Ms. Afrika Abney - Consultant Branding Blog

Two companies that focus on women and girls include African American Women's Resource Center, Washington, D.C - Cassandra Burton The African American Women's Resource Center is an educational and cultural service center. Esther Productions, Inc - Jonetta R. Barras Esther Productions, Inc. is dedicated to using a variety of vehicles—traditional and nontraditional—to develop communities throughout the United States and Europe. It was created in 2004 by Jonetta Rose Barras, award-winning journalist and author of Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl? It is a non-profit organization that empowers young women and girls to heal from past familial trauma and tension. It is supported through generous contributions from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, Emmanuel Bailey, Veterans Services Corp, Pepco, an Exelon Corporation, Fort Myer Construction Corporation Charitable Foundation and Esther’s Friends. ​ Some of the sponsors of the programs include The Black Student Fund, Kerry S. Pearson LLC, ...

As I gear up for Women's History Month, I will be posting various women figures throughout the month of March. Prior to Women's History Month, I will be sharing women figures for the duration of Black History Month. "Woodson chose February for Negro History Week because it had the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, and Douglass, a former slave who did not know his exact birthday, celebrated his on Feb." "The first Women's Day celebration in the United States was in 1909, also in New York City. More than 7 decades later, Congress in 1981 established National Women's History Week to be commemorated annually the second week of March in 1981. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month." "The wonderful thing about being an artist is that there is no end to creative expression. Painting is my life; my life is painting."Loïs Mailou Jones

March is Women's History Month - Ms. Georgette S. Powell In 1999, I had the opportunity to participate in art exhibit that took place at the Children's National Medical Center and met Ms. Georgette S. Powell.   "Georgette Seabrook Powell was born in Charleston, SC in 1916 and raised in New York City. After graduating from The Cooper Union School of Art, she became active in the Harlem Arts Workshop. Powell was inspired by Augusta Savage (A’25), a young sculptor and the newly appointed director of the Harlem Arts Workshop. Powell learned from the dedication Savage gave to teaching arts in the Harlem community, and teaching became a cornerstone in her life as well. Powell was employed by the WPA, along with a team of artists, to create a series of murals for the Harlem Hospital Art Project. Her murals, titled Recreation in Harlem, depicted the daily lives, struggles and joys of Harlem’s residents. Once the murals had been completed, they were pronounced “too controversial” b...

"DC PCSB is an independent government agency of the District of Columbia, created in 1996, led by a volunteer seven-member board. DC PCSB provides oversight to 135 public charter schools, which are managed by 69 independently run nonprofit organizations called local education agencies" The DC Public Charter School Board has listed several workshops,The Discovery Summit and Scholarship Awards Ceremony, and Discovering Me...Without You: An Annual Personal Essay Contest which were all launched by Esther Productions, Inc in their bulletin in the past. 10-26 - 22  https://mailchi.mp/3dd58c7b5cc2/wednesday-bulletin-795754?e=4ae2bafe99 11-22 - 22  https://mailchi.mp/6b8b007a5b05/wednesday-bulletin-795758?e=4ae2bafe99 11-23-22  https://mailchi.mp/a3197817a7ab/wednesday-bulletin-795770?e=4ae2bafe99 11-30 - 22  https://mailchi.mp/7498c107cc56/wednesday-bulletin-795774?e=4ae2bafe99 12-7-22  https://mailchi.mp/70cf4b50e59c/wednesday-bulletin-795782?e=4ae2bafe99 9 - 20 ...

  The registration for African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition  (AACL) held on March 2nd has been closed as of Feb 23, 2024.  This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick. Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, and BusBoys and Poets. estherproductionsinc.com/aachildrensliterature

I t doesn’t make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.” – Jackson Pollock There are various painting techniques that artists use to create their paintings. In my earlier work, I used blended brush stroke techniques where the colors blend into one another. Whereas, in my later work, I used finger painting techniques where I want viewers to see how I express myself through using my fingers to blend colors.  Painting techniques are more successful and achieved when artists implement their own emotions and feelings into their work which is the main reason for creating a piece of art.  Landscape. 2005. Acrylic on Canvas. Afrika Abney          Autumn Landscape, abstract finger paintings focused on using some of the colors of Autumn.  Autumn Landscape #1. Acrylic on Canvas. 2022. Afrika Abney  Autumn Landscape #2. Acrylic on Canvas. 2022. Afrika Abney 

  Registration has re-opened for AACL as of February 16, 2024. Info: aachildrenslit2023@gmail.com. https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/seating-added-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST 125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 The following below panel discussions are apart of the African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at Trinity Washington University. Among them include REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive ; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All...

Me, Myself and Our Story was launched in 2023 by Esther Productions, Inc and The Institute for African American Writing and is designed for teen girls who have an interest in creative writing. It is a professional creative writing institute providing instruction in poetry fiction and memoir writing. Course of study will provide six weeks of focus and instruction on each topic. That is six weeks of poetry six weeks of fiction and six weeks of memoir writing. The Institute is for young ladies 15-19 years old who have an interest in creative writing. The first session will be in poetry. Students should be prepared to attend all six sessions.  The next session is scheduled to take place on February 24, 2024 at Trinity.  Feb 24, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST Washington, 125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA--Room 230 Me, Myself and Our Story: Creative Writing Institute for Young Ladies Aged 15 through 19 is a free course led by professional and published writers. This six-w...

