Nikos is a poet, screenplay writer, author,
all around creative and cinematic
storyteller. His family comes from a long
line of storytellers and at a young age he
was always trying to tell people how he
saw the world. Whether it be on the bus
on the way to school, the tv shows his
grandmother watched, etc his articulation
of the world left a huge impressive
impact on others as early as 6th grade.                                                    

FIND HIS INSTAGRAM HERE: https://www.instagram.com/nikoshawkins/?hl=en ;

Writer, organizer, dancer and spoken word artist having performed around Cleveland for over 10 years, Martinique's past experiences have impressed upon her the importance of giving youth and local artists a voice. Martinique believes that education and art have the power to transcend our circumstances. She uses the power of words to inspire change, uplift, and build community. She is excited and thrilled to start a new journey in diving deeper into marketing her children’s book.

This story follows a third grade girl named Unique who attends her first day at a new school. This heartwarming story is a UNIQUE tale that speaks to self-empowerment, self-love, and acceptance as Unique learns to love her own gifts.

Follow Martinique here:

WEBSITE: https://thecolorofstories.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/mint4curls/?hl=en

Costumer designer and stylist Chanti Walker, takes us through the art of creating outfits that create significance for characters in film, television, and media. Chanti Walker is an LA- Based stylist / costume designer who has worked on a range of projects from styling look-books, magazine shoots, commercials, scripted TV and costume designed short films. She has been working within the industry for almost 3 years. She’s had the opportunity to work with brands such as Nike, Jordan, Netflix, “Keep Cool Records”, HBO, i-D magazine , Elle magazine and many more other brands. 

Jade A. Lawson is an award-winning journalist and storyteller at the intersection of race, culture, and entertainment. In 2017, after undergrad, she moved to New York to intern with Good Morning America. Jade's work spans across platforms under the ABC News flagship. As a culture reporter and producer, Jade has covered various topics, including HBCUs and social activism through the lens of sports and entertainment. She's contributed to and produced three network primetime specials such as The Real Queens of Hip Hop: The Women Who Changed the Game and Soul of a Nation. Additionally, Jade has interviewed high-profile artists including, Mary J. Blige and Jazmine Sullivan. Check out Jade's work here: https://abcnews.go.com/author/jade_lawson

We talk with director and screen writer Leya Hale about her short film "Reclaiming Sacred Tobacco" and how the film highlights important issues around negative and biased media messages concerning Indigenous culture. We discuss her newest film "Bring Her Home" and its raw take on the disproportionate sex trafficking of Native women.

Bring Her Home: https://www.tpt.org/post/bring-home-new-film-leya-hale/

We chat with the steadfast cinematographer and director Tyla Barnes who’s never stopped believing in the power of magic. During childhood, enticed by the ability to create things that were once impossible, she found film as a transformative portal to connect our past and present selves. She is a Black woman creative who shares with us the importance of collaborating in film and getting started!

We explore the origin story of actor and creative Byron Johnson as he takes us on the journey of acting becoming his passion. Byron explains how he stays disciplined in between landing roles and he shares a quick monologue with us! Get inspired! Listen in!  Visit our website: https://www.artofme.org/

Commercial, Editorial and Video Producer Kenley Duke invites us into the world of brand storytelling and marketing production. We explore the tenacity needed to function in large roles on set while also prioritizing our own self-care and business goals with other creatives. Kenley is a force here to share with us how taking risks and keeping the faith has helped her enter challenging but rewarding spaces. Tune into this episode!

