What does community mean to you?
For my guest this episode, community is an extension of the self; community is essentially what we imagine it to be.
Ayesha Walker is an exceptional mother, social entrepreneur, artist, dancer and teacher. She is an alchemist, creating opportunities for herself, family and community to transform pain into passion and empathy into action. She is the co-founder and CEO of BE-IMAGINATIVE, a collection of artists, healers, and community leaders who are dedicated to healing black and brown communities through creative storytelling. Ayesha is an agent of change, with a background in youth development, nonprofit organizations, as well as over 15 years of experience in media production, brand development, and performing arts. She has a history of working in secondary and post-secondary education. Ayesha has founded several programs of multimedia including Youth Radio’s multimedia youth training program, UCLA’s multimedia department within the Community Programs Office, and Richmond California Preparatory Academy’s digital media course. She began her career in photojournalism at Youth Radio in 2005. She has covered photographic essays from the Democratic National Conventions, Women’s Leadership Forum with keynote First Lady Michelle Obama, to the First Lady Michelle Obama’s very first commencement speech at UC Merced and so much more. In 2008, she became the youngest member of the Richmond Arts and Cultures commission. In 2012 Ayesha became President Barack Obama’s Delegate for the democratic party. She currently sits on the board of directors for The Remedy, a non-profit dedicated to healing communities through musical therapy. She is on the advisory board of POWR, which has a mission to provide educational services and products for children, youth and adults, to help prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world. She obtained her B.A. in World Arts & Cultures from the University of California in Los Angeles.
http://www.be-imaginative.org
Club house: @eshiitaughtme, IG: @beimaginativecollective
Durwin Brown or as he's better known as "Brotha D", is a community activist, youth advocate, and staple in Oakland, CA and the greater Bay Area community. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, he has almost 20 years of experience working with youth as a teacher/educator, coach, mentor, and youth mental health case manager. He is the founder of the Catalyst Foundation for Youth Development which serves the youth with a targeted curriculum focusing on critical thinking, media analysis, emotional intelligence, restorative justice, behavior modification, long range academic planning, as well as interpersonal development. He is also an author. His personal motto is "each one teach one thousand".
https://www.wearethe3rs.com/
Personal page: @hollaatbrothad Org page: @wearethe3rs
