LIL RAGGAMUFFIN SUMMER CAMP: 2009

Well we're officially up and running --- follow our blog and join us in our journey as we travel from Brooklyn to the hills of Jamaica and back again to plant seeds of social change. It all starts with the youth - We are the change we've been waiting for!!!

Introduction : WHO WE ARE

Zebi Williams
Camp Director & Founder

...At the age of 19, after countless hours in the library researching lesson plans, designing curriculum and working a semester as a waitress to save up enough funds for a plane ticket and two bags full of supplies, Zebi Williams traveled to her hometown of Settlement Jamaica and founded the Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp. Straddling two worlds, Zebi remembered her formative years in Settlement as some of her fondest, it was a world of freedom, imagination and exploration. Poverty was a reality but life was rich because their was laughter and friendship. Children played outside all day and picked fruits from the trees when they got hungry. It had been over six years since she had touched foot on the island, people had grown up, friends had moved away and modern technology had begun to make its mark on the culture of the community. Children were commuting further to school and seeing less of each other, video games and television monopolized free time, and a culture of “bad man” idolization had begun to plant seeds in the cultural values of the community. A firm believer in the saying “to whom much is given much is expected” Zebi looked back on her life thus far and recognized that many of the things she loved about herself were the result of her elders taking the time out to mentor and nurture those qualities within her. Self-confidence, optimism, the willingness to explore new things, artistic expression, community ownership, self determination, and happiness - these were all gifts that she received and wanted to return to those who followed after her – like her younger cousins and neighbors that might not have had the same opportunities to travel and participate in extracurricular youth programs but possessed the same need to be nurtured and supported.

It is from this place that Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp was built and it is from this place that we continue to grow.

Zebi Williams is the Founder and Director of Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp she is also the co-founder and designer of the eco-friendly lifestyle brand BORN AS A RAGGAMUFFIN, LLC, a fashion company built with the mission of creating sustainable employment for women in the Caribbean and offering fashion forward clothing for socially conscious fashionistas. Graduating in 2005 with a Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology, Caribbean Studies and Sustainable Development, Zebi first explored her passion for building communities for social change by working in the Women for Women International development office. An international female solidarity organization founded by a young Iraqi women and hailed by Oprah and Bill Clinton as one of the most effective non profits in the world. Here she was able to assist women in war torn countries such as Afghanistan, the Congo, Rwanda and Bosnia rebuild their lives through entrepreneurship and micro-credit lending programs. Women for Women, Intl taught Zebi about effective fundraising and non-profit administrative organizing and laid the foundation for all her future non-profit endeavors. From Women for Women, Intl - Zebi went on to work with youth as a camp counselor for the Fresh Air Fund in upstate New York, and as a documentary film workshop leader for the YWCA in Ulster County. At the YWCA she created a semester long film program for high school girls interested in pursuing non-traditional careers in the media and telling stories deemed unique to the female experience. At the end of the semester they produced and screened a 45-min documentary titled THE RED SPOT. As of 2008 Zebi has been working in NYC as the Workshop Director for the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project’s annual Sista 2 Sista youth summit for Pan-African High School girls and most recently, Zebi was hired as a community organizer for the Good Old Lower East Side and The Retail Action Project of NYC. As a community organizer she leads an Economic Justice Campaign for marginalized residents and small business owners in the Lower East Side and she helps to organize retail workers throughout NYC to fight for their rights and develop collective bargaining power in the workplace. Zebi believes that every person has unlimited potential and that we must help to unlock that potential in each other because really and truly “We are the change we’ve been waiting for”!!

