Wanda's Picks

1. Jason Mendez, Supremacy @ EXIT on Eddy through 5/18 1. Alma Robinson, Executive Director of California Lawyers for the Arts, expanded the organization in 1987 into a statewide agency with staff in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. In 2011, she began CLA's successful Arts in Corrections Initiative in collaboration with the William James Association to restore funding for California’s arts programs in prisons, which had been defunded in 2003. With support from the Art for Justice Fund, Alma produced a series of six Art for Justice Forums with co-conveners in Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, California and New York in 2018 while concluding a three-year project funded by the NEA that is demonstrating the benefits of arts programs in county jails throughout California.  CLA's third conference on Arts in Corrections will be presented in June,2019 at Santa Clara University. A graduate of Middlebury College and Stanford Law School, Alma was a founding board member of California A

1. Ahjamu Umi, joins us to talk about African Liberation Day 2019. He has been an organizer for the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party since 1984.  He has organized for the party on three continents and the Caribbean.  He has a Masters Degree in Econ/Political Science and he has authored/published four books including the recently released political thriller "The Paradox Principles." 2. We speak to Carol Leigh, founder and director and Jovelyn Richards re: Sex Workers Film Festival 20th Anniversary.  http://www.sexworkerfest.com/events.html Jovelyn D. Richards is an international performance artist, writer, film and theater director and radio host for Pacifica radio KPFA 94.1 3. Rene Marie interview from June 29, 2011 (excerpt). 4. Nambi E. Kelly's "Jazz" at MTC through Wed.-Sunday, May 19. She and C. Kelly Wright (Violet/Country Violet) join us to talk about the work.  

Rebroadcast May 1, 2019 Show: 1. Aminah Elsters, Family Unity Project Program Coordinator for LSPC, and joins us to talk about "Ain't I a Mother Too?"  May 10, 2019, 6-8 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Oakland. Register at this free event: https://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/2019/04/aint-i-a-mother-too/ 2. Lindsey Krumbein, founder, executive director, Gritty City Rep Youth Theatre re: The Taming of the Shrew, May 16-25 at the Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. She is joined by Nijzah Waterman, a junior at Envision Academy - a charter school in Downtown Oakland.  This is her 4th show with GCRep - she has been performing with us for 2 years. She plays Lucentia in this production of Taming. https://www.grittycityrep.org/ 3. Jason Mendez (Playwright) is a content creator, making his debut as a playwright with Supremacy, directed by Amanda Ortmayer at the EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St, SF, May 3 - May 18, 2018.  http://www.theexit.org/supremacy/ 4. Lisa Geduldig joins us to talk abo

Rebroadcast May 1, 2019 Show: 1. Aminah Elsters, Family Unity Project Program Coordinator for LSPC, and joins us to talk about "Ain't I a Mother Too?"  May 10, 2019, 6-8 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Oakland. Register at this free event: https://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/2019/04/aint-i-a-mother-too/ 2. Lindsey Krumbein, founder, executive director, Gritty City Rep Youth Theatre re: The Taming of the Shrew, May 16-25 at the Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. She is joined by Nijzah Waterman, a junior at Envision Academy - a charter school in Downtown Oakland.  This is her 4th show with GCRep - she has been performing with us for 2 years. She plays Lucentia in this production of Taming. https://www.grittycityrep.org/ 3. Jason Mendez (Playwright) is a content creator, making his debut as a playwright with Supremacy, directed by Amanda Ortmayer at the EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St, SF, May 3 - May 18, 2018.  http://www.theexit.org/supremacy/ 4. Lisa Geduldig joins us to talk abo

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!? 1. Aminah Elster re: "Ain't I A Mother Too: a mother without housing is a mother without her child," event, Friday, May 10, 2019 (Register for the free event: https://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/2019/04/aint-i-a-mother-too/) 2. F213 Writers and Artists Part 1 Lorraine Bonner  3. Steven Anthony Jones in "How I Learned What I Learned" at Ubuntu Theatre Project through Sunday, May 5, 2019 4. F213 continued Patricia Montgomery, artist, wit

1. Aminah Elsters, Family Unity Project Program Coordinator for LSPC, and joins us to talk about "Ain't I a Mother Too?"  May 10, 2019, 6-8 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Oakland. Register at this free event at eventbrite.  2. Lindsey Krumbein, founder, executive director, Gritty City Rep Youth Theatre re: The Taming of the Shrew, May 16-25 at the Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. She is joined by Nijzah Waterman, a junior at Envision Academy - a charter school in Downtown Oakland.  This is her 4th show with GCRep - she has been performing with us for 2 years. She plays Lucentia in this production of Taming.   3. Jason Mendez (Playwright) is a content creator, making his debut as a writer with The Exit. Jason knows the power of voice, striving to challenge and complicate social narratives by making space for un- and -underrepresented experiences. His written works range from commissioned readings for the San Francisco Olympians Festival to the graphic novels and has prev

