Happy New Year!

As we celebrate January, National Mentoring Month, Raising Expectations Inc. recognizes the need for more role models and mentors in our communities especially in our arts/media community. With so many negative messages hitting the airwaves, the call for consciousness and respect in our artistic creations is developing in an underground movement. And R.E. is positioning itself to be at the vanguard of this movement here in DC with youth arts activists.

In retrospect, R.E. has had a wonderful start to our Fall/Winter 2006-2007 season of arts enrichment programs and activities. Kicking off with a Youth Open Mic at Phish Tea Café and a Howard University Sculpture Studio workshop, R.E. engaged young people in the community and provided them outlets for creative expression.

We continued to provide cultural and eye-opening exposures to youth and young adults in the DC-metropolitan area through our Prison Arts Gallery visit and Voice Lessons workshops. Demands for a second series of previous workshops have already been requested by the community at large. In collaboration with DC Idols Hands program and Java & Cream coffeehouse in Ward 4, we finished the 2006 year with a delightful community talent show and dinner at our 1st Annual ?Holiday Karaoke Jam.?

As we raise the expectations levels for community beautification and pride in the nation?s capital city, R.E. plans to fulfill our mission and offer more opportunities for greater self-awareness, cultural integrity, and discipline through education in the arts. The 2007 New Year awaits many innovative community projects, after-school arts workshops, and apprenticeships for young people. We hope you enjoy this Year-in-Review issue of the RaisingS.T.A.R.S e-newsletter, which is also filled with other arts announcements, grant applications, arts books to read, and more!

Please do join R.E.?s membership today, receive discounts, and keep up to date with our weekly arts enrichment programs. Registration is simple online at www.RaisingExpectationsDC.org. Wishing you a prosperous New Year!

Best Always,

Abeo F. Anderson

>From the most recent event, here is a review and highlight of R.E.'s 2006 activities contributing to the creative and analytical growth of youth and young adults. Be sure to check online for 2007 events and register to participate by contacting us at info@raisingexpectationsdc.org.

"A Holiday Karaoke Jam" Party - Dec. 15th

Raising Expectations Inc., in collaboration with the DC Idol Hands Program, hosted its 1st Annual "Holiday Karaoke Jam" at a Ward 4 neighborhood coffeehouse, Java & Cream, located at 5522 Georgia Avenue, NW, between Longfellow and Kennedy Streets. Mother with children, brother and sister duos, and groups of Girl Scouts all took their turn to perform in front of the live audience of nearly 50 people at Java & Cream coffeehouse. Owner, Harry Gough, even joined in the karaoke sing-along! While they performed, community members ate delicious Salvadoran/Mexican food provided by another Ward 4 business and community restaurant, Sabor Catering Café located at 6209 Georgia Avenue, NW. Many thanks to Carlos Gutierrez, Sabor Catering Café manager, and Mr. Gough, Java & Cream owner, for supporting Raising Expectations Inc. in this holiday event. R.E.'s Executive Director, Ms. Abeo Anderson, said that this event was "an opportunity for young people and adults alike to come out and enjoy themselves, letting go of their fears with a fun activity like karaoke." In regards to choosing the location for the holiday party, Ms. Anderson went on to say that "having this event at a fairly new, community coffeehouse would help generate outside interest in the need for more retail diversity along the upper Georgia Avenue corridor."

Special thanks to our co-sponsors who made prize and cash donations to our 1st Annual Holiday Party: ROC North, 4th District Police Station, 3rd District Police Substation, Midnight Delicatessen, Kwik Stop Store, 3 Way Liquors, Colony Liquors, Touch of Class Clothing Store, Georgia Avenue Convenient Store, Planet Chocolate City Clothing Store, PureBliss Day Spa, Darrell's Unisex, Value Furniture & Mattress, Easy Buy Furniture & Mattress Company, Express Car Wash, #1 Beauty Supply, Ana's Deli & Carryout, Dollar Plus Store, Washington Auto Sale, Georgia Avenue Amoco, Rite Aid and many more!

