FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T START THIS JOURNEY WITH ME LAST YEAR (2006)

WHO I AM?

I am a woman of power. I am a humanitarian. I have been fascinated by the origins and development of races, the preservation of cultures and customs and the various spiritual beliefs of humankind and the overall challenges involving different concepts of culture throughout the world. I am a native of New Orleans. This is where I was born and raised into adulthood. Growing up in this very colorful place where old school African American culture is infused with African culture taught me to respect people's right to be understood as they WANT to be understood and how to see the VALUE IN CULTURE because CULTURE IS VALUE.

From 1976 to the end of 1980 I spent five years in what used to be West Germany. It was an opportunity to experience the value of that culture. There I lived on the Germany Economy. I was a student at the University of Maryland European Division, a Department of the Army Civilian, and a Fashion Model on the runways of Germany.

Since early times leading up to our contemporary society, people rely on educational institutions for the preservation of our cultural collective memory. Included are indigenous groups sharing their histories, to be told and understood as they know and understand it. In keeping with this tradition, it is my intention to showcase the celebration of life and culture of African and African American Diaspora by producing 12 innovative and creative episodic intenet TV shows surrounding the psychosocial circumstances and situations the experiences represents. This in my opinion can make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and students stimulating cultural awareness and addressing the changing needs of various communities around the world.

As educator and filmmaker, I develop, implement, evaluate, produce, and direct Internet TV shows with the goal of enhancing public assess to the understanding and interpretation of a collection of historical experiences through a variety media techniques and modalities to create memorable experiences for viewers.

As a humanitarian I play a role in the empowerment of viewers to experience the African and African American Diaspora more fully through stimulating, informative and very creative educational programs that are enjoyable and represent the different view points and experiences of our diverse and ever changing contemporary society.

In 2004 I journeyed to Zimbabwe and independently established relationships with Ntengwe, Government Leaders, Anthropologist from the local museum, Minister of Education, Minister of Health & Child Welfare, Staff & Students at Primary & Secondary Schools in a rural district of Zimbabwe. Ntengwe is a non-profit making organization promoting development, especially for youth, women and children through projects and programs in art, film and video, and publications. The organization promotes community awareness of HIV and AIDS, provides income generating projects, home based care and counseling and orphan support services. While there I had an opportunity explore and experience the culture in ways that I still cannot find the words. The media I will be presenting tell the various stories intermingled with the many similarities to African American culture. I am directing and producing 12 episodic internet TV shows. The name of the show is called "Planetary Liberation".

Episode 1 PLANETARY LIBERATION

Ntengwe launched a music CD (Tuli Bamuchaala – which translates to We are the Orphans) in which the children wrote and composed their own songs that express their feeling of being alienated from the rest of society. The children recorded this CD along with Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwe’s most popular music maker. Oliver’s gifts as a live performer were first introduced to the U.S. as part of the Africa Fete tour, on which he shared the stage with Taj Mahal and Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal. Oliver made an appearance in the Spring of 2002 on The Late Show with David Letterman. Oliver also co-wrote and recorded a song for Bonnie Raitt’s album in 2002.

The first episode presents a variety of still shots of the children and Oliver with their music as a backdrop. Also a live interview with Oliver Mtukudzi filmed backstage at his 2005 performance at Yoshi's Jazz Supper Club in Oakland, CA. Included is audio and visuals taken of myself in conversation with Emmanuel Nado, Host/Producer of "Echoes of Africa" in June 2005, on KKUP (91.5 FM) radio station of our live discussion on the women and children, the organization and various updates on what's happening there.

Episode 2 PLANETARY LIBERATION

While in Zimbabwe I saw the plans and sat in on meetings with the Ntengwe staff on the proposed orphan center that was to be built for the children. In March of 2005 the Japanese Embassy funded the building for the Ntengwe children while here in the U.S. a man by the name of Scott Wright and I acted on their behalf as the financial liaisons for the organization. In October of 2005 Ntengwe opened it doors to their new Drop in Center. This episode featured current events of Ntengwe Orphans and their center since August 2005. In August 2006 Emmanuel Nado, Radio Host, KKUP and I discussed the footage shot during the Center's Grand Opening.