Kenley Duke's Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenleyduke/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenleyduke
Mieux Ensemble Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mieuxensemble.co/
Mieux Ensemble Website: https://www.mieuxensemble.co/mobile

Visit our website: https://www.artofme.org/
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Director, Writer, Actor and Educator Samuel Lee Fudge features on an episode with Power and Community Podcast! Samuel schools us on living the lifestyle of a Lotus, we travel back in time with Samuel to his childhood days in Miami and learn how his past challenges are examined in his film "Lotus" which premiered last year in 2020. To watch Lotus visit this link at "Lotus" Short Film via Amazon Prime Video. Also look out for Samuel's latest film project, "38" coming soon.Visit our website: https://www.artofme.org/ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Dahyo Coleman explores directing color, images and aesthetic with us on this episode of the Power and Community Podcast! She shares with us her most embarrassing moment on set AND gives budding new student filmmakers advice on how to stay true to another creative's project when collaborating with others! Don't miss this episode!


Visit our website: https://www.artofme.org/
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Award-winning filmmaker Kurt Orderson and Writer and Sustainable Developmental Professional Raisa Cole, talk about their film "Not in my Neighborhood '' which examines several different cities around the world dealing with poverty, government violence, gentrification, and the falling away of culture and limited resources. Both Kurt and Raisa speak on how honored they were to tell these stories through film, how much they desire to protect these stories and how they've seen these stories bring awareness to the needs of others around the world. Checkout Kurt Orderson's latest film “We Rise for Our Land'' (2021) - shot between Mozambique, Zambia, and Eswatini (formally known as Swaziland) here: https://vimeo.com/486386008

Actress, Director, and Producer, Danielle Marshay Lee gives us insight into the adversities she's faced preparing for her upcoming film "The Tamir Rice Story", a story following the murder of a 12-year-old African American boy killed in Cleveland, Ohio. Danielle expresses the sensitivity of the film while also speaking of her own pathway to understanding racism, Black history, community, and her own Black heritage. 

Nic Stone tells a riveting storyline told from a young, Black male perspective, about what it means to be Black in America. We speak about the discipline it takes to write a book and just how she was able to create a relatable and earth shaking tale using inspiration from real life Black boys.

FIND HER ON INSTAGRAM HERE: https://instagram.com/nicstone?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

NIC’S WEBSITE: http://www.nicstone.info/

Jalea Jackson is an Atlanta-based Director, Producer, and Editor who aims to create films that spark conversation. She is a producer; editor and mentor for the Nate Parker Foundation. 

Jalea discusses managing confidence during competition in the film industry, her favorite tools to edit the film, her favorite world-changing films that sparked movements and underrepresented communities in film. 

Jehan Patterson is a young filmmaker determined to repaint the vision of Chicago through film. As a native, he is inspired to destroy the violent image of Chicago by showing the parts that are filled with kind, friendly, artistic, and creative individuals.

His film Heart and the City embraces the grit and the love of Chicago street. Jehan shares with us his favorite filmmakers, staying dedicated to the creative process, and encourages new filmmakers with his own past as a beginner filmmaker. 

This episode is about Josh Leong and Sofia's film "The Otherside". This film was shot in Ethiopia in 2020. It is about an orphan named, "Abel", who's about to age out of the foster system. This film is a call to shine a light on the abandoned children crisis in Ethiopia.

Actor and director, Starr Rivers, chats about her short film “Day 74” which she filmed during the start of the COVID pandemic while also giving us tips on healthy ways to create in the film industry and the importance of believing in your abilities.

For this episode, we talk with cinematographer, Malcolm Lott, about visual storytelling through the eyes of the lens. We also look into Malcolm's life as a content creator and his perspective on being creative in the modern age. 

Malcolm Lott is a freelance filmmaker, Director of Photography, and content creator from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He found his passion for media and film when he was a junior in high school. Since then, he has worked with the industry's elite companies such as NBC, the Nate Parker Foundation, and Cross Colours. He is devoted to making content that leaves a long-lasting impact and creates what’s never been created before. 

We talk intimately about mental health and our connection with trauma while also examining the difficulties of receiving an HIV positive diagnosis. We also discuss ways to find support and live full, mentally positive lives.

