her respect and acknowledgment as a grand “Mama” of the African arts world.

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Along with dance, Mama Kadiatou teaches the importance of mental and physical fortitude and the importance of loving and accepting ourselves and one another. Grounded in her unfailing faith, high regard for each of our own special God-given gifts and talents, and appreciation of the importance for mutual respect, Mama Kadiatou touches the lives of people from all walks of life. Her traditional Guinean cooking and homemade ginger beer are also well loved!" - https://www.balafon.org/about.html 

DR. SHERRILL BERRYMAN JOHNSON "DR. J." 

​"Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson was the Founder/Artistic Director of the first HBCU B.F.A. Dance Program at Howard University in Washington, DC. Dr. J, as we all fondly called her, was Dance. She was a woman of verve, grace, and intelligence; many academic achievements and an advocate of service. Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, who, for many, many years taught, choreographed, advocated, and led a movement in Dance in the Washington, D.C. region, but also nation-wide. She brought to the forefront not just one tradition in Dance, not one story of its history: Dr. Berryman Johnson strove to reveal multiple stories, bring multiple voices to light, to fuller dimension. Our awareness is richer for her contributions to life and to dance.​

Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson attended local schools in the Washington, D.C. area. After high school, she attended Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia. Sherrill Berryman Johnson was a Full Professor of Dance/Coordinator of the pioneering HBCU Howard University Board of Trustees approved Dance Major Program, Department of Theatre Arts, Division of Fine Arts College of Arts and Sciences and the second only chairperson of the 22-year-old International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). She was choreographer, performer and artistic director for Images of Cultural Artistry Inc., In The Spirit of...Performance Company.  With extensive study at the Katherine Dunham Institute, East St. Louis Missouri and under the tutelage of Katherine Dunham and Pearl Reynolds peace and blessings be upon their souls, since 1982 she was given permission to perform works of Katherine Dunham as well as her choreography including the Katherine Dunham technique, ballet, modern dance forms, traditional dance of West Africa, the Caribbean and America. Dr. Berryman Johnson’s work was with further extensive field research as the first Fulbright Scholar to conduct field research on the secular/non-secular dance of Jamaica under the guidance of Professor Rex Nettleford peace and blessings be upon him at the University of West Indies, 1986-1987, specializing in roots and retention of African Americans in the African and Caribbean Cultural Continuum."

https://www.iabdassociation.org/​

 Melvin Deal

Founding Director, African Heritage Dancers & Drummers

"The Founding Executive Artistic Director of the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers is, Mr. Melvin Deal, a veteran artist of more than forty one years. Mr. Deal, has worked tirelessly in researching African cultural manifestations to be used in the building of Self-Esteem and addressing the presence of Violence, Delinquency and Dysfunctional lifestyles and abuse in African-American communities." 

EDLAVITCH JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

"The Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, D.C. (formerly the Washington DCJCC) is a Jewish Community Center located in the historic district of Dupont Circle. It serves the Washington, D.C. area through religious, cultural, educational, social, and sport center programs open to the public, although many programs are strongly linked to Jewish culture, both in the United States and in Israel. It is part of the JCC Association (JCCA), the umbrella organization for the Jewish Community Center movement, which includes more than 350 JCCs, YM-YWHAs, and camp sites in the U.S. and Canada, in addition to 180 local JCCs in the Former Soviet Union, 70 in Latin America, 50 in Europe, and close to 500 smaller centers in Israel.

Among the many notable programs sponsored by the EDCJCC are Theater J, a theater group that has hosted world premieres of plays by noted Jewish playwrights such as Wendy Wasserstein, Richard Greenberg, and Ariel Dorfman; the Washington Jewish Music Festival; the Jewish Literary Festival; and the Washington Jewish Film Festival, that includes screenings both at the Center itself, and at other Washington, DC, institutions, including a number of foreign embassies representing nations that produced the films.

