Celine Work (my niece) and Me

My WORK…

I have actively spearheaded a movement towards a "Delta Renaissance" throughout the Mississippi Delta. My goals are to bring films, lectures, visual and performing arts to the most “disenfranchised region of America.” My hope is to expose these various disciplines to everyone, so that they may see the power artistic expressions have particularly on young people; and hopefully encourage many of them to embrace their creativity and develop their artistic talents as a career option.

I believe presenting culturally relevant projects, such as that in National Parks and arts and cultural centers celebrate local people and can have an everlasting impact on its residents.

On June 3-6, 2010, I along with my partner Robert Terrell, opened da' House of Khafre located at 103-105 Main Street, in the historic district downtown Indianola, MS. This new art house/cultural boutique features African Art, fashion and wonderful, clean, healthy gourmet cuisine, from around the world...A brand new concept in the Mississippi Delta! There we present several free educational programs that utilize the Delta culture to create unique artistic expressions, i.e.:

I            Young Publishers’ Network (YPN) -- founded in 2003, to offer young (at heart) individuals the opportunity to become published authors. First-time authors between the ages 10 and 95 meet weekly to discuss book projects and publish their work(s).

II            Healthy U... Gourmet Academy for Youth, as an after-school culinary arts program that serves twenty students (maximum) per rotation. We will offer two weekly classes on Saturday, during the regular school and summer semesters, beginning in the spring of 2011. Lectures and demonstrations will be held primarily on the “Front Porch” stage area, which accommodates approximately eighty people and allows us the opportunity to invite parents and facilitate an occasional discussion that reflects on the cultural and culinary contributions made by previous generations (“grandmamma‘nem”). This is important to provide a historical context as to how the southern cuisine, i.e., “Soul Food” is prepared and the reasons why.  My goal is to redefine soul food, as follows: S = sustainable; O = organic; U = unprocessed; L = living (because that’s what they will be if they make healthy choices in life). From this informed place the students will understand how things and conditions have changed, in same way that they too must change (their diets), in order to remain mentally alert and physically fit for a healthy future.  The name “Healthy U...Gourmet Academy for Youth” was intentionally chosen to bring awareness and to help improve young people’s perceptions of themselves. We believe by applying terms such as, “Gourmet” and “Academy,” to a Delta-based health and educational program that invites the participation of “the most underserved and impoverished children in America” will go a long way to inspire our students to think differently about themselves, the Mississippi Delta and the worthiness of both to be enriching and deserving of a healthier life.  We believe this program will awaken a passion for healthy lifestyles and ultimately help our young people be more deliberate in their career choices.

III            Historical Showcases, -- featuring people/places/events in world history...for creative interpretation by youth in the Mississippi Delta! I came up with the idea to hold monthly art/writing/research competitions for students, between the ages 10-25. Students from throughout the Delta are encouraged to attend Historical Showcases, or research as a class, the "historic" person/place or event of the month. The Students are challenged to gather additional information to interpret the historic person, place or event in their own unique way, as: poem, short story, one-act play, song, dance or visual presentation. This is a really cool way to engage our youth in history...artistically...The goal is to provide a $100.00 incentive prize monthly to the student(s) with the most creative interpretation. Additional prizes will be awarded based on participation. All theatrical/storytelling performances take place on the Front Porch Stage, (with discussion and question and answers immediately following), at da' House of Khafre.

IV            Friday Scholars -- This weekly academic challenge goes out to the 7-12th grade students in public schools, throughout the Delta. Every week the announce is made for children to present with their "A" in a particular subject. The most impressive project/paper will appear on the Nightly News aired on WABG-TV, during the Delta Renaissance news segment. The student with the most "A's" at the end of the semester will be the featured guest on Delta Renaissance television show that appears on both WABG-TV and WABG-Radio, every Saturday at 1:30pm.

V            In addition, I currently host and co-produce the number one cultural affairs talk show, in the Delta, on the number one television station in the Mississippi Delta:

"Delta Renaissance" on WABG & Delta Fox 10, the ABC & FOX affiliates, respectively. ("Delta Scene" on WXVT a CBS affiliate; is a public affairs show we produced and that ran for two years prior to moving over to WABG. During both television shows I promote and encourage support for education and cultural arts activities throughout the Delta. I network through personal visits to local schools, universities and churches (depending on subject matters); I also utilize general methods of press releases, flyers, PSAs and word of mouth. The plan is to syndicate “Healthy U... Gourmet Academy for Youth,” and create a informative segment that focuses on “youth in the kitchen.” As producer, I will oversee all aspects of production and the overall operations of the “Healthy U...Gourmet Academy for Youth.”

VI            Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center-- In recognition of the people who prospered from the cotton industry, and in honor of the folks who planted, chopped and picked cotton, As Executive Director of Khafre, Inc, I shall along with our team, erect a monument approximately 30-feet and seated on approximately 20 acres of prime cotton/“blues” land (HWY 61). The Monument is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic sites, structures, and landscapes relating to the cotton industry and the sharecroppers experience. The goal is to give dignity back to those who may have lost it along the way to and from the cotton fields. The plan is to secure the site, as part of the National Parks Services.

 INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS & IMAGE CONSULTANT

I present with excellent management and communications skills that transcend boundaries of

intolerance and unfairness.

Third-graders Write the Blues: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14620540

 

HOUSE OF KHAFRE:

African Art Experience in  the  Mississippi Delta - interview by Karen Brown on MPB/NPR