About Jen McMillen Smith:
Jen McMillen Smith is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who has been working with people living with HIV since 1998. With expertise in mental health and addiction, Jen created Compass Services at MetroHealth, where she facilitates support groups and provides counseling plus Rapid Start services for people who are newly diagnosed with HIV. Jen manages several HIV-related grants & projects, most notably a mobile app for 13-34 year olds living with HIV, Positive Peers. Jen has a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Sociology from Baldwin Wallace University. 

CED what? CEDRICK! An artist, community lover, app admin, gay, Black and HIV positive man gives us a glimpse into his day working the "Positive Peers" app. An app created to make space for for HIV positive individuals ages 13-34.

About Cedrick Taylor:
Cederick Taylor is working diligently to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare as a MetroHealth Patient Navigator. As someone who is living with HIV, Cederick is skillful in establishing healthy relationships with his patients and becoming an advocate for individuals in need. This allows him to soar as Admin for the app “Positive Peers”. Cederick is full of curiosity, he finds joy in cycling, musical theatre, canoeing, modeling, DIY projects and massage. With the goal in mind of creating a talkback series around HIV and Community Health & Wellness, he strives to continue his education as a Community Health Worker.

Michelle Jackson-Rollins gives us her experience in community outreach to stop the spreading of HIV/AIDS stigma and keep elderly individuals in care.

About Michelle Jackson-Rollins:
Michelle Jackson Rollins, MSW is Founder/CEO of We Think 4 A Change.  She completed her Masters of Social Work in May of 2016 at Cleveland State University.  Jackson Rollins specializes in leading the organization through her keen expertise in community outreach, education facilitation, and working to increase awareness/reduce stigma surrounding HIV.  

Bryan C. Jones, D.I.R.T advocacy founder, leads the charge to assist and teach vulnerable communities who are affected by HIV. Wise, blunt and passionate, Bryan C. Jones shares with us how he “thrives” as an HIV positive man who thought his diagnosis was a death sentence and now uses it to change the social, structural, and stigma disparities that fuel the HIV epidemic, specifically with the Black community.

Dr. Ann Avery discusses with us the systemic and economical issues concerning HIV/AIDs and how she and her colleges at MetroHealth work to close the gap between those who can and can’t afford healthcare because of income, status, race, and other reasons. 

Ayana Gray's first book "Beasts of Prey" and the sequel are both magical tales that will transport you to another world filled with ideas, culture and beings that are sure to satisfy your fantasy cravings! Ayana created this world to fill a need. She saw a space for more Black people to see themselves in Fantasy.

FIND HER INSTAGRAM HERE: https://www.instagram.com/ayanagray_/ 

FIND HER WEBSITE: 

Medical research and medicine have made living with HIV/AIDS possible. Now, science focuses heavily on the prevention of transmission. Nurse Practitioner Kathryn Meyers walks us through the current medications for HIV/AIDS and the prevention methods available to everyone today.

About Kathryn Meyer:
Kathryn (Kat) Meyer, BA, RN, MSN, CNM, DNP, BC-FNP has worked in sexual health for over 20 years. She has been at Metro for years specializing in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For the past five years, she has been focused on getting information on PrEP to the people who could be on it and combating the rise of syphilis. She is also watching the emergence of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea with some anxiety. When not educating about, diagnosing, or treating STIs, she is usually embarrassing her children in front of their friends by... talking about STI's. Kat can be reached, and an appointment for the PrEP clinic can be made at 216-778-8305.

Art of Me is partnering with the HIV/AIDS Collaborative to empower our listeners with sexual health prevention methods for HIV/AIDS. AKeem, a PrEP Navigator and sexual health educator at MetroHealth, gives us the rundown about what HIV is, debunks stigma, and challenges us to keep sexual health at the forefront of our everyday lives.

About AKeem:
AKeemjamal Rollins is a sexual health educator and writer from Cleveland, OH. He first began educating himself and his peers on HIV/AIDS and other STIs with The Street Crew of Greater Cleveland at the LGBT Community Center. As a safer sexual health educator, he has worked for Kaiser Permanente, City Year Cleveland, The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Recovery Resources, and MetroHealth System where he is currently a PrEP Navigator. While not teaching sexual health, AKeem is a poet working on two book, Post Traumatic Hood Disorder and The Lynching of the God Ghost.