                                                                                       Photo credit - Internet "Honey, I Love, the enchanting poem from the 1978 book of the same name, is about love and the simple joys of everyday life. With new full-color illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, this poem abounds with that special tenderness surrounding the everyday experiences in a child's life. Originally published: 1978 Author: Eloise Greenfield Genre: Poetry Illustrator: Jan Spivey Gilchrist" "Eloise Greenfield was an American children's book and biography author and poet famous for her descriptive, rhythmic style and positive portrayal of the African-American experience. After college, Greenfield began writing poetry and songs i...

    Feb 20, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM workshop via Zoom KALEIDOSCOPE WOMEN’S WRITING COLLECTIVE is a monthly writing club for women 18 and older. This is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-racial group of women who share their in-progress writings. Benefits for being a member of this collective: "You meet a fantastic group of women who are at various stages in their development as writers; you will receive the encouragement you need to start or finish a creative project through the regular gatherings; and you will meet professional writers (guest instructors) who can impart words of wisdom and guidance as you pursue your creative dreams." If you are interested in being a member, please register at  https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/kaleidoscope-womens-writing-collective-accepting-new-members-1

    Sidney Clifton is the opening speaker for African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2nd at Trinity. "Emmy-nominated producer Sidney Clifton has over twenty years of experience as an executive producer, director and creative executive overseeing animated, mixed-media and live-action content. She has produced hundreds of hours of episodic and longform content, a partial list can be found at her imdb page here. She has produced children’s and primetime content on Apple TV+, BET, NBC, Showtime, Paramount, and Hallmark Channel, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Academy of American Poets. In her role as mentor and recruiter, she has been a featured presenter, guest, and commencement speaker at colleges and universities across North America. "Ms. Clifton’s passion for developing and supporting the underserved community of writers, artists, storytellers and creators was the catalyst for her laun...

UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: A Look Beyond the Immediate Horizon at The Future of Children’s Literature Written by African American Authors is one of the panel discussions that is a part of the  African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at 3pm. The presenters include Kwame Alexander, Tricia Elam Walker, David Miller, *Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, * Leroy Nesbitt and Joy Jones. " Kwame Alexander has written 38 books, three of them in a chair next to a fireplace at his neighborhood Panera Bread. He now writes in a penthouse in London, where he lives. But, he misses the writing studio he built in Virginia a few years ago. It has huge windows, a large painting of John Coltrane, 3000 books, heated floors, a blue couch, and a loft which was Randy’s idea. When he’s not writing, Kwame’s playing Softball with his soon-to-be six feet tall middle school daughter, walking around London listening to a...

  TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Stories About Getting Black Books into the World By Any and All Means Necessary is one of the panel discussions that is a part of the  African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at 2pm. The presenters include Courtland Cox, Paul Coates, Vanessa Williams,  Shirikiana Gerima,  and Kojo Nnamdi.   " Courtland Cox is President of CCAP Consulting, LLC, which was incorporated in the District of Columbia in July 2011. Presently, Mr. Cox is part of the DCPEP team that works with the Department of General Services (DGS) of the District of Columbia Government. As part of the DCPEP team, Mr. Cox is responsible for making sure that there is compliance with federal and District law pertaining to CBE and workforce participation on all DGS projects. In 2009, Courtland Cox served as a Consultant to the O...

  SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD is one of the panel discussions that is a part of the  African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at 12:45pm at Trinity Washington University. The presenters include Jennifer Lawson, Justin Johnson, Keesha Ceran and Joy Jones " Jennifer Lawson  first marched for civil rights in 1963 as a 16-year-old in what became known as the Children’s Crusade, in support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who had been jailed in Birmingham, AL.  She attended Tuskegee University and eventually left to work full-time with SNCC in Lowndes County, Alabama where she drew billboards, comics, booklets, and leaflets in support of the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, publicizing the work of the people of Lowndes County and their political party's symbol, the black panther.  She is featured in an award-winning 2022 film about this subject,  Low...

  REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES is one of the panel discussions that is a part of the  African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at 9:30am at Trinity Washington University. The presenters include Carolivia Herron, Wynn Yarbrough, and Bernard Demczuk " Car­o­livia Her­ron  is a retired pro­fes­sor of com­par­a­tive lit­er­a­ture who directs the Epic­Cen­ter­ing the Nation­al Mall cre­ative writ­ing pro­gram for at risk youth. She is best known as the author of the chil­dren’s book Nap­py Hair.  She is a speak­er with the Pen Faulkn­er Writ­ers in Schools pro­gram, an African Amer­i­can Jew, and an active mem­ber of Tifer­eth Israel of Wash­ing­ton, DC." " Wynn Yarbrough  teaches Creative Writing and Children's Literature at the University of the District of Columbia. He is the author of two books: a volume of poetry,  A Boy's Dream  (Pessoa Press, 2011) and a nonf...