The reImagining Speaks: Model #25 Melissa Mendez

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Hi my name is Melissa, I want to be known as someone who is hard working, Intelligent and Strong willed to say the least. I am human and neither my hair nor race will define me! Let my efforts and abilities shine through. Founder of The Bronx Naturals LLC An All Natural Soy Candle Company.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #50 LaTonia Phipps

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Solo Artist. Writer. And New York Times and New York Post Reviewed actress. Phipps is a woman in charge of her career having created her very own solo show infusing 27 characters and slam poetry. Following a young actress turned writer who finds herself through the spirit of her deceased mother. Phipps is gearing up for a 2013 college tour of this show. More info below. She will also be premiering her new project entitled, "She Who Struggles," a one act that follows two woman (one black the other white) as the tackle the issues of Gentrified harlem through love and poetry. Twitter: @latoniaphipps Facebook: Latonia Phipps (Like and stay updated on upcoming shows) Website: www.latoniaphipps.com

The reImagining Speaks: Model #14 Wendy Petties

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

 

 

Wendy Petties, Native New Yorker, and powerful hot pink woman is the Founder and Owner of Simmer, LLC. a relationship and sex coaching practice based in NYC.  An advocate of pleasure and free choice she is concerned with the way Black women's sexuality is portrayed in the media and in our own minds.   In both cases Black women are seen as either hoes or just shy of nuns and through her work she certainly has seen all types of women along that spectrum.   Visit Simmer, LLC on Facebook to learn more or reach Wendy.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #11 Francina Connors

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

The reImagining Speaks: Model #13 Dionne Grayman

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Dionne Grayman. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Educator. Blogger. Conversation Starter. Community Engagement Specialist. Co-Founder, Mothers Empowered. Chief Creative Officer, Power Mama Academy. Helping women to embrace the potential of who they can become by celebrating who they already are. The Movement is Mother'Hood Power-Full. Twitter: @MEmpowered

The reImagining Speaks: Model #32 Jeniere Bailey

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Jeniere Danyelle Bailey is a healer-intuitive, entrepreneur, stand-up comic looking to be a catalyst for change and inspiration in not only in her community but the world at large. In 2013 she will be debuting an natural spa/skincare line containing exotic ingredients sourced from Africa, Central America & South America. She is hoping the reImagining project will inspire and create a platform to discuss the problems of  racial/ethnic stereotypes in the media and how to heal from the burden.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #47 Chicava HoneyChild

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Chicava HoneyChild is a burlesque danseur, actor and producer.  She is the Creative Producer of New York City's Brown Girls Burlesque and teacher at BGB's Broad Squad. She received her MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College her areas of interest being performance art, women of color in burlesque heritage, and sacred sexuality and spirituality. She is currently working on a documentary on the legacy of Women of Color in burlesque. www.chicavahoneychild.com and www.browngirlsburlesque.com

The reImagining Speaks: Model #48 Bianca Bernardez

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

The reImagining Speaks: Model #1 Ayana Case

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Ayana is a young "rock star" recruiter forging  a career within human resources.  While trying to "fool folks" with her so called "non traditional corporate" appearance she is quietly organizing her future HR consulting firm.  In the mean and in between time she is supporting dynamic productions like the reImagining project and blogging here and there for one of the coolest, independent artistic sites, societyhae.com.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #22 Ameria Lennard

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 The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

 

Ameria is a writer/poet, an open spirit, educator and is in the process of starting her own tutoring and editing papers  business. Ameria is defined by her mind and experiences and continues to take a path of growth, learning and positivity. In this light she knows the need and significance of dialogue as a transformative tool to change. She is also looking to capture the love within people through her small photography project: Intimacy (a 3 part series). You can follow her tweets @trinipoetess or look her up on Facebook if you would like to learn more about her various moving ventures.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #46 Noelle Barnes

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Noelle K. Barnes is a writer, multi-faceted media and marketing professional, and proud supporter of the reImagining. She specializes in building new media based communication strategies for small businesses, artists, filmmakers, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. Through Abstract Marketing, Noelle empowers new voices and fresh brands beyond the mainstream. Connect with Noelle at www.ThisIsAbstract.com or @ThisIsAbstract.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #3 Tiffani Stevens