Wendy Del Orbe

Controller/Camp Counselor

Akua Soadwa

Assistant Director/ Head of Logistics

Akua Soadwa is the Founder and Director of the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project (GNEP). A Non profit organization founded with the mission to recognize, celebrate, and examine issues pertaining to people of Pan-African descent, with an emphasis on those residing in underserved communities. The organization is dedicated to the education and advancement of people of Pan-African descent, and the development of the neighborhoods and communities they reside in through conferences, workshops and other social and educational mediums. Her vision is to provide a supportive network and forum that empowers the individual, the family and the community to meet their full potential. This concept of sharing information and resources with the community rather than having them go through the daunting task of “figuring it out alone” would eventually serve as the underlying premise for GNEP. Soadwa’s goals are grounded in a basic principal noted by scholar Marianne Williamson: as people let their own light shine, they unconsciously give others permission to do the same. Each year she host a Sista 2 Sista Youth Summit for 125 High school Girls of Pan African Descent, she leads a four year long mentorship program for a group of 20 + young high school women and she organizes periodic exchange programs to her ancestral home in Accra, Ghana. The Gye Nyame Empowerment Project is the fiscal sponsor of the Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp and a strong supporter of our mission. Akua has a Masters in Urban Planning, Design and Development from Cleveland State University and is now the Director of the Community Affairs Unit at the New York State Banking Department.

T. I. Williams

Food Specialist

T. I. Williams is a Jamaican born activist and educator who brings culinary arts and food justice to life through innovative workshops, cooking classes, and writings. Williams specializes in multi-sensory education and engaging demonstrations. A raw foods chef and instructor, Williams uses foods in their unprepared and near natural state to teach audiences about slow and whole foods. Williams’ innovative Three Seasons cooking style empowers children, young people, and adults to prepare healthy and sensational meals with ease.Williams began preparing foods for others at the age of 9. Her lifelong culinary experiences have shaped a remarkable teaching style that is accessible, hands on, and memorable. Over the last decade, Williams has facilitated powerful dialogues on art, society, and culture with thousands of audience members as an educator. In 2008, Williams founded sip, a natural food company, to bring the vibrant world of whole food to communities and corporate entities alike. sip is a vital partner in the development of the Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp providing nourishment for the youth and staff during the duration of the camp and leading workshops with the youth and their parents to help the community recognize the sophistication of Jamaica's cuisine and have greater appreciation for local foods. Bulding on the current political agenda in Jamaica to “buy local”, Williams will help her students examine the Jamaican motto “Out of Many People” - by exploring the history of African, Asian, Arawak, and European elements that shaped Jamaica's cuisine.

Lisa Burriss

Director of Community Organizing/Camp Counselor

Lisa Burriss is the Director of Organizing for the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), a community organization dedicated to helping immigrants and low income residents fight for housing and economic justice. Burriss was a college basketball player and graduated with a bachelors degree in Sociology from New Paltz College in 2003 and since has dedicated herself to creating social change for those whom feel voiceless. After college, Lisa worked teaching independent living skills to aging out foster children. Where she developed engaging curriculum for students that were mentally disabled and periodically incarcerated. A challenging population to work with but Burriss worked from a place of love to develop engaging and empowering curriculum for students that the system had turned its back on. She is also a member of the United Nations Youth Council and co-founded Cultural Unity an organization in New Paltz dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and creating unity through education. She is also a former women’s basketball coach for middle school girls. Burriss is a born leader and her organizing experience, incredible passion to create change, and ability to motivate and inspire others is a great asset to our organization.

Selena Ayala

Director of Marketing & Fundraising / Camp Counselor

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, by way of Long Beach California, Selena Ayala, has always carried with her dreams of change through media. Since she was a little girl, she thought her life would take her down a road of journalism. She often wrote columns in her school newspapers about women empowerment and issues on self-esteem. In her very recent professional career, Ayala has worked on campaigns with Christian Dior Make- Up advertorial, Victoria's Secrets PINK, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Gilly Hicks. Being a professional and accomplished model has provided her with a variety of experiences, from traveling the world and experiencing new cultures, to the harsh realities of the fashion industry. With her company B*Star, a non-profit organization she is currently working on, she looks to address issues of promiscuity, peer pressure, and self-esteem, and many of the issues that arise for young women in their teenage transitional period. Although not a journalist, Ms. Ayala has found a way to make a difference. She encourages young women everywhere to be confident and B a Star!

