Do you as a global majority/BIPOC business owner want a different way to connect with your community? Are you seeking a way to change who you interact with for more local connectivity? Ready to engage with BIPOC creatives to hear their approach to staying connected in Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County/The State of Michigan?
Our conversations will focus primarily around Black, but also BIPOC topics/issues; inviting and engaging local creatives to share their talents, methods, and knowledge while also providing networking opportunities for all attendees.
You are invited to take part in the first session of this 4-part series in which you engage with BIPOC creatives to learn about their ways of thriving/surviving as a person of color within Ann Arbor // Washtenaw County // State of Michigan. This first session will focus on the 'Education' aspect within our community. We will be led in conversation by Dr. Roderick Wallace (Amplify Project, EMU Upward Bound), and Nafeesah Symonette (DEYA Co-Founder and Arts Education Advocate)
Dr. Rod Wallace is an author, educator, and artist with a myriad of experience in the development of urban schools and how engagement with the arts enhances student learning and self-awareness. A former principal, Dr. Wallace is currently the Program Director for EMU Upward Bound supporting first-generation students in graduating from college. An accomplished music producer and audio engineer, Wallace has released four solo albums and produced or mixed on dozens of other projects. Wallace also leads The Amplify Project, a nonprofit that exchanges recording and production support for support to community organizations.
Nafeesah Symonette is a visual artist, educator and fierce advocate for artistic youth engagement that offers exposure while honoring cultural heritage. An award-winning arts educator, Nafeesah was appointed by Michigan State Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council. As an Adjunct Professor and University Supervisor at Oakland University she assists in preparing the next generation of arts educators through the framework of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. In 2022, Symonette partnered with Rick Sperling, the Children’s Foundation and Connect Detroit to co-found Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), a collective impact initiative dedicated to systems change leading to more equitable and inclusive access to high-impact youth arts experiences for Detroit youth.