Brianna Clay has a brave conversation with us about examining what it means to be a Black woman, honoring Black women through storytelling, and telling stories that have yet to be brought to life but can educate and ground us into the history of Black people. 

About Brianna Clay:
Brianna Clay is a writer, filmmaker, and content curator from Chicago who aims to tell stories that inspire change, fosters healing, and empowers underrepresented communities. She believes art is activism and sees storytelling as a vehicle for social change. In 2018 she co-directed the film Black Bones while attending the Nate Parker Film Institute which was screened at the 27th Annual Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. In 2020 she curated and produced a short video entitled Breathe as a response to the unjust killing of George Floyd and the protests that took place shortly after.  Brianna continues to write, direct, and produce stories that positively impact society by using visual storytelling as a platform to raise awareness and cultivate empathy. She continues to work on personal projects focusing on stories that are often left untold.

Nate Parker discusses his latest film “American Skin”, why now is the time to put Black stories on screen, and how storytelling is the legacy we leave behind for those who come after us.

About Nate Parker:
Nate Parker is an award-winning actor, writer, director and producer, who has played lead characters and held starring roles in at least 19 films, including American Skin, Beyond The Lights, Red Tails, The Secret Life of Bees, Arbitrage, and Pride. Most recently, Parker wrote, directed, and starred in the  film, The Birth of a Nation, which tells the story of Nat Turner (played by Parker) who famously led the 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia. In his vision for the film, Parker expresses his deep desire to challenge the country to “heal from racial trauma through an honest confrontation with our past.” The Birth of a Nation won both of Sundance’s most sought-after honors: the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize. In addition to being a prolific artist, he is also a devoted activist. Parker says “If I am to be remembered by anyone, I would hope, those people speak my name as an individual who possessed a riotous disposition toward injustice, offering life and career as one of service to the marginalized, subjugated and oppressed peoples of the world.” Parker recently launched the Nate Parker Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to confront systemic crises and disparities within the African and African American communities in the areas of education, cultural enrichment, and social and economic justice. He is an outspoken advocate for racial equality, dedicating much of his time to closing the opportunity gap for boys and young men of color. Parker holds a degree in Computer Programming from the University of Oklahoma and an honorary Doctorate from Wiley College.

Chanda talks to EYEJ students Carrington Hughes, Arunima Gupta , and Richa Kuklani about the digital divide, lack of Black representation in film and media, and what the future may hold for student-oriented learning and less teacher-focused classrooms. 

EYEJ (Empowering Youth Exploring Justice) is a nonprofit organization that drives social justice reform by empowering young people to advocate for change.

Carrington Hughes is a 16-year-old sophomore at Shaker Heights school. Her journey with EYEJ began with the YODJ program. She is now a member of the EYEJ youth council as a recruiter and speaker. She is also the creator and owner of the blog @trulymetanoia on Instagram.

Arunima Gupta is a senior at the Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering in Rockaway, NJ. She is extremely passionate about education, cognitive science, and mental health. Outside of school, Arunima enjoys singing, dancing, playing tennis, volunteering, and talking to friends.

Richa Kuklani is a senior in Pennsylvania. She is involved in many activities relating to science, education, and social justice. She joined EYEJ because of how the organization gave youth the opportunity to try to solve injustices and challenges facing various communities. 

Actor/Director Jimmie Woody talks to Chanda about the Woody Restoration Art Incubator in Inner City Cleveland, his unconventional, fulfilling career path, and surrounding yourself with people who help you grow.