Sallome Hralima

Director of Female Leadership/ Camp Counselor. Sallome Hralima is an idea mogul and dream executor her very “existence is a rebellion” She is Community Liaison for DOPE SWAN, owner of Phefeni Childrenswear, and co-founder of The Re:Construction Period. Sallomé (a/k/a Sallomazing!) has a liberal arts degree from Wesleyan University, has studied at Cape Coast University in Ghana, has training from Landmark Education and Bank Street College of Education, and certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Other companies that have benefited from Sallomé’s expertise include: Marc Ecko Enterprises, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Hip Hop Summit Action Network, WBAI – Pacifica Radio, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA), and Driving School for Life. In the past she has been a student activist, personal development coach, a third grade teacher, a youth organization consultant, a volleyball player, a Whitney Houston listener, a boarding school student, a Cosby Show watcher, and a stuffed animal collector. As Community Liaison for DOPE SWAN, she produced A Great Day in Brooklyn, 50 years after the famous Great Day in Harlem photo - a historic photographic memoir shot by renowned documentarian Jamel Shabazz and directed "for colored girls: an abbreviated performance.” In Fall 2008, she traveled throughout the continental United States as the Solution-Cipher Facilitator for a 32-city poetry and community forum discussion tour entitled "Hurricane Season: the hidden messages in water". This Spring she is planning a tribute for Brooklyn icon Spike Lee, called Where's Mars?, a multi-faceted tribute that will celebrate the breadth and scope of Lee's work and educate the community about the impact Lee has had on popular culture. Sallomé has recently been nominated as a presenter at Thirty Summit, a gathering in Chicago, Illinois of 20 to 30-somethings who have been deemed leaders in their field and invited to participate in the Center for Whole Communities 2009 Next Generation of Leadership Retreat. Today you can find her working on her next venture - PlanIt Brooklyn, an entity that develops Brooklyn into an international arts and culture mecca, hosting artistic events in New York, coordinating women's circles, racking up frequent flyer miles on JetBlue to the Bay Area, and developing programs for New York City schools and communities. For her, every element of creation is sacred: scalp greasing & braiding, peanut butter/jelly sandwich making, Facebook headline flipping, collaged-thank you card writing, mixtape making, shower singing, "one day we gon' make this movie" talking, camouflage crochet hat making, just add water hot cocoa stirring, high school scrap booking, Saturday night make-up applying, business card design helping, rhyme writing, long ass journal entering, seven day Kwanzaa gift wrapping, summertime sarong wrapping, love poems to Self writing, birthday party planning, artists statement creating...

Daoud Abeid

Director of Male Leadership/ Camp Counselor Daoud Abeid life mantras are the “Chosen Choose Themselves” and “Live to change Something”. As a man he seeks to represent freedom, justice, equality, truth, love and righteousness through his actions and works. Daoud is an award winning film maker, graphic designer and educator. One of the founders of Coup D’etat Brooklyn & SUNSHOWAH films - two great artistic enterprises built with the mission of counteracting negative and destructive one dimensional images of urban life in both fashion and film. Since 2002, Daoud has received recognition for his artistic efforts. Beginning with his 1st film, called “Rev’o.lu,shun” he co-wrote and Directed with Sunshowah Films’ co-founder Dahkil Hausif. In 2002 the film, received the first place award for Best Short Film in the Philadelphia International Film Festival. In 2003 he produced a Rock the Vote Campaign video featuring HBO’s Def Jam poets. In collaboration with the Source Magazine Abeid produced a documentary film called “Joe Gotta Go” which premiered at the 2003 Urban World Film Festival. In 2006 his film project "Eye Jammy" premiered at the Urban World film festival, and received awards for best short at the Hip Hop Odyssey Festival, Spaghetti Junction Festival, and On Fumes Film Festival. The film was also an honorable mention finalist in the BETJ best shorts competition in 2007. His most recent project "Shades of Brooklyn Vol. 1" was one of five international finalist in the 2008 American Black Film Festival's HBO best shorts competition and can now be seen as a featured presentation on HBO. In all that he does, Daoud chooses to live a life that reflects his understanding of self and is inspired by youth because he believes that “children live truth” and they remind him that “many of us let our life experiences lead us astray from our true selves”. On the flip side, Daoud recognizes that he is an elder in his community and sees it as his responsibility to do what he can to TEACH THE BABIES and prepare them to face the challenges of this world. Since 1998 he has worked with youth in the New York City Area, sharing his visions and experiences as a teaching artist, mentor and youth advocate. Currently he teaches film production at NYC high schools and after school programs, he speaks on panels organized for college and high school students, he is one of the founding members of the Brooklyn Artist Collective- developing pathways for other local artist to mentor and interact with the youth of Brooklyn, and he is working on executing a rights of passage leadership program for young urban men.