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Life has been a twisted spiral coaster for me, from radio broadcasting to music production now bar instructor.  You name it, I've probably done it (explains the name Joat - Jack of all trades).  In all of that, finding myself and becoming one with the acceptance of enjoying who I am, I must say I'm a motivator, a thinker, an innovator, a listener, and to shorten the list, many times misunderstood.  Growing up I always considered myself to be different, you know, out of the box.  I spoke a language that many of my friends couldn't even understand because I was so open to possibilities, wisdom, and growth.  I'm not much of a talker, but I will say I'm worth the time to get to know, but not everyone is ready for this experience.  I wasn't always ready for my experience, but I am now.  With that said, please check out my future.  Its been a long process, but as a puzzle, its coming together piece by piece.  You can check out some of my ventures on facebook at www.facebook.com/artsextherapy or www.artsextherapy.blogspot.com. Tah Tah!

The reImagining Speaks: Model #60 Ebony Williams

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:  

My name is Ebony Williams. I am a Black woman. I consider myself a quiet storm. I work extremely hard to be the best person that I can be and I make sure that I position myself towards the top. I am considered a very serious person; however, I'm driven. I tutor in my spare time and try to be a role model to my students when I'm not working in the magical land of healthcare IT.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #9 Abigail Ekue

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Abigail Ekue is a writer and photographer. Her work focuses on the human experience. She is the author of the short story collection, The Darker Side of Lust. With a degree in Sports Sciences, her non-fiction focuses on health, fitness, nutrition, body image, sex and relationships. She also uses her photography to promote a positive body image - both as photographer and model. Abigail Ekue, writer, photographer, artist, provocateur.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #29 Real Hamilton-Romeo

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Réal Hamilton-Romeo has it all – beauty and brains. This young professional consistently defies the odds; try to put her in a “box” and you can’t because this multi-hyphenate’s talents range from writing for www.BeyondBlackBeauty.com to developing internal communications strategies for a major airline and teaching college students about the PR profession … and so much more. Her PR and marketing talents have touched several industries, including lifestyle, travel, fashion, entertainment, business, beauty, finance and real estate. Réal is a busy lady, but she still finds time for the things that matter – friends and family, especially her daughter. Réal earned her Bachelors and Master’s degrees with honors in Communications Studies from The College of New Rochelle and currently resides in New York City. www.realhamiltonromeo.com | @RealisMyName

The reImagining Speaks: Model #44 Majella Mark

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The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Majella Mark is a 25 year old, MBA student working in the publishing industry in New York City. She has spent time conducting charity work for numerous organization such as the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society and the Thornhill Community Supportive Services. She hopes to earn her PhD in culture impacting media within developing non Western nations and help the media appreciate cultural differences in a subjective manner. She spends a good bit of her time volunteering and engaging in artistic expression through drawing and painting. Majella hopes to put her dent in the world in a unique way.

I Want to Be Evil....well really I just wanted to start blogging again......

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Well hello again! I am back and ready to blog! I had to take a moment out to get through a few projects, but I have been itching to get back to Brown in the City. I wanted to have a bit of fun for my return to blogging. I could not think of a more appropriate return than a heartfelt thanks to the late great Eartha Kitt and her amazing rendition of the song I Want to be Evil. The first time I heard this song, I had to remind myself to keep breathing! First of all, Eartha Kitt was a brilliant songstress, the things she could get her voice to do are unparalleled! But, what really got to me was her ability to capture both the frustration with, and the rebellion against, an identity that was put upon her. She was not going to be constrained by the identity that the world was trying to shoehorn her into, oh no, she was rebelling and taking the world down with her! Eartha was somehow able to crawl into that song and tell the stories of all the women who were itching to cast off the identities that clouded their true selves. I have to say I love the above video in all it’s campiness, but seek out the recordings where she sings the more soul version that cuts right to through me every time I hear it. It allows me to remember that I can be anyone I want to be, that I can choose my own identity. She tells the tale of a woman chaffing against an identity put upon her by others. Imagine what it is like to be trapped so tightly in your skin that you long to rebel against the image everyone sees. To want to take that image and destroy it so thoroughly that you come out the other side as your polar opposite. Yes, Eartha was swimming in hyperbole, but she was making a point. She would rather be what society deems the worst of the worst, than continue living in the constraints put upon her by that society. Thus I tip my hat to Madame Kitt. When your life’s work is to be constantly challenging society’s preconceived notions of race and gender it is utterly refreshing to have Eartha’s talent as your soundtrack for the struggle.