Leslie Bumstead is a poet, writer, and teaching artist in Maryland and DC. She currently teaches creative writing workshops for incarcerated adults in several Maryland prisons, poetry to non-speaking autistic teens and young adults, and literature, composition and creative writing to teens at community art space Rhizome DC. She co-creates distance-learning arts curricula for incarcerated people with artist Carien Quiroga. Her collection of poems, Cipher/Civilian, was published by Edge Books in 2005.
I am an artist, metalsmith, bookbinder, and printmaker. I have been making things my whole life and enjoy sharing what I learn with other people especially including hands-on components!
As an Author, Illustrator, Muralist, Doll Artist, Puppeteer, and Master Teaching Artist, Danyett Tucker has over 15 years of experience cultivating joyful learning environments for multi-generations of learners. Dedicated community artist that is passionate about using visual storytelling techniques to support mental health awareness, embrace strength through adversity, and to help build a more equitable and inclusive society for Everyone!
Smita is a lover of movement and enjoys sharing with others her passion for dance.
She began learning and performing Indian folk dance at the age of 5. Smita teaches Indian folk dance (Bhangra, Garba, and Dandiya Raas), Bollywood dance, Creative Dance for Kids, and Nia (a holistic cardio-dance movement class that combines modern dance arts, martial arts and healing arts).
Rebecca Crouch is a Chicago native who discovered her natural born aptitude for art as a child. Growing up with her mother, artist Dianne Crouch, Rebecca was immersed in the world of art from an early age. She went on to study at Howard University in Washington DC, where she majored in Mathematics but kept her artistic talent close to her heart.
I am an interdisciplinary and mixed media artist who combines visual art, technology and social activism to raise public awareness and inspire social change. This juxtaposition of various mediums allows me to artistically convey complex concepts through the poetics of hybrid imagery that prompt deep reflection and inspire curiosity and thought. Either by constructing narratives or creating artwork that expresses my personal opinions, I invite viewers to reflect, connect, heal, elevate, and be radically inspired towards positive, real-world action.
Saz's expertise rests in providing creative breakthroughs with visual storytelling workshops and captivating keynotes on how everyone is creative. Most commonly, people are not inclined to view themselves as such, thus building barriers for innovative thinking. In response, Saz provides an impactful skillset for thinking differently by exposing techniques that allows one to feel confident and connected to a purpose that unearths an unstoppable creative edge.
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DuPont Brass is a unique, soulful, brass ensemble hailing from the DMV Metropolitan Area. Originally composed of five music majors from Howard University trying to raise money for tuition during the Christmas season, they have now grown to a 9-piece ensemble consisting of brass, a rhythm section, and vocalists. Gaining popularity from playing at local Metro stations, DuPont Brass started out professionally playing for weddings, banquets, and other private events in the surrounding area.
Involvement Theater programs have been used with Maryland County Office of Aging sites, preK-12 public & private schools, College & University Student Activities, after school and No Child Left Behind programs. The programs are adapted to the participating age level including special needs and at-risk populations. Residencies, teacher in-service, family/parenting programs, music song writing and creative drama workshops are also available. Please call for funding options.
Bomani Armah is a Hip Hop artist, writer, educator, and family man. Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland, Bomani's goal is to "Honor the Ancestors, Prepare the Descendants and Love Right Now." Bomani has released four Hip Hop albums, including "Bomani Armah is the Watermelon Man." He is best known for his 2007 viral crunk hit "Read a Book," which aired on BET's 106th & Park.