About Jimmie Woody:
Jimmie Woody most recently played Preston Walker in Nicole Salter’s Breakout Session/Frogorse’at Cleveland Public Theatre, Brucie in Lynn Nottage’s ‘Sweat’ at Cleveland Playhouse and he performed a workshop production of his one-man show Tale of a Gemini rising at Cleveland Public Theatre. Some of his most recent directorial credits include:, ‘Brownsville Song/BSide for Tray’ (Dobama Theatre), ‘Art of Longing’ by Lisa Langford (Cleveland Public Theatre), ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, ‘Clybourne Park’ by Bruce Norris and ‘Raisin in the Sun’ by Lorrainne Hansberry (Weathervane Playhouse), ‘Lower Depths’ by Maxim Gorky, ‘The America Play’ by Suzan-Lori Parks (University of Akron), ‘Underground Griots’ by Natalie Parker & Keith Josef Adkins (Cleveland Public Theatre, The National Black Theater Festival and Here Café NYC), ’Wilberforce’ & ’Hollis Mugley’s Only Wish’ by Keith Josef Adkins and (Cleveland Public Theatre, The National Black Theater Festival & New York Hip Hop Festival), ‘The Baachae’ written by Wole Soyinka (Cleveland Public Theatre and Columbia University), ‘Song’ by Daniel Gray Kontar and ’InCogNegro’ by Lisa Langford (Cleveland Public Theatre). Jimmie received his M.F.A. in acting from Columbia University. He is a 2019-2020 Cleveland Public Theatre ‘Premiere Fellow’ and a 2012 Creative Workforce Fellow in theater. 

The GoFundMe for the Woody Restoration Art Incubator Project: https://www.gofundme.com/f/woody-restoration-art-incubator-project-phase-1

Veteran New York City broadcaster and journalism educator Ernabel Demillo talks to Chanda Bynum about her beginnings in television journalism, lesser-known truths about Asian diversity, the difference between being an aspiring TV journalist now and in the past, and interesting stories that aren't being shared—but that really need to be!

About Ernabel Demillo:
Ernabel is a veteran New York City broadcaster and journalism educator.  For 10 years, she worked as a reporter and anchor on the Emmy-award winning FOX morning news show, “Good Day New York.”  Before coming to New York, she was a reporter for the Orange County Newschannel and the CBS-affiliate in Sacramento.   

She currently hosts and reports for CUNY-TV’s 7-time Emmy-nominated program “Asian American Life”, a magazine show focusing on the Asian American community.  

She is also a tenured Journalism professor at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J.  and currently serves as faculty chair of the Department of Communication and Media Culture. 

Chanda Bynum talks to Aseelah Shareef of Cleveland's Karamu House about Step Afrika!, her experiences traveling internationally as a professional dancer, the powerful healing effects of dance, and much more!

About Aseelah Shareef:
Aseelah Shareef offers a unique combination and understanding of inspirational leadership, operations and logistics, organizational programming, and artistry, developed through intense non-profit environments demanding excellence, flexibility and the capacity to master multiple roles. Just a few of those roles include performing in Step Afrika!, the world’s only professional dance company dedicated to the art of stepping (body percussion), which toured nationally and internationally, and teaching and co-creating new curriculum for Dance at Cuyahoga Community College. Aseelah was the former executive director of Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, Events Manager for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and Director of Dance for Cleveland School of the Arts. Her most recent role is Director of Operations and Community Engagement at Karamu House, where she implements operational efficiencies across product lines, has developed new arts residency programs, as well as curates socially and culturally responsive community arts experiences including after-school and weekend arts education models for life-long learners. She is also currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of the Cleveland Arts Prize, the nation’s oldest municipal arts award.  She was a member of the inaugural 2019 Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Fellowship cohort sponsored by Americans for the Arts, The Joyce Foundation and American Express.  Her community involvement includes membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Cleveland Arts Prize (Board Trustee), Ohio Citizens for the Arts (Board Member), the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation (Board Member), Future Heights Grantmaking Committee (member) and College Now Greater Cleveland (mentor).  Aseelah holds an MA in Arts Administration and BS in Exercise Science from The Florida State University.  