Concep

Art Instructor/ Workshop Leader. Concep is an internationally acclaimed free expression graffiti based fine artist and street dancer. Born in New Orleans Concep's journey in pursuit of his intertwining passion for visual arts, design, and dance led him to Brooklyn, where he has begun to lay the foundation to his visionary empire. Cep’s art work has been featured on billboards in Times Square and he has gained large notoriety by winning MTV's 07 "Artbattles" Competition. He has since painted for artists in the music industry and live at events in connection to Swizz Beats, Rich Medina, Deeply Madly Living Gallery, Complex magazine, Girbaud, MTV's Wild'n Out, and Scion. Cep's most recent endeavor was shot in his Crown Heights' studio in Brooklyn for MTV 2's Independent Music Week and MTV Africa's U.S. upcoming artist spot. As a designer, Concep has worked for urban brands such as Ecko Unlimited, Ruff Ryders, and Pony eventually landing a home at Marithé Francois Girbaud, a French brand specializing in premium denim and fashion graphics. His design work is intimately connected with his fine artistry, as you can find textile patterns that serve as inspiration for his design showing up in his paintings, or his paintings getting canvased on streetware. As a dancer Concep's ill skillz in street dance have allowed him to be involved in video productions for artist such as Mos Def, Little X, Eric Sermon, Timbaland, and Sa Ra. His growing body of artworks is an unfolding story of the evolution of the self through the language of color. With a special talent for translating ideas, vision and energy, Concep has an ability to paint concepts, emotions and vibration that have an immediate effect on the observer (similar to the effect of music, which is much harder to achieve in painting). His artwork is a reminder of the infinite possibilities that stretch between life and death, connecting dreams with the path of self-realization. Inspired by waking up everyday and painting the colors of the "Most High," Concep's goal is to paint the world with free thought and positive expression. As a dancer and clothing designer, Cep's hip-hop roots are the cultural link to his freedom and the elements that make him an artist. Concep is also one of the founding members of the BK Artist Collective, a group of artist and tastemakers dedicated to mentoring and inspiring low income youth in the community. Concep's motto is, "Life Starts Today."

Amanda Diva

Music Instructor/Workshop Leader

Amanda Diva is not like anybody else you’ve ever met. And her work follows suit.

Straight to the point lyrics with a comedic edge, sang in her raspy from the gut voice over big production combining live instrumentation with an alternative kick, she defies genre, and expectations of what a popular female artist is “supposed” to be. She’s spunky, she’s sharp, and she’s got jokes for days. Her live show is like a venerable stand up routine coupled with soul moving music that is undeniably innovative, spontaneous, just plain awesome.

