The drum beats steady for the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project as we get ready for an even more amazing second year.
FUNDRAISER AND RECENT ACTIVITIES
Our recent fundraiser at Busboy and Poets was a huge success, featuring the She-Poets as well as DC female artists such as the Guerilla Poets Insurgency, Deb Randall, Margaux Delotte-Bennett, and Princess of Controversy, among others. With a full house and an inspiring finale including over 30 women dancing, drumming and singing, YWDEP is well on its way towards a phenomenal second year. Recent gigs included the Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s Black History Month Extravaganza and an event at the twentieth anniversary of CentroNia.
PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
YWDEP will be launching a new peer-mentoring program as part of our offerings for the 2006 season. The program will provide a stipend to senior members of the group to mentor new members coming into the group. Mentors will share drumming skills and knowledge with the mentees as well as emotional support and encouragement. In addition to helping new members develop as artists and leaders, we also hope the mentors will help to provide a structure with which they can set life goals, create plans, and make steps toward those goals. We are excited about this new aspect of YWDEP, and anticipate that it will strengthen us even more.
ALL WOMEN’S DRUM CONFERENCE
The hills of Monkton, MD will be echoing with the sound of djembes on March 31-April 2 as the She-Poets and staff attend the BUMBADA WOMEN’S DRUMMING WEEKEND. The weekend will include workshops and plenty of drum circles, “to honor the spirit of drumming, and the magic of an all-women event.”
RECRUITMENT PICNIC
YWDEP will be holding a recruitment picnic on Saturday, May 6th at Malcolm X Park in DC. If you are a female between the ages of 13-19 we invite you to come and learn more about the YWDEP program this summer and to meet the She Poets of the Rizing Moon for an informal drum circle, potluck, and team building games. Rain Date is May 13 - same time, same place.
SUMMER PLANS
Stay tuned for more shows and events!
