For the last few years, I've used my multimedia skills to work on The Self Publication, a creative photographic book series containing personal essays from members of the Black community, as a way to raise spirits and dismantle the harsh stereotypes found in media culture. This project has been a challenge for me as an artist, but I’ve met many great people, and it has been an honor to hear their stories. I’ve designed and published two 74-page books, held an amazing exhibition, and created videos to support the project. The creative series gives others a space to share experience and expertise as a way to heal and spread love. I created a Spotify playlist in honor of those who’ve joined. I am also the founder of a creative new start-up youth program. I save what I can to make this work, because it isn’t funded, but I want to help young people. I grew up without parents, and things weren’t really ever-steady for me as a child, but the support of my teachers and those family members who stuck around helped me grow into an amazing artist and woman. My goal with this project is to support kids who have limited resources and few chances to pursue their creative dreams. I hope to help as many kids as I can in the city of Dallas and to uplift my community. It takes a village, they say, and I’m all in.
I will use it to start filming my documentary The Power of Black Stories mini-documentary in conjunction with theselfpublication.com will include creative storytelling that highlights personal encounters and memories from members of the Black community. The film will be visually stunning and informative and work to expose the dark truths of colorist behavior, mental health, race relations, and family trauma found within the culture. The micro-footage captured will be edited in a format that promotes unity and creative visuals displaying a strong structured narrative. The film will reveal the stories of four individuals. The first is Derrick Cleavery, a man who has lost loved ones to a lack of care in the medical industry. The second is Brittany Walker-Craig, a Black woman and member of the LGBTQ community with a story of trauma from sharing her identity during her youth. The third is Lenny Williams, a man who has experienced neighborhood racism. The fourth is Megan Udo, a woman who has experienced extreme colorist behavior. The packaged film will be impactful, beautiful, and creative with engaging shots and a narrative that has cinematic appeal.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