Voice Lessons Workshop - Dec. 9th

Youth met briefly with Afi, a Howard University musical theatre graduate who began performing at the age of two in traditional African dance. She soon incorporated singing, drama, and other forms of dance into her repertoire. Afi's craft was cultivated through pre-eminent programs such as The Children's Urban Arts ensemble (CUE), DC Youth Ensemble, and the Kankouran West African Dance Company. Like Eryka Badu and Jill Scott before her, Afi is the latest in a line of talented "nu soul" artists emerging from the underground, singing… as well as penning… tunes worthy of their soul heritage. Hailing from Washington, DC, Afi is the definition of a true "Soul Sista." Check out Afi's website at http://www.afisoul.com and support her debut album "Lovely" and the hit single "Baby it's Cold Outside." A more extensive workshop with Afi is being planned for the spring of 2007.

Prisons Gallery of Art Visit and Tour - Nov. 18th

R.E. welcomed a family of participants to the Prisons Foundation's "Prisons Gallery of Art." The Prisons Foundation, which supports the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration, opened its gallery to the R.E. group with special works of interest to youth and young adults. Displayed in one of their D.C. offices, the work of incarcerated individuals from across the United States captivated and overwhelmed the visitors. Prisons Foundation tour guide and wife of ex-prisoner, Mrs. Carolyn Sobin, shared the history of each prisoner, answered questions, and further explained the artist's work and style. Each piece was so unique that Sobin could identify the prisoner artists' works by their signature techniques.

Using acrylic, pastels, paints, or pencil for sketching, each art work represented the artists inner thoughts and emotions, such as injustice in America, a revered singer, a lost love, and more. Some pieces, however, were more abstract displaying a multitude of colors or lines and shapes that artistically healed and sheltered the prisoner's inner soul from the cold, bleak walls of prison. With approximately 1,000 pieces of artwork from prisoners nationwide, the new Prisons Gallery of Art is planning several upcoming Arts and Crafts shows.

"Learning to Sculpt" Sculpture Studio Visit - Nov. 11th

Raising Expectations Inc. welcomed a group of 10 young people to participate in the "Learning to Sculpt" workshop with Afro-centric artist and native Washingtonian, Akili Ron Anderson. As the students entered the studio, they were amazed by the various artwork of other artists also occupying the large studio space of Howard University's School of Sculpture building on Sherman Avenue. From the outside, the space seems small, but once you step inside, you feel tiny as the tall wooden sculptures created by Akili Ron Anderson look out at you.

Akili expressed a sense of pride in his ability to create his own work and encouraged the youth to work to discover their own "gift" and God-given talents. Much like a mentor, Anderson spoke frankly with young people about the challenges of developing their unique artistic gift and the need to continue refining that gift. To his surprise and delight, many of the students had unique interpretations of his abstract sculptures. Anderson welcomed their comments and emphasized that the beauty of art is how it allows for different interpretations of the same piece of work.

After asking students what their imagination told them about his artwork, Anderson explained the symbolism and meanings behind certain shapes and angles used in his sculptures. Youth listened attentively to his explanations of the art-making and sculpting process from his inner mind to the outer world in the form of his sculptures. Afterwards, youth participants were shown around the sculpture studio and actually saw how Anderson's large artworks are shaped using machinery to carve pieces of wood.

"Express Yourself" Youth Spoken Word/Open Mic - Nov. 3rd

At Phish Tea Café (1335 H Street, NE), Raising Expectations Inc. (R.E.) and The Fountain of Truth hosted for the first time together "Express Yourself," a Youth Open Mic/Spoken Word event. Beginning with a youth segment, the evening would become a packed house of people enjoying young writers, poets, singers, and more from all walks of life. R.E. Founder/CEO, Ms. Abeo Anderson, warmed up the mic with one of her very own poems, "They Say Chivalry is Dead," which discussed the need for greater love, understanding, and communication in our relationships. Event co-host and founder of The Fountain of Truth, Joseph Briggs, also gave his signature poem, "Truth." Immediately afterwards, the event's sign-up list began to fill as mic legends, and also on-the-spot poets, graced the mic with their inspirational messages to youth.

One of R.E.'s own Youth Liaisons, Christon "Christylez" Bacon, along with his group, Tri- Flavor, serenaded the microphone with their clever lyrics, instrumental talents, beat-boxing sounds, and more! The diverse audience grooved to performances all night long and tapped their feet to the soulfully delightful sounds of female songstresses/spoken word artists, such as "Reign" of Reign Productions, Shea Butterfly, and Deborjah, just to name a few.