In this episode, host Chanda Bynum talks to Filipino American filmmaker PJ Raval about his creative process, and the intersection between film making and activism.

About PJ Raval:
PJ Raval is a queer, first generation Filipino American filmmaker whose work explores the overlooked subcultures and identities within the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community.  Named one of Out Magazine’s “Out 100”, PJ’s feature credits include TRINIDAD (Showtime), BEFORE YOU KNOW IT (PBS), and CALL HER GANDA (GLAAD Media Award nominee) which recently broadcast on POV to millions of PBS viewers.

 Also an accomplished cinematographer, PJ shot the Academy Award‐nominated Best Documentary TROUBLE THE WATER and is a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow, 2016 Firelight Media Fellow, 2017 Robert Giard Fellow, and a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

New York Times Bestselling author Ryan Douglass talks with us about his spooky tale “The Taking of Jake Livingston” and his process of writing this thrilling tale. We reflect on the art of sewing nuisances of life, sexuality, ethnicity and culture into this fictional narrative. Ryan’s a force in this emerging era of writers challenging the narratives of fiction.

FIND HIM ON INSTAGRAM HERE: https://instagram.com/ryan_souflee?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

RYAN’S WEBSITE: https://ryandouglasswriter.com/

In this episode, host Chanda Bynum talks to creative powerhouse Mike Berry about how to stay creative and motivated during these trying times. 

About Mike Berry:

Mike Berry began his career in entertainment in 1998 with his first rap album, "Weight of the World," which made it into Billboard Charts top R&B/Hip Hop albums. His sophomore album, "8mm Film" spawned the hit single, "Me without a Rhyme," which also charted in Billboard Magazine's Top 100. His first feature film, "The Skip Thomas Project" screened in 2012. In 2014, Mike helped adapt the screenplay, "If You Knew Better, You'd Do Better," written by Cleveland Native and award-winning playwright Philly Weeden, and later went on to be the movie's Director and Co-Producer. Mike has also directed with the likes of Omar Gooding, Clifton Powell, and Joe Estevez in the hit film "Banger", which premiered on DirectTv in 2018. He also directed and co-produced "Hey Mr. Postman," a comedy featuring Paula Jai Parker, A.J. Johnson, and Rodney Perry. In 2018, Mike directed "Ray Jr's Rent Due", which showcased social media heavyweights Ha-Ha Davis, B-Simone, Landon Romano, and Rap icon Machine Gun Kelly, and was picked up by Starz/Hulu.

When not filming, Mike heads "Releasing The Pressure," a non-profit which serves as a resource for those who deal with (or suspect they are dealing with) depression. His latest film "A State of Mind" also tackles depression.

Mike is a firm believer in the idea, "Work with what you have right now, RIGHT NOW!"

In this episode, host Aviva Pusey chats with Angelo Ibasco, a singer-songwriter whose music was used in the Art of Me short film, "The Unstoppable".

This is the third (and final) episode of three special episodes where we take a deep dive into the music behind Art of Me's films.

About Angelo Ibasco: 
A singer-songwriter from the Philippines who has been writing songs since 2011. He entered university as an architecture student but after two years switched over to English as his major to try learning more ways of writing. Taking inspiration from artists like Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, and Sam Smith, he likes to tell stories of his emotions through sometimes playful-sometimes somber music.

In this episode, Lexington Rivera, the young student writer behind Art of Me's short film "Blood Hana",  with Clyde Lawrence and Cody Fitzgerald, the musicians who wrote the score for "Blood Hana".

This is the second of three special episodes where we take a deep dive into the music behind Art of Me's films.