But music wasn’t always the goal. Starting off as a young actress on Nickelodeon sitcom, “My Brother and Me” Diva is no stranger to the madness that is showbiz. Moving to New York in 1999 she was exposed to the hip-hop culture in a completely new way than that of her hometown Orlando, FL and she was hooked. Soon she was writing and performing on the spoken word poetry scene before being chosen to appear on Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam (’02 & ’05). While performing at a political fundraiser she was discovered by a Program Director at Sirius Satellite Radio and was quickly hired as a radio personality right out of college where she continued to thrive from ’03-’08 with her morning show “Breakfast at Diva’s.” During that time she also obtained a Master’s in African American studies from the prestigious Columbia University and served as the face of hip-hop on MTV2 interviewing close to every relevant hip-hop/R&B artist of the last 10 yrs including Jay-Z, Nas, Mariah Carey, Pharell, and even acting heavyweights like Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox. Her love affair with the small screen continues to grow as currently she serves as comedy commentator and music expert on VH1, writer & creator of “Diva Speak TV” a weekly humor based news/sketch comedy show featured on the extremely popular ThisIs50.com & “Diva Diva Ya’ll” an interview based lifestyle show rooted in showing audiences another side of their favorite artists/personalities and exposing them to some and cultures that they should know featured on heavily trafficked Karmalooptv.com. In addition Deev is also an accomplished visual artist who shows in exhibits, does live painting events, and has a hand-painted bag line called Spectrum available on Karmaloop.com and AmandaDiva.com. Her latest release, a FreEp titled, “Spandex, Rhymes & Soul” combines hip-hop, soul, alternative, and a touch of electronica with sustained melodies and poignant lyrics on life and love that speak universally to human nature. Recently featured on Q-tip’s “ManWoman Boogie” on his album “The Renaissance,” she also replaced Natalie Stewart in the Grammy award winning R&B group, Floetry in ‘07, and has worked with notable artisans Questlove, James Poyser, Green Lantern, Estelle, The Cool Kids, and more.
She’s known to rock a lot of neon colors but that is not what sets Amanda Diva a part from the crowd. Her uniqueness lies in her uncanny ability to always be herself but ardently feel the emotions of others and articulate them vividly and honestly through music that excites, ignites, and tears the roof off of any venue she sets foot in.

Of Grenadian heritage, our island sistren Amanda Diva is excited to come and join us in our efforts in Jamaica. Designing a musical workshop that highlights politics and african history in black music. Amanda will also work with the youth to develop their performance skills as future artist and leaders.

Fly Lady Di

Dance & Art Workshop Leader Fly Lady Di has lead a life as bright and colorful as her mosaic-like paintings. A professional dancer/choreographer and painter. This multi-dimensional Toronto native is internationally acclaimed and has been winning awards in dance and art since elementary school. She briefly attended McGill University for Art History and the National Dance Center where she trained intensively in BALLET, JAZZ, TAP and AFRICAN dance. Her dance skills were featured in the movie “Honey” (2003 Universal) as well as music videos for Tweet, Fabolous, Ashlee Simpson, and Fall Out Boy’s “Dance Dance” (winner of the MTV’s “Viewer’s Choice” Award). With the desire to enhance her dance skills, Diana relocated to NEW YORK CITY in May 2004. It was there that she received the bulk of her training in HOUSE DANCING - a form of art in which she finds the purest, most sincere way to express herself. While in New York, Diana was fortunate enough to land a contract with BLOCAGENCY, NYC - one of the most noted dance agencies around. She has also been able to work independently for projects like "DARRIN'S DANCE GROOVES PT. 2", and a commercial for the "N-NETWORK" with CIARA. Her latest video, ASHLEE SIMPSON's “L.O.V.E.” can now be seen on heavy rotation on MTV. She also teaches a House Basics class at the Street Dance Academy in Toronto.

As a painter she has performed in 35 live art shows in her first 6 months of doing live art, which gave her highlighted press in THE VILLAGE VOICE, TRACE, COMPLEX, YRB, LUSSW (Japan), LADY CAPRICE (France) and FREE just to name a few. With a style unseen before in the History of Art, Di combines her influences of Art Deco, Graffiti and Cubism to create work that pulsates from canvas to viewer, providing a soulful look into her inner thoughts and emotions. With only a few pieces to be found online, thousands of people have taken to Diana's artwork. It is because of this that she began selling prints of her paintings (with the help of her MySpace page and a PayPal account) and has since sold prints all over the United States, Canada and now Europe. She then turn these transactions into a legal business venture with Creative Juice Enterprises, with which she plans to continue to sell prints and create works of art that are received so readily by her generation.