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!?  1. Alexza Gipson's show Not So Strange Parallels, at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street in Oakland through Monday, April 29, 2019. 2. Dazié Grego-Sykes’s Nigga-Roo (daziegrego.com) month long residency at the EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy Street, San Francisco through Friday-Sat.,April 26-27; http://www.theexit.org/nigga-roo/ 415-673-3847 http://www.theexit.org 3. Dr. David Hardiman Sr. with special guest Joan Minor from Paris by way of SF

1. Jo Kreiter, Flyaway Productions, Laura Elaine Ellis, Executive Director of the African & African American Performing Arts Coalition (AAAPAC), Catalina "Caty" Palacios and Tanea Lunsford Lynx who are both members of Essie Justice to talk about The Wait Room, a site specific dance honoring women with incarcerated loved ones, April 19-20, April 24-25, April 26-27 at 1125 Market Street, a vacant lot opposite UN Plaza at Civic Center. 2. Howard Thurman Special with Rev. Liza Rankow & Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Nov. 8, 2010. Upcoming programs at OneLife 2/17 & 3/7, both at East Bay Church of Religious Science, 4130 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, California 94609. Don't forget to watch: Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story, dir. Martin Doblmeier, (http://journeyfilms.com/batw/) on Public Television's WORLD Channel this afternoon/evening, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. PT, Feb. 8. There are also local screenings on Feb. 9 and Feb. 12.  

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!? 1. Keith Josef Adkins rebroadcast, Apr. 17. He joins us to speak about his play on Dr. George Washington Carver: "Patron Saint of Plants." 2. Saabir Lockett: Special Projects Coordinator for EBASE, joins us to talk about the film "City Rising: The Informal Economy", screening at Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, Monday, April 22, 7 p.m. It is a free event. 3. Flyaway Productions World Premiere of Jo Kreiter's The Wait Room, part 1 of The Decarc

1. Rev. Harry Louis Williams II joins us to talk about "When the Struggle Is Real" (2019). Visit www.IAmOGRev.com 2. Arisika Razak RN, MPH is Professor Emerita, and former Chair of the Women’s Spirituality Program, at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She has served as CIIS Director of Diversity, and currently is a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland. For over twenty years she was an inner city midwife in the SF Bay Area, attending the births of women from over 70 countries. A regular contributor to books and journals, Arisika is also a dancer who has performed nationally and internationally for over thirty years; she has led healing and empowerment workshops for women for over 30 years and spiritual and movement workshops for beings of all genders for over two decades. Her film credits include Fire Eyes, the first full length feature film by an African woman on female genital cutting; and Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth where she is interviewed on Alice Walker's woman

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  1. Rennie Harris, choreographer, joins us to talk about his work, Lazarus, commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Cal-Performances for AAADT's 60th Anniversary (1958-2018). Program A, performed Tuesday, April 9 at 8pm and Saturday, April 13 at 8pm at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall, features the Bay Area premiere of hip hop dance pioneer Rennie Harris’ Lazarus (2018), inspired by the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey. The work is

1. Erik Lee and Latanya Tigner join us to talk about new work premiering at Dimensions Dance Theater this weekend: We Have Ourselves, April 5-6 at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts theatre. For tickets visit dimensionsdance.org or (510) 465-3363 2. Mazin Jamal, Professional Life and Leadership Coach, is the founder and director of Holistic Underground (2014), a community organization providing personal and professional development to leaders, creatives, and change agents. This weekend he is at MAPP performing as Tarawa with Seoulstice    3. Dr. David Campt, White Ally Toolkit designer, (@thedialogueguy) is a nationally renowned in the areas of civic engagement, dialogue and deliberation, and collaborative decisionmaking. Events 4. Shelley Davis Roberts  Lead Designer for “divine the darkeness”  Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Shelley Davis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and a Master of Architecture Degree from U.C. Berkeley.  Her multi-disciplinary int