The EDCJCC also houses the Hyman S. and Freda Bernstein Library, which includes a Jewish Heritage Video Collection, a children's reading collection, and a collection of genealogy books and materials. It is a constituent organization of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, serving Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia."

Mr. Justin Love served as the program manager for the Summer Camp in 2018.

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Mr. Michael Kweku "FOUNDER OF DUFP PROJECT/HANDS ON DRUMS DC (IVY CITY)

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Michael Kweku Owusu grew up in the Arts Center, a constructed community attached to Accra’s Centre for National Culture, where some of Ghana's most talented artists and craftspeople live and work. Around age 11, Kweku began to build drums. He learned by assisting experienced drum builders. At first, Kweku built drums so he could sell them in order to support himself along with his mother and four sisters. While learning this trade he also picked up drumming, since he needed to demonstrate the techniques of his creations.

Soon, younger kids who lived on the streets of the Arts Center began to gravitate toward Kweku’s patient, caring ways. He involved them in his work, and supported them with school supplies & tutoring.

At age 17, Kweku left school to pursue music and drum building full-time in the Arts Center. Soon he began to meet Peace Corps volunteers and tourists from all over the world – he sold them drums and gave them lessons, which allowed him to support his family and continue his work with the children.  It also gave him the opportunity to go abroad.

In 2007, Kweku was invited to the US for the first time along with a Ghanaian drum and dance group, performing to support an orphanage in Ghana. The trip was sponsored by the Medical University of South Carolina.

When he returned, Kweku bought a small plot of land in the Arts Center, and built a workshop on it to serve as a home base for his work with the children. Then called the “Gye Nyame Project,” (named by the children themselves), Kweku continued his work drumming, building drums, mentoring and performing with the children."

"Baba Ras D is a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery. Born during the height of the Civil Rights era in Washington, D.C., his early life was shaped by a diverse tapestry of faith-based expressions, from A.M.E. Baptist and Evangelical Christian to Catholic and Traditional African Religions. This rich multicultural upbringing ignited his passion for music and creative self-expression, while spiritual retreats and revivals instilled in him a profound reverence for the Spirit, the Ancestors, and the Supernatural.

Throughout his life, Baba Ras D has embraced the role of a Servant Leader. As a Conflict Resolution and Crisis Intervention Counselor, as well as a Trained Behavioral Modification Specialist, he has dedicated himself to guiding and inspiring countless children and young adults within the criminal justice spectrum. His innate ability to mediate and lead earned him the title of “classroom mediator” and “Team Captain” during his athletic journey.

One of Baba Ras D’s most remarkable contributions to society is the creation of The HARAMBEE Experience, an “Early Childhood Elevation Activity and Play Program.” For over two decades, HARAMBEE has been a nurturing space where young scholars celebrate learning through movement and songs. Baba Ras D’s motto, “PASS THE PEACE, SO THE PEACE CAN INCREASE,” underscores his commitment to instilling values of harmony, unity, and growth in the hearts of countless children.

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With a strong foundation of service to the youth, Baba Ras D has now embarked on a mission to promote mental wellness and the power of positive thinking. He recently released his first memoir, “STAY IN YOUR LIGHT: 21 Days of Fasting on The Journey Towards Self Mastery.” In this enlightening work, he encourages readers to reflect, remember, realign, recommit, reconnect, restart, restore, and ultimately return to balance. #STAYINYOURLIGHT offers profound insights into the transformative potential of love emanating from the inner source of light.

Baba Ras D passionately asserts, “Self-Mastery is our Destiny along this Life’s Journey of The Great Awakening. As we continue to witness, Nature is aligning with the Will and Mind of the Divine. It would be wise and well-advised for the Spirit Souls of Humanity to also desire, like Nature, to be in Alignment with a Divine Assignment. Until then, Stay In Your Light!” In a world that often grapples with chaos and discord, Baba Ras D stands as a guiding light, inspiring others to find their inner light and purpose on the journey to self-mastery."

Ms. Juanita Britton "BZB"