Mission:
Candid Convos: Progress in Process is a video series of real conversations with real people in the process of their art/art-making/calling/mission. If our life's work is not about the destination and more about appreciating the journey, then these conversations will serve as a platform for those in the process of their artwork/career/business. Diverse creators will have the floor to share what it’s like for them to create and how their identity and experiences inform the journey every step of the way. These conversations will inform, support, challenge, and inspire viewers to embrace their own processes, ensuring those of us still in the thick of the journey that we are not alone.
Hosts
Tayllor Johnson (@tayllorjpoetry)
Poet, Writer, Performer, Educator, Justice Seeker, Founder of #ImNotYourEnemy Movement |
Photo Cred. Kearah-Armonie
Ade Davis (@theprincepoet)
Singer, Poet, Writer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor, Performer, Educator, Activist |
Episode 1: We Know the Vibe
Ayanna McNeill
Writer, Author, Mental Health Consultant, Harriet Returned LLC
As a native of “Pre-gentrified” Bed-Stuy, Ayanna McNeill has grown up being exposed to the beauty of storytelling and the power of freeing people’s minds through writing. Since the age of 12 she fell in love with poetry and began writing. Ayanna learned early on the importance of education and the responsibility of sharing knowledge. She attributes her upbringing to why she writes, and why she chose to become an educator and mental health counselor. She graduated from the nation’s oldest historically black university, Lincoln University PA in 2008. She received her Master’s from Alfred University in 2010.
As a poet and cultural curator, Ayanna has been called “Harriet Returned” and she created a LLC of the same name to promote her various artistic projects. Ayanna has performed on stage, television and radio alongside seasoned artists such as Saul Williams and Abiodun Oyewole of ‘The Last Poets’. In 2010, Ayanna self-published her first book Before There Were Guns There Were Gods.
She is currently completing three fictional suspense novels, Half of What You See: The Scars of Love, None of What You Hear: Redemption and Repairs, and Everything You Feel: When Trauma Creates Mayhem set to be released early 2020.
Instagram: @harrietreturned / @beautifulflower.tornedpetals
Facebook: Harriet Returned
Email: harrietreturned@gmail.com
Word Up Café- https://www.facebook.com/Word-Up-Cafe-148499431968057/
Cathie Wright Lewis- http://www.cathiewrightlewis.com
The Last Poets- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Poets
Get Lit- https://getlit.org
Ashley August- http://www.ashleyaugust.com
Power in the Pen- https://www.facebook.com/events/620949788340434/
LAZO TV- https://instagram.com/lazo_tv?igshid=rjbs5gnpadal
Writer, Author, Mental Health Consultant, Harriet Returned LLC
As a native of “Pre-gentrified” Bed-Stuy, Ayanna McNeill has grown up being exposed to the beauty of storytelling and the power of freeing people’s minds through writing. Since the age of 12 she fell in love with poetry and began writing. Ayanna learned early on the importance of education and the responsibility of sharing knowledge. She attributes her upbringing to why she writes, and why she chose to become an educator and mental health counselor. She graduated from the nation’s oldest historically black university, Lincoln University PA in 2008. She received her Master’s from Alfred University in 2010.
As a poet and cultural curator, Ayanna has been called “Harriet Returned” and she created a LLC of the same name to promote her various artistic projects. Ayanna has performed on stage, television and radio alongside seasoned artists such as Saul Williams and Abiodun Oyewole of ‘The Last Poets’. In 2010, Ayanna self-published her first book Before There Were Guns There Were Gods.
She is currently completing three fictional suspense novels, Half of What You See: The Scars of Love, None of What You Hear: Redemption and Repairs, and Everything You Feel: When Trauma Creates Mayhem set to be released early 2020.
Instagram: @harrietreturned / @beautifulflower.tornedpetals
Facebook: Harriet Returned
Email: harrietreturned@gmail.com
Word Up Café- https://www.facebook.com/Word-Up-Cafe-148499431968057/
Cathie Wright Lewis- http://www.cathiewrightlewis.com
The Last Poets- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Poets
Get Lit- https://getlit.org
Ashley August- http://www.ashleyaugust.com
Power in the Pen- https://www.facebook.com/events/620949788340434/
LAZO TV- https://instagram.com/lazo_tv?igshid=rjbs5gnpadal
Episode 2: Not Just Jokes
Marv Glover, Stand-up Comedian NYC
From coaching high school football to managing rap artists, Marv Glover’s journey to becoming a Stand Up Comedian has been anything but conventional.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Marv’s first introduction to comedy would come in middle school where he would watch countless hours of sketch comedy on tv and replicate those same sketches on camera. Going into High School, he would begin to produce skits and sketch comedy videos of his own that would capture the attention of his peers, egging him on to pursue comedy as a career.
Although it was evident Marv had an innate gift for making people laugh, he couldn’t see himself pursuing comedy seriously, so he directed his efforts elsewhere. Entering college, Marv bounced around career choices; he coached high school football, pursuing medicine, working radio stations, began managing a rap artist, and even began pursuing a career as a rapper himself. When all else failed, he finally accepted his fate as he dropped out of college to pursue comedy full time, and he hasn’t looked back since.