In between the open mic/spoken word, time was given for a "Mingling session" whereby all the guests were invited and encouraged to get to know others in the audience. Everyone at this event was inspired and glad to have witnessed such an engaging, innovative Youth Open Mic/Spoken Word with talented D.C. youth and young adults. We plan to have more open mics around the city at our local restaurants and businesses in the New Year.

While the president sleeps serenely in his White House bed, 14,000 people sleep on the streets of our nation's capitol. Thousands of youth and adults signed up to walk with the Hip Hop Caucus in the annual Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless Walk-a-Thon" on November 18th. Donation of $15 to $25 helped the homeless of DC. In 2005, Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Program raised a record-breaking $7.8 million to benefit 178 Washington metropolitan area homeless service providers working to prevent and end homelessness. The funds were raised through the Help the Homeless Walkathon, mini-walks, and other related activities, which in total drew approximately 110,000 participants. In addition, the Fannie Mae Foundation enlisted more than 300 sponsoring partners, which helped raise funds and recruit walkers for the Walkathon and the more than 600 mini-walks. Since its inception in 1988, the Help the Homeless Program has grown into the largest funding collaborative focused on homelessness in Washington, D.C., and in the nation. To date, more than $54.5 million has been raised through the Help the Homeless Program.

Hip Hop Helping the Homeless is a program of the Hip Hop Caucus Institute (link to www.hhci.org) which assists homeless people of the District of Columbia. Hip Hop Helping the Homeless targets homeless people who are often overlooked by groups assisting the homeless. By going to abandoned homes, under bridges, bus depots, and other out of the way sites Hip Hop Helping the Homeless reaches out to the homeless who are sometimes not seen. Volunteers will go to these areas and provide food and clothing to people who do not necessarily want to go to a shelter.

Hip Hop Helping the Homeless recognizes the need to engage young people because they are a vital source of vision and energy to any movement for progressive change. Hip Hop Helping the Homeless exists to provide young people with the training and tools necessary to effectively develop and manage local, and social, hunger and homeless campaigns. By equipping members with data, research models, messaging, and training, we will empower young people from the community to utilize its voice to improve and empower their communities and become effective and dynamic agents to end homelessness and hunger.

Hip Hop Helping the Homeless long-term objectives are:

•   Empower the youth community through civic engagement and educational outreach programs in an effort to end hunger and homelessness.

•   Create a farm team of young American leaders with the skills and knowledge to empower themselves and their community to end hunger and homelessness.

•   Amplify the voice of homeless people in the media

•   Provide an infrastructure to organize the community around issues of hunger and homelessness

Hip Hop Helping the Homeless can provide the information, leadership and organizing training, technical assistance, and support networks to make these effective "change agents" an empowered force in their community, their state and, indeed, the nation.

To get involved with Hip Hop Helping the Homeless, in either DC or your own community, please E-mail us at info@hhci.org or write to: Hip Hop Caucus Institute, 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 (Phone: 202/787 5256 or Fax: 202/ 387 7915).

Xmas Winter Wonderland - Dec. 17th (DC Idols Hands Program)

In collaboration with Stop the Violence Keep the Peace organizations, DC Idol Hands Program organized a Christmas toy giveaway and Santa visits out in the community on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in December. A block long line of kids with their parents waited for their turn to receive gifts and talk with Santa. Music was provided in the busy 14th and Otis Street intersection in the heart of the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Different ethnic groups came together to spread holiday cheer and welcome a wonderful season of peace, love, and understanding. Metropolitan Police officers were on sight to help and ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday event for the young people in our city.

Annual Holiday Soiree & Silent Auction - Dec 10th (Powerful Beyond Measure)

This fundraiser dinner event held at La Tasca restaurant in the Verizon Center/Gallery Place/Chinatown area had a wonderful turnout for a great cause. Cardinal Bank graciously sponsored this event with co-hosts and radio personalities, Herkules of WKYS 93.9 and Vanniece Johnson of Smooth Jazz 105.9! The items for auction included spa packages, BET packages, autographed items, dinner show tickets, getaway weekend trips, and more! All of which would benefit the activities and goals of R.E.'s Advisory Council member, Tracy Press and her new non-profit organization, Powerful Beyond Measure (PBM).