Melly Mel

Dance & Theater Workshop Leader, For Melissa “Melly Mel” Flerangile, dancing is more then moving your feet and body rhythmically to music. It is her passion. With a father who is a professional musician and a mother who was a professional singer it almost seems as though she was predestined to follow suit. Although her art of choice slightly differs from her parent’s, it is just as exciting. Known as Melly Mel to her dance counterparts, Melissa is the personification of hard work. Her travels all over the world have broadened her network and have allowed her to meet and work with people from all walks of life. Originally from Ottawa Canada, she now resides in Brooklyn New York, where she works with Juxtapower a South African Dance Company. While she often performs in groups she also performs alone. She recently traveled to Sao Paulo and Floripa (Brazil) to perform a solo act. Not only has Melissa’s dedication enabled her to follow her dreams, it’s also allowed her to share stages , movie sets and also work on community projects with phenomenal artists from around the world. Some of her work include: Cirque Du Soleil “LOVE”, The 50th Annual Grammy Awards, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Oscar Winning Miramax film CHICAGO and Universal Picture movie HONEY, just to name a few. And if that list of achievement wasn’t spectacular enough, at the end of April, she will be entertaining none other than our First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington DC for The One Drop Foundation created by Guy Laliberté founder of Cirque Du Soleil. But just like many of us, Melly Mel has a few positive influences that inspire her to continue to be the best at what she does. One of them being her dear friend Bboy Crazy Smooth labeled one of Canada’s Top Bboys and the C.E.O. of CSMOOTH & BBOYIZM Company in Aylmer, Quebec. But many other artists have also paved the way for this talented young woman, Nicolas Brothers, Bob Fosse, Gene Kelly, Fred Estere, Ginger Rogers, Don Campbellock Campbell/ The Original Lockers and The Electric Boogaloos. When asked to give a word of advice encouraging young people to follow their dreams, Melly Mel answered: “- In my opinion you are the only person who can make anything happen. Being happy and living your dream is a choice. If you decide to go after your dreams you have to believe that there is no other way because if there's a slight doubt you can possibly destroy any chance of you living your dream”.

Jaime “RIP MC” Lewis

Poetry Instructor/ Workshop Leader. “I spit food for thought for bullemic minds” Jaime “RIP MC” Lewis is the Creator, Owner and Host of Writers Block: The Movement, a collective of award winning spoken word artist that travel throughout America and Europe delivering prophetic observations and truths to the masses in the form of spoken word poetry. From New York City by way of Brooklyn, Jaime believes that spoken word poetry is the future of hip hop and his style, well his style is hip hop (hip hop without the beat so you have to say something). Possessing a quieting intellect, Jaime’s words speak of a wisdom far beyond his years. Whether he’s in a nightclub, classroom, or standing on a park bench Jaime has the lyrical prowess to bring audiences to their feet. Currently recording his second album, Jaime shares Raggamuffin’s vision for creating a cultural evolution that returns us to our authentic, flyest, most divine selves. As he would say “on a quest to move the masses from metropolis, to Motherland.” With his ability to spark the interest of youth and inspire others to pick up pen and pad to express themselves, Jaime and The Writers Block Collective are indeed a movement to be reckoned with.

Jullien Gordon

Purpose Finder Specialist/ General Counselor

Originally from Oakland, California, (with roots in Jamaica) Jullien Gordon is a creative writer, entrepreneur, and life coach. Widely known for his metaphors for daily living, insights on creativity, prolific poetry, and live skills development. In 2007, he received two masters degrees from Stanford University; one in business administration and one in education. While at Stanford, he worked closely with William Damon, the nation’s lead research on the formation of purpose during adolescence. Damon’s academic definition of purpose is a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at once meaningful to the self and of intended consequence beyond the self.

Upon graduating, Jullien served as the Associate Director of talent recruitment for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, one of the leading talent development organizations for college students and young adults. He was the keynote speaker at the UCLA African American Graduation in 2003 and the Stanford Black Graduation in 2007. He has since been called upon to participate in countless smaller speaking engagements, ranging between audience sizes of 10-200 where he addresses young adults in workshops, retreat, and conferences. Jullien is positioning himself to be a world leader in purpose-finding and personal development for the millennial generation. Jullien is currently the CEO of the Department of Motivational Vehicles as well as Mylinia.com both ventures are personal development companies designed to help individuals and organizations discover and align their lives with their purpose. He is also passionate about writing. Jullien says his purpose is to help as many people as possible reach their full potential by helping them make a living doing what they love and in the process of doing so achieve his own. Ultimately, he says he wants to eliminate the need for Alcoholics Anonymous for his and future generations by creating experiences where people can find community, find meaning, and find a spiritual connection.
He is also passionate about writing. He blogs regularly at JullienGordon.com and is in the process of writing his first book titled “Driving School For Life”.