About Cody and Clyde:
Clyde Lawrence and Cody Fitzgerald are a pair of emerging composers from different musical worlds. They met at Brown University after realizing that their respective bands, soul-pop project Lawrence and indie-rock outfit Stolen Jars, were playing competing shows every weekend, and formed an unusual collaboration. With their different musical backgrounds, they found that they were able to mix genres and be more versatile than either could be on his own. The duo have worked on a number of film scores, including Disney’s Christmas feature Noelle, the Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei feature The Rewrite, indie feature Hard Sell, upcoming Sundance pick Landline, and the Cannes-featured short Open 24 Hours. Outside of film-scoring, both Clyde and Cody have also found success in their songwriting and artist careers. Clyde’s project Lawrence is the first band to be signed with pop star Jon Bellion’s record label, with their latest album Living Room reaching #2 on the iTunes soul charts and appearing on several Spotify editorial playlists including New Music Friday, culminating in a world tour that included stops at festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Firefly, Hangout Fest, and more. Cody’s project Stolen Jars has garnered praise from a number of sources including The New York Times, David Byrne of The Talking Heads, and NPR’s Bob Boilen, has been featured in an international Apple iPad Commercial, and in multiple feature films.

In this episode, Rosemary Gramajo Quiñones, the young student writer behind Art of Me's short film "The Effects",  with Vincent Richardson, the musician who wrote the score for "The Effects". 

This is the first of three special episodes where we take a deep dive into the music behind Art of Me's films. 

About Vince: Vincent Richardson is an artist, songwriter, producer, composer, pianist, educator, and entrepreneur from Washington, DC. He owns the Richardson School of Music in Takoma Park, MD, and currently sits on the board of The Recording Academy (DC Grammy Chapter). Vincent has worked and shared the stage with many major artists including: Raheem DeVaughn, Maysa, Phife Dawg, Bilal, Eric Roberson, Chrisette Michele, Lauryn Hill, Amel Larrieux, EnVogue, Mya, Will Downing to name a few. As well as platinum-selling producers Chucky Thompson (Grammy), Glen Mosley, and The Heatmakerz.  Vincent is a Howard University alumnus.

How do we define community, and how do communities define us? Aviva Pusey talks to Chanda Bynum about the importance of community and what it means to her. 

About Chanda:
Chanda Bynum is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and has been writing short stories since the age of ten. Introduced to spoken word and playwriting in high school, she has always felt compelled to tell her personal story and the stories of other people around her. Chanda desires to not only direct movies but also to write and produce a television series on a popular television network. Currently, she is interested in servicing others by telling their personal stories through unique perspectives and visuals to inspire diverse readership and viewership and bring people from all different backgrounds together. 

How is COVID-19 changing education? In this two-part episode, Stephanie and Cecilia talk with Cleveland-based Principal Quenton Davis about the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the public school system from his perspective as an educator.

About Quenton Davis:
Quenton Davis is currently a proud Principal who aides his teachers with cultivating and molding his scholars into productive high school students that will embark upon college, career endeavors, or military options.  As a native of Atlanta, Georgia, he is a proud graduate of The Unsinkable Albany State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Middle Grades Education. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree, he began to teach for his alma mater school district outside of Atlanta, Clayton County Public Schools. After 2 years in Clayton, he began educating the youth of Spalding County School System. Spalding County schools gave Mr. Davis the opportunity to engage the district’s teachers with professional development sessions, create model English lesson plans for district English teachers that covered common core, and become a member of the administrative team that gave vision and leadership to turn around the worst-performing school in the district to the number two school in the district. During his teaching years, he received a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University. Mr. Davis brings a diverse background in teaching strategies, effective discipline strategies, assessment practices, and student engagement. He has a strong passion for ensuring that every student and teacher realizes their potential and creating positive opportunities for them to maximize their potential. 

How is COVID-19 changing education? In this two-part episode, Stephanie and Cecilia talk with Cleveland-based Principal Quenton Davis about the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the public school system from his perspective as an educator.