Powerful Beyond Measure officially launched the C.A.P.E. League, its first program on July 22nd of this year. Through grassroots marketing, word of mouth and partnerships with other social service programs, the organization took in 30 members - with 20 young people on a waiting list. The 'League' is a year-round program designed to provide a plethora of resources for the many urban youth who are interested in the entertainment, media and arts industries. It targets children from urban communities who cannot ordinarily afford camps, specialized extra-curricular activities or enrichment programs. Similar to Raising Expectations Inc., the League is unique in its efforts to not only expose its members to the artistic and business sides of various entertainment fields, but is also committed to developing them in a variety of other key life areas.

Crescent Moon Nights - Dec. 2nd (Crescent Moon Movement)

Crescent Moon Nights is an Open Mic session currently held once a month. Crescent Moon Nights is not just one evening though, it's a Movement! The event organizer's say, "We feel that providing for the needs of the community is a God given responsibility placed on the shoulders of every able person on this earth. In light of this, part of the goal of the Crescent Moon Movement is to bring forth visible change inside as well as outside the Muslim Community of the DC Metro area. It is our desire to assist any worthy cause that presents itself to us."

Crescent Moon Nights is located at Mocha Hut on 14th and U Streets, NW - a convenient and nicely-sized space for conscious lyrics, spoken word, and poetry. In fact, R.E.'s own CEO/Founder, Abeo Anderson, performed a few of her poems at this event. New Advisory Council member of R.E., Nusaiba (www.legacythealbum.com), performed hit singles from her debut CD at this event as well. Crescent Moon Nights serves a three-fold purpose: 1) To allow aspiring artists a place to showcase their talent in front of a supportive, warm crowd; 2) To provide a place where people can relax, mingle and be entertained by local talent in a positive atmosphere; and 3) To raise funds to support local charities and community projects.

CM Movement in currently in negotiations with the Remarkable Current record label to put on a benefit concert to raise money for the MECCA Center, a community center designed to fulfill the needs of the students and residents of the Howard community area. They are also reaching out to Common and Mos Def to either headline the concert of make a guest appearance. The concert is scheduled to take place in April of 2007.

Mic Check! One Two…One Two! - Music Studio Workshop sponsored by Raising Expectations

Raising Expectations Inc. brings to you a hands-on music learning workshop with DC's Bomani "D-Mite" Armah. The activities will include creative writing exercises, an introductory understanding of the song recording process, audio engineering, and production as a career option. Participants will also create their own lyrics and record them over a popular beat! So get ready!

Nusaiba releases The Legacy Album

New R.E. Advisory Council member and recording/performing artist, Nusaiba, released her debut album, "Legacy: the Album" (www.legacythealbum.com) during the Summer of 2006 and has been very successful. The album features the hits singles - "Mother," "RuffDrama," "Love Yourself," and "Better Days." Nusaiba has performed in several venues in Washington DC and Atlanta and will continue to spread empowerment and healing through her music and way of life. Poets & Painters

To kick the 2007 year off with a BANG, the ultimate creative fusion (Poets & Painters) & the ultimate networking fete (Caribbean Riddimz) come together in the ULTIMATE COLLABORATION!!! On Saturday Jan 13, 2007 at 8:00 PM, Mayorga Coffee Factory (8040 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910) will host Poets & Painters & Caribbean Riddimz, who will set the stage for business collaboration and combine events for the month of January to bring you RHYME, RIDDIMZ, and RADICAL THOUGHT!!! Cover charge $15 ($10 in advance).

The artist lineup is unbelievable...Green Tea, E Baby, Rebecca Dupas, Rhyme Cypha, Lady Flame, NFerno, Cherry Poet and Loriel Starr take the stage accompanied by Kwalo & Blended Soul! When it's all done...DON'T LEAVE....we'll be partying the night away Caribbean style with the music of Mystic Vibes!

Hosted by BET's Denny LIVE & Peppy of Caribbean RIDDIMZ, Poets & Painters: Rhyme, Riddimz, and Radical Thought combines two incredibly hot events to create a night you won't soon forget.