Episode 3 PLANETARY LIBERATION

The third episode starts integrating the people of Binga, Zimbabwe with the people of Oakland, California. It symbolizes and pays tribute to the positive state of consciousness around the journey of the middle passage African Americans made from Africa to America and the journey the women and children of this rural community of Zimbabwe are taking to self love, self discovery and self acceptance to the modern world. In addition, this episode celebrates the pride of the Oakland, California Community.

Profound Peace! & Thanks for hanging out!
D2


FYI: Episode 3 is located in the February 10, 2007 post
Episode 2 is located in the May 10, 2006 Archive (the archives are listed directly on the right hand side)
Episode 1 is located in the April 8, 2006 Archive

Planetary Liberation, 3rd Episode

It's a Wrap 2006! Hello 2 double 07. Last year 2006 was filled with excitement and anticipation and success for me. A lot of connecting. Just stuff showing up all over the place. I AM SO GRATEFUL! I started 2006 with the intention of inhaling as much about multimedia as I possibly could. I had another radio interview on KKUP Radio Station down in San Jose on a show called "Echoes of Africa" where I once again presented the music (written and composed by the children who's parents are either living with or died of HIV and AIDS related diseases and other vulnerable children. The organization is called Ntengwe for Community Development. Once again it was an honor to be representing the organization I spent time with in Zimbabwe. I presented my 3rd Episode of Planetary Liberation at Dolby Digital lavatories in San Francisco. Learned a lot from just hanging out in the multimedia vib. Met lots of cool people along the way.

Completed 3 of 12 episodes on my African/African American Diaspora presentation. And started editing episodes 3 through 6 simultaneously...Don't ask why...It's just the way things started showing up inspite of some of the technical difficulties I experienced.

The year started with me taking a long look at all the footage I have that was shot in Africa and repeatedly looking at and trying to decide what footage represents the messages I'm conveying. Shot some good stuff from the hood (Oakland/Berkeley). Especially a lot of music. Things jumped off with the TKO Project, featuring Kelly Tukumba Orphan, American born young woman who studied at the University in Zimbabwe, came back here and formed a band with other Zimbabwean musicians and Americans. The Great Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, Zimbabwe's largest music maker made his annual stop at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland's own Jack London Square where they "Tore the Roof Right Off the Mother". Oliver's shows are not to be missed. You get two shows in one...their performance on stage as well as the Zimbabweans dancing in the audience. I also got good footage featuring, Dr. Jackie Hairston, Arranger, Composer; Sistah Linda Johnson, choreographer; and other great singers and musicians. I later caught the TKO Project performing at another function honoring Dr. Jackie in Oakland.

Flipping the script to the political side of things, I've got good footage of our California Congressman Ron Dellums (in the running for Mayor of Oakland) giving a speech at a local union hall to a group of union members and volunteer supporters (including me) campaigning for his colleague Sandre Swanson who was in the race for the 16th District Assembly Seat. In his speech Dellums said he would win and why. (smile) A profound speech it was! The energy that surrounds that man is incredible.

And he did, by the way, win...And also, by the way, I was at his Black & White Inaugural Ball on January 8, 2007 with the camera in hand...Happy New Year to me, huh! Saw some familiar faces from the black side of Hollywood. I did have an opportunity to speak with the beautiful Kellita Smith, actress on the Bernie Mac Show (she plays Bernie Mac's wife, Wanda; Actor, Richard Gant who is actually a bay area native (Berkeley). A lot of us know Richard Gant from Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor II where he plays the father of a character played by Janet Jackson. How do I know him? We go way back...I was his student back during my college days back in the 70's. The best is yet to come with all the editing I'm doing. Production is still ongoing.

Thanks for being apart of my journey and the best to all of you.

It's a wrap 2006...Whad Up 2 Double 07!
Profound Peace
Out
D2