3 years later and Marv has performed at colleges and comedy clubs all across the east coast, he currently produces and hosts one of the hottest up and coming shows out of NYC, and is working on his debut stand up comedy album.
Although he is far from a “caribbean comedian”, Marv’s material is inspired heavily by his Haitian upbringing; he is a storyteller that talks about life with Haitian parents, his views on dating, and his unique perspective on current events usually pertaining to race.
Marv is a young talent with potential to leave a significant mark in the game, and looks to do just that in the years to come.
Instagram: @marvglover
Facebook: @marvglover1
Twitter: @marvglover
From coaching high school football to managing rap artists, Marv Glover’s journey to becoming a Stand Up Comedian has been anything but conventional.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Marv’s first introduction to comedy would come in middle school where he would watch countless hours of sketch comedy on tv and replicate those same sketches on camera. Going into High School, he would begin to produce skits and sketch comedy videos of his own that would capture the attention of his peers, egging him on to pursue comedy as a career.
Although it was evident Marv had an innate gift for making people laugh, he couldn’t see himself pursuing comedy seriously, so he directed his efforts elsewhere. Entering college, Marv bounced around career choices; he coached high school football, pursuing medicine, working radio stations, began managing a rap artist, and even began pursuing a career as a rapper himself. When all else failed, he finally accepted his fate as he dropped out of college to pursue comedy full time, and he hasn’t looked back since.
3 years later and Marv has performed at colleges and comedy clubs all across the east coast, he currently produces and hosts one of the hottest up and coming shows out of NYC, and is working on his debut stand up comedy album.
Although he is far from a “caribbean comedian”, Marv’s material is inspired heavily by his Haitian upbringing; he is a storyteller that talks about life with Haitian parents, his views on dating, and his unique perspective on current events usually pertaining to race.
Marv is a young talent with potential to leave a significant mark in the game, and looks to do just that in the years to come.
Instagram: @marvglover
Facebook: @marvglover1
Twitter: @marvglover
Episode 3: Jack of All Trades
FOLK THE ARTIST
Entrepreneur, Singer-songwriter, Musician, and Hairstylist
At the impressionable age of 6, FOLK was introduced to the violin through the Noel
Pointer Foundation, and it was there that she discovered not only her love for music,
but a natural inclination to express herself creatively. She quickly developed and
gained an interest in learning other instruments, and exploring multi-dimensionality as a creative. She quickly developed a love for
poetry, singing and hair. As time progressed, she found herself being apart of many
school orchestras, choirs and school productions, and performed in string
competitions, concerts and local music venues, which played an integral role in
honing her skills as a musician.
Thereafter, She spent her collegiate career learning the business side of music, and
earned a BA in Management of Musical Enterprises from Baruch College. In doing so,
it inspired the creation of her organization, Art. Music. People (AMP), a platform
created to give artists a safe space to promote community and philanthropy through
the arts. Simultaneously, pursuing cosmetology school and the art of doing hair as a means to fund the music, fuse the different creative worlds of art, hair and music together, and to also fund the community projects aligned with AMP. Currently, she is an entrepreneur, singer-songwriter,musician, and hairstylist using her love and passion for music to fuel her other creative hobbies and talents.
Folk the Artist: https://linktr.ee/folktheartist
Art.Music.People: http://www.ampunitesnyc.com
Crowns by Nia: https://crownsbyniac.as.me/schedule.php
10 Steps To Starting Your Own Business: www.nyc.gov/nycbusinesscourses
Entrepreneur, Singer-songwriter, Musician, and Hairstylist
At the impressionable age of 6, FOLK was introduced to the violin through the Noel
Pointer Foundation, and it was there that she discovered not only her love for music,
but a natural inclination to express herself creatively. She quickly developed and
gained an interest in learning other instruments, and exploring multi-dimensionality as a creative. She quickly developed a love for
poetry, singing and hair. As time progressed, she found herself being apart of many
school orchestras, choirs and school productions, and performed in string
competitions, concerts and local music venues, which played an integral role in
honing her skills as a musician.
Thereafter, She spent her collegiate career learning the business side of music, and
earned a BA in Management of Musical Enterprises from Baruch College. In doing so,
it inspired the creation of her organization, Art. Music. People (AMP), a platform
created to give artists a safe space to promote community and philanthropy through
the arts. Simultaneously, pursuing cosmetology school and the art of doing hair as a means to fund the music, fuse the different creative worlds of art, hair and music together, and to also fund the community projects aligned with AMP. Currently, she is an entrepreneur, singer-songwriter,musician, and hairstylist using her love and passion for music to fuel her other creative hobbies and talents.
Folk the Artist: https://linktr.ee/folktheartist
Art.Music.People: http://www.ampunitesnyc.com
Crowns by Nia: https://crownsbyniac.as.me/schedule.php
10 Steps To Starting Your Own Business: www.nyc.gov/nycbusinesscourses