Black Side Inc's Eyes on the Prize

Blackside, Inc. is a minority-owned documentary film production company based in Boston, MA, with the aim of raising consciousness about America's social progress and history. It was founded in 1968 by Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, Henry Hampton (1940-1998), Executive Producer and creator of the landmark Civil Rights documentary series,* Eyes on the Prize*. Blackside has produced more than 60 films and media projects, and is renowned for shaping the human stories behind the history into compelling films that inspire dialogue on the social and political issues at the core of American life. Contact Information: 46 Plympton St., Boston MA 02118-2425, United States (617)482-2195, (617)536-1732 fax. For link to PBS film, click here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/index.html

The Verizon Tech Savvy Awards. Verizon Foundation and the National Center for Family Literacy recognize programs that demystify technology for families and enable parents to better guide their children in the use of technology for the purpose of learning. This awards program is designed to assist organizations to incorporate information communications technology literacy as a component and enhancement of literacy. Eligible nominees include grassroots, community-based nonprofit organizations, libraries, and schools. The deadline for applications is January 12, 2007. For further information, go to:
http://www.famlit.org/site/c.gtJWJdMQIsE/b.2180327/k.5E33/Verizon_Tech_Savvy_Awards.htm.

Youth Service Fund to Support Youth-Led Community Projects in Metro DC Area. Capital One and Youth Services America announce funds to support youth-led service projects in low/moderate income communities. Grants support youth (ages 5-25), teachers, youth leaders, youth-serving organizations, or organizations that engage in implementing service projects for National & Global Youth Service Day, April 20-22, 2007. Projects can address themes such as the environment, disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education, hunger, literacy, and any issues that youth identify as a community need. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, nonprofits, and faith- and community-based organizations. The deadline for applications is January 26, 2007. Awards up to $500 are available. For further information, contact Capital One at CapitalOne@ysa.org; or go to: http://www.ysa.org/awards/award_grant.cfm#nowavailable. GrantID: GD1651

To commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th) and the First Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Postal Administration is pleased to announce…

AN ART COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN TO DESIGN
A UN STAMP ON THE THEME 'WE CAN END POVERTY'
RULES OF THE COMPETITION

Who can participate? Children from all around the world from age 5 to 15 years.

Requirements for entry The entry should be made on paper or canvas A4 size or comparable. You may use ink, pencil, charcoal, crayon, water colour, marker, or any material that you might have available in your environment. Each design should be accompanied by a brief description of its meaning on the back of the entry. Please do not frame the art work.

Personal information On the back of each entry please provide the following information:

1. Your full name	5. Country
2. Age	6. Telephone number, fax number and e-mail address (if available)
3. Gender	7. Any other useful contact information
4. Full address

Selection of designs The 6 best designs will be announced by the United Nations during the commemoration of the International Day on the Eradication of Poverty in October 17, 2007. These 6 best designs will be issues as stamps by the United Nations Postal Administration. In addition, 20 other designs will be awarded special commendations. All 26 designs will be displayed in a special exhibition at the United Nations in 2007.

Judging A Panel of Judges composed of members from the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development, the United Nations Department for Public Information and the United Nations Postal Administration will decide on the selection of winning entries.

Criteria for evaluation of entries Artistic expression, how well the design expresses the theme of the competition.

Deadline Please send the design, with entry form, as soon as possible, but no later than June 30 2007 to the following address: Community Improvement. Citigroup Foundation supports organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses grow, and communities prosper. The Foundation has established the following programmatic guidelines for its strategic philanthropy: Financial Education; Educating the Next Generation; and Building Communities and Entrepreneurs. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations. There is no deadline date for applications. For further information, go to: GrantID: GD1653

Improving the Lives of Children. The Herbalife Family Foundation supports organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children. The Foundation's areas of focus include: improving nutrition; supporting children and families; providing early intervention; correcting problem behavior and enhancing self-esteem; preventing substance abuse; preventing physical/emotional abuse; creating better home environments; and/or promoting physical/emotional health. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations. There is no deadline date for applications. For further information, go to: http://www.herbalifefamily.org/our_guidelines.html. GrantID: GD1652

Online Community. The Foundation Center created Philanthropy News Digest message boards to facilitate the sharing of opinions, insights, and questions related to the changing field of philanthropy. There are two boards: ArtsTalk - for information on the funding environment in the arts; and PND Talk - for more general discussions on the field of philanthropy. For further information, go to: http://members5.boardhost.com/ARTStalk/; http://members4.boardhost.com/PNDtalk/; or http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/posting.jhtml.

