Roots of the Spirit Podcast

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Photographer | Photography based Artist, Tawny Chatmon Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

Tawny is a self taught artist who has been working in the field of photography for the past 16+ years. Born in Tokyo, growing up an 'army brat', she had the unique opportunity to take in the cultures of three different continents all before the age of 12. By then she was in the United States and elbow-deep in her aunt's theatre company. She studied theatrical arts from the age 12 to early adulthood. After briefly attending a dramatic arts conservatory after high school, she switched paths and focused her interests on being behind the camera.

Her work and life have gone through many phases that led her to create the work she does today. She attributes this evolution to three major shifts: The decision to no longer pursue a career in dramatic arts, the birth of her first child and the death of her father.

Tawny says, "I look to photography as the first layer of communication. My work is ever-changing and constantly evolving as am I. The portraits I create today are almost always inspired by my children and my desire to contribute something important to a world I want them to thrive in. Each portrait usually begins as someone that I am close to in some way (my children, Goddaughter, a relative, or a model that I've worked with in the past) which then transforms into a new compositional expression by experimenting with multiple art practices. I choose to frame my work in gold vintage, antique and contemporary baroque style frames that I collect from estate sales, consignment and second hand shops, galleries, auctions and private sellers; the majority that previously held artwork of subjects that looked nothing like mine. Every layer is intentional and meaningful."

Website: www.tawnychatmon.com

Instagram: tawnychatmon

twitter: @tawnychatmon

Stunning video featuring Tawny's vision: https://youtu.be/ZmB6V_JgUmg

Fotografiska: https://www.fotografiska.com/nyc/exhibition/tawny-chatmon-inheritance/

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/natashagural/2019/12/13/stay-up-late-at-fotografiska-new-york-to-traverse-the-wide-world-of-photography/#338ebfc270e7

Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/12/11/arts/art-basel-bears-far-better-fruit-than-that-120000-banana/

Just google Tawny Chatmon!

Actor, Hisham Tawfiq advocates wellness for Black Men Feb 17, 2020

Show notes

Retired FDNY firefighter and actor, Hisham Tawfiq joins the Roots of the Spirit Community as a regular contributor -- sharing his own path to healing and shining a light on the importance of health and wellness for Black men.

Roots of the Spirit interview w/ Hisham from 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f86EEzF1F9w

Roots of the Spirit website profile of Hisham: https://www.rootsofthespirit.com/copy-of-hisham-tawfiq

Instagram & twitter: hishamtawfiq

Resources:

Therapy for Black Men: https://therapyforblackmen.org/

The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxpb1ZdNd6M99Fhaw09H81Q/featured

Therapy for Black Girls https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

The Association of Black Psychologists http://www.abpsi.org/find-psychologists/

HealHaus (Brooklyn) https://www.healhaus.com/

Little Rock Nine, Minnijean expelled, moves to New York! Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

Little Rock Nine member, Minnijean Brown was expelled from Central High School in February, 1958 for "verbal retaliation" after 6 months of daily terrorism inside the school. Famed social psychologists, Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark invited Minnijean to live with them to finish school in New York at New Lincoln School, a progressive integrated school. She lived with the Clarks in their home in Hastings on Hudson until she graduated from high school. Roots of the Spirit founder, Spirit Tawfiq contacted the current owner of the historic house where they Clarks lived and embarked on a tour led by Minnijean and sat down for an interview to learn about her experience leaving her family in Little Rock to live in New York.

The original interview is available via video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpj-OigWqTM.

In a Minnijean Minute! - "It has always been urgent..." Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

Spirit Reflects on Roots in 2019 & turning 40! Jan 12, 2020

Show notes

Join Roots of the Spirit podcast host, Spirit Tawfiq as she reflects on her experience creating and building Roots of the Spirit - a platform to uproot racism through storytelling, education and the arts. She also also touches on lessons learned and wisdom gained as she crosses into her 40th decade on the planet!

In a Minnijean Minute! #ProfoundIntentionalIgnorance Dec 22, 2019

Show notes

Golf Curator & Founder of IN-18, LaToya Finney Dec 21, 2019

Show notes

Roots of the Spirit Podcast welcomes Golf Curator & Founder of IN-18, LaToya Finney! LaToya Finney is the founder of IN-18, an experiential golf platform created to increase young professionals' participation in golf and teach inclusion through structured workshops paired with course activities. LaToya was exposed to golf in college and realized early on that the game was not easily accessible to everyone - that women and people of color were missing. This experience led LaToya to co-found the Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association in New York. As a former Technology Project Manager and Senior Business Analyst with companies like Goldman Sachs, Barclays and Apollo Global Management, LaToya brings a wealth of experience to the golf course by providing corporate training, group workshops, panels and on-course seminars. LaToya volunteers with America Needs You, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and travels the world playing and writing about golf. She's received several awards, including being inducted into the Network Journal's 2017's "40 under 40" class. A passion for golf led LaToya to play on amazing courses in Malaysia, Scotland, Ireland, Barbados, Zihuatanejo, Spain and Dubai. These experiences left a real impression on her and after 20-years of building a career, she decided that is was time for a change.

Website: www.IN-18.com

IG: @msLadyLovesGolf

In a Minnijean Minute! Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Listen to Minnijean Brown Trickey (Little Rock Nine), truth connoisseur drop gems on the topic of "race," racism and social justice.

"Blue-Eyes/Brown-Eyes" Exercise Creator / Educator, Jane Elliott Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

Jane Elliott is an internationally known teacher who became famous after creating the "Blue-Eyes/Brown-Eyes Exercise" in her 3rd grade classroom in the late sixties. She is a lecturer, diversity trainer, antiracism advocate and recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education. She exposes prejudice and bigotry as an irrational class system based upon purely arbitrary factors. Her mission… ONE RACE.

"I created a microcosm of society in my third-grade classroom on April 5, 1968," Jane said, speaking of the iconic day, the day after the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, when she was inspired to create what would become known as her famed "Blue-Eyes/Brown-Eyes Exercise." Her life's work landed her on Oprah five times, inspired more than a handful of documentaries and has been credited as the impetus for the "diversity training" that many corporations and educational institutions still host for their employees today. Derived from Chandra Thomas Whitfield for NBCNews.com

website: www.janeelliott.com

Where can I buy her fabulous shirt!? https://janeelliott.com/video-store/sweatshirt

National Geographic "The Race Issue" Spirit and Jane refer to in the show: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/#close

Founder of Euphony Equity & Inclusion Works, Naomi Gracechild Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

Naomi Gracechild is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, educator, entrepreneur, social justice activist and worshipper of nature! As the founder of Euphony Works, Naomi brings her cross-sector experience in both urban and rural communities to help clients gain a deeper understanding of socio-political dynamics in order to effectively address issues of inequity. Throughout her professional career she has had the honour of developing and leading creative initiatives with organizations such as The National Music Centre, BC Alliance for Arts & Culture, Selkirk College and BC Touring Council.

Naomi is a working musician and music educator and continues to be an active advocate for community building and empowerment through the arts. She is currently working on a collaborative art and music show that will exhibit during Black History Month 2020 and performs regularly singing with her band, Naomi Grace.

Her emerging side-side-side-side-hustle-in-progress, Melanin Rising, is a line of apparel and an online community supporting racialized musicians and arousing allyship/accompliceship. These shirts and website will be a platform to unite people of colour and allies through fashion and art. The shirts are printed in partnership with Trapline Designs, an Indigenous-run community print shop in Vancouver's downtown east side. The models profiled on website and social media will be Canadian musicians of colour who embody personal philosophies of anti-racism and collective liberation.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/euphonyworks/

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