Kendra Cambridge

Croc het/Craft Instructor For Kendra Cambridge “The creativity comes from the struggle, the fire within. It is having little yet being able to create beauty where others may not see it”. Growing up in Brooklyn New York, with Trinidadian heritage, designer Kendra Cambridge (AKA Tuffy) had to be TUFF! Cambridge mixes techniques and concepts to achieve a look that is truly original, just like the designer’s one of a kind style. The lanyard earrings have gained worldwide appreciation for their fun colors, BIG style, and incredible lightness. The hand screened tees have garnered attention for their conscious and fashionable imagery, and the crochet pieces are always a head turner. As a young person the designer experimented with her own clothes. After some inspiration from the Harriet’s Alter Ego Family, Cambridge took off. She draws inspiration from nature, which is evident in the tropical vibration of the designs, and also from African diasporic culture and music. Tuff Like Iron has adorned the likes of Rita Marley, M.I.A, Jah Cure, Erykah Badu, Damiam Marley, Tarrus Riley and the Bad Brains. Also, the works have been featured in the NY Daily News and can often be seen in Luire, a prominent Japanese fashion magazine. This year Kendra will bring her skills as a designer and entrepenuer to Lil Raggamuffin Summer Camp to help inspire the youth to create their own masterpieces for personal use and/or sale.

Bobby “General” Williams

Jahream

Director of Entrepreneurship/ Camp Counselor

Jahream is a renaissance man, the CEO and Designer of the Fashion Brand Children of Da Curb, PR consultant for Black & White Marketing, International Event Promoter, A&R Rep, Radio Show Executive and the Founder & Director of our co-sponsoring organization – BUILDING YOUNG MINDS. Building Young Minds is a non-profit organization that works with Children of Da Curb to reinvest into communities by working with youth in four major areas: He organizes workshops on a variety of health issues such as exercise and nutrition, stress, anger management, drug and HIV/AIDS. Jahream helps youth gain “hands on” experience working as interns in industries of their choosing such as music, fashion, film and media. He creates spaces for youth to have open dialogue and create fundraising events and initiatives to address the issues that affect their communities, both locally and internationally and he spearheads exchange programs for youth to learn about history and the arts of host countries and to broaden their perspectives on the global economy and development of the Caribbean and Africa. Jahream believes in the beauty and divinity of all individuals and seeks to empower youth of the African Diaspora to recognize their power and birth right to greatness. We are blessed to have him on board.

Daniel Davis

Camp Counselor/ Director of Peace & Love

Coming of age in the sometimes turbulent inner-city of Philadelphia Daniel Davis has consistently drawn upon the memories of his youth to help others like himself and bring about positive change in his community. From an early age violence and crime has surrounded Daniel. Personally affected by a senseless and violent act that took his mothers life while he was a youth. Then growing into a young man and having to combat the consistent lure and peer pressure of destructive illegal activities. Danny’s life has been one that unfortunately too many youth can identify with. But fortunately, Daniel has resolved to make a difference by giving his time and energy toward promoting awareness of the sad consequences of violence and crimes. Daniel is a mentor, a born leader and a very practical teacher. By his example, he demonstrates that positive thinking and positive living makes a difference. Tirelessly devoting his attention to growing the Peace & Love movement, an active non-profit organization his family founded, focused on educating the public about the epidemic of crime and violence that has affected everyone. He helps to offer hope, set community goals and provide resources that can assist anyone in coping with and ending violence, whether they are victims or aggressors. Peace & Love is the alternative, and its power can heal the wounds caused by violence and prevent them from being repeated. Daniel’s biggest strength is his ability to personally connect with almost anyone regardless of their background or education, he prides himself in being a connector of people, thoughts and ideas. Through community involvement and by actually walking the walk in his daily life, Daniel is prepared to take his influence to even higher levels of success and hopes that one day the world will be ruled by Peace & Love.

Cassie Gibson

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

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FLY LADY DI - 2 DAY DANCE WORKSHOP FUNDRAISER