Creative Therapy: 52 Exercises for Group
By Dossick and Shea

Choices: A Teen Woman's Journal
By Bingham, Edmondson, and Stryker

Ophelia Speaks
By Shandler

The Kids Guide to Service Project
By Barbara Lewis

Brave New Girls
By Jeanette Gadeberg

The Beauty Myth
By Naomi Wolf

Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice
http://www.nae4ha.org/directory/jyd/index.html

Relationships Matter: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Youth and Adults Working Together as Partners
By Kenneth R. Jones

Experiential Learning: A Process forTeaching Youth Entrepreneurship
By Karen Biers, Christine Jensen, and Ellen Serfustini

Rethinking Concept Mapping for Youth Participatory Evaluation in the Context of Youth Development Programs
By Jennifer Southwick Brown

Findings from Five Out-of-School Time Focus Groups: Professional Development Preferences, Experiences and Recommendations for Future Planning
By Jennifer Buher-Kane, Nancy Peter, Stacy Olitsk, and Susan Kinnevy

America's Child Care Crisis: A Crime Prevention Tragedy
By FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, January 2000, 2nd edition

When children don't get the right start in life, all of us are endangered. Good school readiness child care is one of our most powerful weapons against crime, while poor quality child care multiplies the risk that children will grow up to be a threat to every American family. Yet millions of eligible children are missing out on the help they need to get that right start in life. This report isn't about ideology or philosophy; it's about facts. Like other Americans, crime fighters and academic researchers hold a range of views on whether it would be desirable for more parents to leave the workforce to stay home with their children. The fact is most parents are working, and their children are in some form of child care. Their tender minds and emotions are being powerfully shaped by the quality of that care. The issue for law enforcement is whether the care the children receive while their parents are working will be good enough to help the kids get a good start in life, or whether it will be care that damages their development and ultimately endangers the public safety.

This Month's Feature websites (NEW!!)

www.theadinkragroup.com - The Adinkra Group (TAG) is a community resource company based in Washington, DC. TAG's mission is to promote and support businesses, organizations, schools, artists, programs and events that contribute to the progressive development of the African American national community with Washington, DC as the nucleus. TAG's vision is to create a solid network of individuals, families, communities and businesses throughout the African Diaspora who are committed to redefine and reshape our collective existence to one of realistic harmony, economic self-sufficiency, reciprocal support, collective responsibility and individual accountability. TAG's commitment is to establish productive, flexible relationships and sustain those relationships at the highest level. We do not believe in customers, rather, partners who are committed to working together to assist each other grow and develop.

www.nicharts.org - Nich Cultural Arts, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing outlets and venues of cultural and artistic energies for peoples of Afrikan descent as well as providing international outreach to at risk children and families.

www.ecafellc.com - The Entrepreneur Café, LLC is a premiere provider of small business education information, consulting services, products, and business development resources geared toward new and expanding businesses, especially targeted to youth entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur Café is your complete resource for business planning and development. Based on the work and curriculum of the non-profit organization, Young Entrepreneurs Program

http://eu.staying-alive.org/48fest/media.html - A project that MTV organized called the "48 Fest" was discussed. The 48 fest brought together 48 young adults from 31 countries who were separated into to 6 groups. Each group had to make a 3 minute video about different HIV/AIDs issues in only 48 hours. The films were written and directed by the young adults and managed by one professional adult. See this link to view the videos.

www.farafinakan.com - Farafina Kan literally translates to the sound of Africa. We are a professional performing arts company dedicated to maintaining the history and integrity of traditional African drumming and dancing. Under the tutelage of international performing arts legends, Farafina Kan seeks to sustain the work initiated by these legends through professionalism, artistry, continual learning and proactive intergenerational transmission of African culture through music and movement. Farafina Kan is a family! We are comprised of young African-American artists who have been reared in various other dance companies including but not limited to Memory of African Culture, Sankofa Dance Theatre, Kankouran West African Dance Company, Dono Drum and Dance Ensemble, Maimouna Keita West African Dance Company, and Wose Dance Theatre. We are eternally grateful to our parents for having the foresight to search for the traditions of our ancestors and the many elders who have and continue to pave the way for us to do what we do today.

www.fusicology.com - FUSICOLOGY is a multifaceted media entity and national promotional vehicle for reaching trendsetting, multicultural, urban young adults. The group specializes in providing relevant information for the early adopters and the musically forward. A production company focused on strategic marketing, Internet, media & design using street-level and online PR and newsletters, FUSICOLOGY.com has built a strong and growing readership worldwide. FUSICOLOGY provides event marketing and production opportunities, working with an extensive list of brands, artists, venues and promoters creating lasting relationships.