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

1. Jessica Hicks is the Programs & Community Partnerships Manager at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, CA, joins us to talk about Tinkerfest, Sat., April 13.  2. Darryl V. Jones (LHT Acting Artistic Director) joins us to talk about A. Zell Williams's The Urban Retreat Mar. 22-Apr. 6 at the Burial Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton Street, SF, at the AAACC. Visit lhtsf.org 3. Michael Fried – In collaboration with Monday Night Playground, Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Planet Earth Arts & New Play Festival, joins us to talk about the 5th Annual event, Monday, April 1, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. artist talk), at Berkeley Rep. playground-sf.org/monday  4. Alice (Aziza) Jefferson, Artistic Director, Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble 2019 Spring Benefit, Sat., April 13, 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at deFremery Recreation Center, 1651 Adeline Street, Oakland www.BigPictureAnthems.com  

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  1. NATALYA SHOAF & DAZAUN SOLEYN, GRAHAM LUSTIG re: Black Choreographers Festival 2019; Oakland Ballet's upcoming Jazz Vistas (4/5-6 at Berkeley High School's Florence Schwimley Little Theater.) Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Call: 510-893-3132, info@oaklandballet.org, or visit www.oaklandballet.org 2. Encore conversation with Mariam Diakite, lead vocalist, percussionist, dancer and Erich Huffaker, Guitar, orchestrag

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  1. Leah Joki, No Joke Theatre at LAC-California State Prison, Lancaster, CA 2. L. Peter Calender, Director, Black Eagles by Leslie Lee at African American Shakespeare at the Marine's Memorial theatre Sat.-Sun., through March 31. Visit https://www.african-americanshakes.org/productions/black-eagles/ 3. Rebroadcast of interview with Devin Cunningham and Robert Thomas Simpson re: Black Eagles (Feb. 20, 2019).

1. Rev. Kamal Hassan, facilitator, OneLife Institutes' "Healing Black Lives": A special day of healing and renewal for people of African Descent" at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. https://www.onelifeinstitute.org/healing-black-lives. 2019 dates: Saturdays, March 16, June 8, Aug 17 & Dec 7  (9:30am-4:30pm) Kamal Hassan, OneLife Board Member & Spiritual Co-Director is also a spiritual leader, educator, and community servant. He currently serves as Pastor/Teaching Elder at the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond California, a position he has held since 2008. Before this call Reverend Hassan spent more than three decades as both a public and private school educator, community organizer and religious worker. Kamal is a founding member of both the New Afrikan People’s Organization and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. He has worked for social justice and Human Rights locally, nationally, and internationally. 2. Deborah Santana, editor, All the Women in My Family Sing (recorded 07.03.20

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  1. Cheryl Fabio has been working in documentary film since 1976. She attended Fisk University, (BA/Sociology/Photography); then Stanford/Communications/Documentary Film program. Then freelancing when eventually she became a producer/director bringing many projects to fruition for KTOP TV and other community-based organizations. She was Program Director at Black Filmmaker’s Hall of Fame, Inc. (Oakland, CA), she taught at City College of San Fra

1. Nicia De'Lovely, Oakland native, is an acclaimed published Poetess, Multifaceted Artist, Antichild molestation/ trafficking/ exploitation ARTivist, spirited Survivor and Entrepreneur. 2. Mariam Diakite –Lead Vocals, Percussion, Dance with Orchestra Gold and Erich Huffaker, guitar, multi-instrumentalist. They have a show 3/9 at Starry Plough & 3/29 an EP Party at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, both in Berkeley.  3. 25 Annual Collage des Africaines continues, 3/8-10, with a concert Sat. evening, 3/9. Naomi Gedo Diouf is the Artistic Director of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company. She is joined Mabiba Baegne, an internationally acclaimed dancer, dance teacher and choreographer of traditional and contemporary African Dance. 4. Transfers through March 23, Crowded Fire Theatre cast: Caleb Cabrera (Christofer Rodriguez), David Everett Moore (David DeSantos), Victor D. Ragdale (Clarence Matthews).     

1. We speak to Zachary Whelan, ED, Avary Project, and director, John Beck, to talk about Invisible Bars, the effects of mass incarceration on children. The hour-long documentary Invisible Bars is a rare look at families caught in generational cycles of imprisonment - and those who are determined to break those cycles. The film debuts on KQED on March 19, 11 p.m., and screnes again on March 20 at 5 a.m. and on March 21 on KQED Plus at 10 a.m. Black Choreographer's Festival Here and Now 2019: BCF Co-founder Kendra Barnes, (KKDE), who has made a dance for a quartet of women. Set to the sultry voice of Jennifer Johns, the piece, titled ReD zONE, explores various healing rituals for survivors of sexual violence, while tackling subjects like gaslighting, catcalling and the silencing of women. Shawn Hawkins, choreographer, joins us to talk about the duet for himself and Nafi Thompson titled "Stages of Love." Julia Hughes, choreographer, together with her husband Julio Remelexo, directs a large ensemble of dancers,