A Community of Artists

Black Art in PWC

Photos: KWADWO ADJEI

Entrepreneur, business owner, author (book: Knee ology-Prayer That Reaches God’s Heart), playwright, and lyricist Jacqueline Hudson Thomas is the Founder, Executive Director of GE Ministries (www.gemva.org) and GEM Theater Productions (www.gemtheaterproductions.org). GE Ministries teaches women godly principles through bible studies, conferences, workshops, and retreats. GEM Theater Productions is the avenue used to present Christ-centered stage plays through the ARTs.

GEM Theater Productions is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. Playwright Jackie Thomas’ vision was to establish a local theater group using youth and adults from under served and local communities to provide quality theater. Community residents get to showcase their talents while building the self-esteem of young people giving them confidence in their abilities through the theater arts. Each production highlights real-life situations promoting unity and diversity.

GEM provides internships, letters of reference, and opportunities for young people to train in all areas of stage production. Past interns have gained acceptance to Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Berklee School of Music. For more information, contact us by phone at 703.687.9450 or email at gemtheaterproductions@gmail.com.

Kevin Carroll, Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, started his training at the age of fifteen at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, Governor’s School for the Arts. furthering his education, the artist migrated to New York City, where he attended The Academy of American Musical and Dramatics Conservatory, (AMDA), where he first planted his seeds in theatrical aesthetics. He holds a B.F.A in Dance + Choreography from the Virginia Commonwealth University and continued his studies with Sidra Bell Dance New York Module, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and the Bates Dance Festival. He is currently continuing his developmental exploration with the KD/Kinetic Collective+, and serves as a dance educator within Montgomery County Public Schools. The KD/KC+ mission is to generate work that speaks to diversity and inclusivity, while serving as a bridge for performance, education, and community engagement throughout the DMV and beyond. The collective work encompasses maximizing the extreme spectrum of physicality while exploring innovative theatrical concepts. His practice continues to challenge and seek truth while cultivating and celebrating the art of creation and innovation. Kevin gives an abundance of gratitude to his creator, family, and those who continue to give support.

Denise M. McPhail, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Creative and Performing Arts Center, founded in March 16, 2002, in Prince William County, Virginia, has worked along side her board to ensure that the arts are for everyone. CAPAC is designed to entertains, and encourage diverse youth, teens, and adults in Northern Virginia to ignite STEAM curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills as a formula to diversify and sustain STEAM -science technology, engineering, arts and math workforces for lifelong success.

Kojjo Opoku-Reeves- Artistic Director of Heritage Village, has been making impact in communities across Virginia through dance, mime and drum presentation for several years. He has been facilitating workshops in prisons around the country in addition to producing energized performances Kojjo along with his Village of drummers, dancers and singers have played in festivals across the US. In his work with youth, he challenges young people with the same encouragement that he got from his mentors that, whatever you dream about, you can become if you are willing to pay the price. Kojjo will offer programing and special classes in music and African Dance at the Open Space Arts Center in the coming months so don’t miss your chance to learn from a master.

Sheyna Burke – Sheyna Burt, Attorney and Violinist Board Chair of the Hylton Performing Arts Center President of Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra President of Youth

Orchestras of Prince William for World Doctors Orchestra Co-Chair of Entertainment Committee of the Prince William County Bar Association

Consultant

Board Member of Court Appointed Special Advocates – Children’s Intervention Services and the ACLU of Virginia

The arts are the soul and ambition of Prince William County. Through our arts we express our unique history, future, cultural diversity, concerns, ego, humility, values, roots, fresh energy, and, perhaps above all, our hopes.

The arts in Prince William County present an opportunity for individual and collective expression, and they also reflect the County’s practical sensibilities. We use the arts to help our young people to be well-rounded, thoughtful, and successful learners. The accessibility of our arts scene attracts families which attracts the kind of business development that stimulates our local economy. The opportunity to observe and participate in the arts improves the quality of life for our residents and visitors in magical and pragmatic ways.

The arts in Prince William County represent challenges. Will we tol- erate financial barriers to access to the arts in schools, galleries, and performance spaces? Do we value diversity, equity, and inclusion in our arts, and if so, can we prove it? How should we prioritize the arts given the other competitors for our attention and resources?

The arts in Prince William County are vibrant and alive. What a privilege it is to be part of this amazing symphony of humanity.

John Wooten is the Artistic Manager of the Clearbrook Foundation is an effort to promote and conduct artistic and educational activities in the eastern end of Prince William County, Virginia, and the public appreciation of these activities in both public and private venues, including the Tackett’s Mill Center. The Clearbrook Center of the Arts is a work space for such projects. The Center has over 5,000 square feet, (currently available to view by appointment only) as a non-purposive free space for artists to explore their talent and their place in our community. The Clearbrook Foundation anticipates its Center of the Arts will become a meeting place for cultural events, workshops, and showings. They are not there yet! Your support at this early phase is greatly appreciated and will help them achieve their goal.

Kim B Miller the former Poet Laureate of Prince William County, was the first African American Poet Laureate for the region. Her poems have been published in African Voices magazine, a Portuguese haiku anthology, a DC newspaper, an interfaith anthology and several websites and books. Kim performed at The National Black Theater, The Atlas

Performing Arts Center, Northern Virginia Community College, University of Pikeville (in Kentucky) and many other venues.

Kim is a teaching artist and a facilitator. She creates and develops her own training material. Her interactive workshops are fun and informative. She facilitated an online workshop for University of California, Berkeley. She also facilitated a seminar at her alma mater Rochester Institute of Technology at their 2022 Women in Leadership Summit.

Kim’s a motivational speaker that cultivates growth. She uses her words to connect people to their strength. She was one of the commencement speakers at Bard High School Early College DC.

Kim is the host of a podcast called Poetically Thinking.

Carylee Carrington, author, entrepreneur, literacy advocate and Founder of Read With Carylee, Inc. Is a Northern Virginia resident with my two amazing boys, that enjoys an active lifestyle. Originally from the island of Jamaica, she grew up in New York City, before making Northern Virginia her home. Known as the “accidental author,” because this was not where she thought her path would lead. Though she loves writing, being a children’s author was the furthest thing from her mind. Now she works to ensure that children have access to diverse literature, and this has become her mission and drive as an author and advocate. Carylee says, “My fight for diversity in children’s literature is a personal one. My son was told in Kindergarten, by a class- mate, that he should only be playing with children of his own skin color. Coming from a mixed family, that did not sit well with me. Most school systems don’t start teaching diversity until middle school, when the divisions are more prominent. We need to make teaching diversity a priority at an early age, so that we have the next generation having more knowledge and understanding of each other. For me diversity is more than skin deep.”

Susan Furr is an expressive visionary artists and member of the long-standing Prince William Arts Society and represents the group as a member of Prince William Arts Council. Originally from England she now resides in Manassas, VA and produces works that even without knowing her intention, seems to speak to people when they see it hanging in the Open Space Arts Gallery. Her work is often discussed by visitors to the gallery as magical and spirited. Her presence is extremely grounding and loving. People always look forward to her new works.