About Quenton Davis:
Quenton Davis is currently a proud Principal who aides his teachers with cultivating and molding his scholars into productive high school students that will embark upon college, career endeavors, or military options.  As a native of Atlanta, Georgia, he is a proud graduate of The Unsinkable Albany State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Middle Grades Education. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree, he began to teach for his alma mater school district outside of Atlanta, Clayton County Public Schools. After 2 years in Clayton, he began educating the youth of Spalding County School System. Spalding County schools gave Mr. Davis the opportunity to engage the district’s teachers with professional development sessions, create model English lesson plans for district English teachers that covered common core, and become a member of the administrative team that gave vision and leadership to turn around the worst-performing school in the district to the number two school in the district. During his teaching years, he received a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University. Mr. Davis brings a diverse background in teaching strategies, effective discipline strategies, assessment practices, and student engagement. He has a strong passion for ensuring that every student and teacher realizes their potential and creating positive opportunities for them to maximize their potential. 

This episode features Lexington Rivera, the writer and creator of Art of Me's newest short film, Blood Hana. Lexington offers detailed insight behind the plot and shares parts of her process. She also discusses love, inclusivity, conflicts within the self and the community, and the importance of introspection, and much more!

To learn more about Art of Me and Blood Hana, visit www.artofme.org.

This episode features Rosemary Gramajo Quiñones, a young Cleveland-based Latina writer and musician. Rose talks about her Art of Me-produced short film, The Effects, and her journey as an advocate for immigrant's rights. The Effects is a story about family, love, and deportation, and premieres (virtually) tomorrow, on September 12th, 2020.

Stephanie Wahome, Art of Me's Executive Director, talks to Julius, a New York City private school teacher, about how COVID is altering the education system and the potential implications of hybrid/digital learning models moving forward.

Tazbah Rose Chavez is a performance poet turned director and television writer. She is currently a Co-EP/Director on FX’s Reservation Dogs and a Co-Producer/Director on NBCUniversal’s Rutherford Falls. Before that, she was a staffer writer for SyFy’s Resident Alien. Raised in Payahuunadu, Tazbah is a citizen of the Bishop Paiute Tribe and comes from the Nüümü, Diné and San Carlos Apache people. Tazbah is a director of film and music videos and was recently part of AT&T’s Hello Lab Filmmaker Mentoring Lab in which she wrote and directed the short film Your Name Isn’t English, executive produced by Taika Waititi and currently streaming on DirectTV. Tazbah has written ads for Nike N7, and directed health and cultural preservation campaigns for tribes throughout California. She has performed her poetry in acclaimed spaces such as the Smithsonian - National Museum of the American Indian, Meow Wolf and the Grand Performances Stage to name a few. She holds a degree in American Indian Studies from UCLA, is a former intern of Sundance Institute’s Native and Indigenous Program and serves as the co-chair of the Native American and Indigenous Writer’s Committee at the Writer’s Guild of America.

@tazbah https://www.instagram.com/tazbah/
Website: https://www.tazbah.com/band

Host Aviva Pusey talks to Julianna Greenidge about her Art of Me-produced short, the Unstoppable, her connection with Art of Me, and her creative process that allows her to recharge. Julianna also reflects on her experiences with bullying and anxiety.

What does it mean to be okay? And what does it mean to *not* be okay? Aviva Pusey hosts guests Rose Gramajo and Allie Von Spreckelsen in this conversation about mental health awareness, self-confidence, current events, and more.

To kick off the very first episode of Power & Community, we begin with a candid conversation with the leaders of of Art of Me -- Stephanie Wahome, Executive Director, and Cecilia R. Mejia, Creative Director.

Allyson was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and currently works in North Carolina and Georgia in the film industry. She has worked on a variety of video shoots throughout the past 4 years, ranging from thriller feature films to reality television shows, and many more in between. Allyson has a deep appreciation for humankind and wants her work to reflect the idea that every human is valuable and important in the world. Her passion for storytelling through cameras drives her to continue pursuing her dream as a director of photography, has brought her to many new parts of the country, and taught her valuable life lessons along the way. Find more of Allyson's work here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9945834/