Ms. Afrika Abney - Consultant Branding Blog

   Thank you for viewing this branding blog that I created two years ago.  The purpose of this blog is to share information regarding the consulting services and work that Ms. Afrika Abney offers and provides since 1992. During that year, I was a high school student.  Thank you once again.  Please note that I have thrown numerous abstract collages, paintings and clothing away.  Created and designed by Ms. Afrika Abney 

  " Born Eugene Ethelbert Miller on November 20, 1950, in the Bronx, New York, he developed an early interest in literature. His passion led him to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies in 1972. His time at Howard was transformative - it was here he began to shape his voice, honing his skills as a poet and emerging as an activist. While still a student, Miller founded the literary magazine, 'Obasi,' marking the beginning of his lifelong dedication to promoting the arts. In 1974, two years after graduation, he was appointed as the director of the university's African American Resource Center. During his forty-plus years of service at the center, he curated an impressive collection of Black literature and culture artifacts. Miller's poetry is an exquisite blend of personal and political, addressing themes of racial injustice, love, and the human condition. He published his first book of poetry, ...

    Ms. Joy Jones - Fearless Public Speaking: A Guide for Beginners (SparkNotes) " Scared of speaking in public? You’re not alone! This accessible guide, written by a former teacher and poetry slam coach, will help tweens and teens find their voice!   If you have weak, wobbly knees and a pounding heart when you face an audience—don’t worry, that’s good! Joy Jones is here to show teens and tweens that stage fright is your friend. With its funny, friendly, slightly irreverent approach,  Fearless Public Speaking  helps young people feel more comfortable and confident in front of a crowd. Jones covers it all, from how to write and organize your speech, to how to deliver it and use audiovisual equipment, to how to troubleshoot when things go wrong." https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Public-Speaking-Guide-Be ginners-ebook/dp/B07JNN8QW7 https://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonfiction/24481-fearless-public-speaking " Joy Jones has taught creative writing and public speak...

 The AACL Tour opened on March 16th and took place at Francis Gregory. The next AACL Tour is scheduled to take place on April 20, 2024. Please see details below:  Esther Productions Inc., in partnership with The Black Student Fund and The Institute for African American Writing presents two authors Ms. Joy Jones and Mr. E.Ethelbert Miller on April 20th. Info:  aachildrenslit2023 @gmail.com . " Joy Jones has taught creative writing and public speaking to middle school students and coached poetry slam teams. Her children’s book Tambourine Moon (Simon & Schuster) was chosen in 2000 as a Kid’s Pick of the Lists by the American Booksellers Association, selected as one of the best books for children by the black caucus of the ALA, and seen on Fox TV’s hit show The Bernie Mac Show. She is also the author of Private Lessons:A Book of Meditations for Teachers (Andrews McMeel),  Fearless Public Speaking (SparkNotes),  Jayla Jumps In (Albert Whitman & Comp...

Sat, Apr 20 at Cleveland Park Library SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: DC'S AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY HISTORY ON TOUR presented by Esther Productions Inc. in partnership with The Black Student Fund and The Institute for African American Writing Register Now - https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events Ms. Joy Jones (trainer, performance poet, playwright and author of several books including Private Lessons: A Book of Meditations for Teachers; Tambourine Moon, which was selected as one of the best books for children by the black caucus of the ALA and seen on Fox TV’s hit show The Bernie Mac Show; Private Lessons:A Book of Meditations for Teachers (Andrews McMeel);Fearless Public Speaking (SparkNotes), Jayla Jumps In (Albert Whitman & Company, 2020 and Black Caucus of the American Library Association BCALA, 2020 Best of the Best Booklist); and Between Black Women: Listening with the Third Ear (African American Images) will talk about her journe...

    " Sharon Bell Mathis (born 1937) is an American librarian and author who has written books mainly for children and young adults. Mathis was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She started writing at an early age, and her love of reading was fostered by her parents. Her mother, a poet, encouraged her to write. In 1958, she earned a degree in Sociology from Morgan State College and, in 1975, went on to earn a master's in Library Science from the Catholic University of America. Mathis has written many books for children and young adults, and has received many accolades in her career. Her book Ray Charles, a nonfiction biography of Ray Charles, received the Coretta Scott King Award. The Hundred Penny Box received a Newbery Honor Award and is a recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and also an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. English Journal placed Mathis alongside writers such as Toni Cade Bambara and Nikki Giovanni, characterizing them as ...

  Esther Productions Inc., in partnership with The Black Student Fund and The Institute for African American Writing presents two authors Sharon Bell Mathis and Brian Gilmore on Mar 16, 2024 from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM at 3660 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020, USA. "Sharon Bell Mathis (born 1937) is an American librarian and author who has written books mainly for children and young adults. Mathis was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She started writing at an early age, and her love of reading was fostered by her parents. Her mother, a poet, encouraged her to write. In 1958, she earned a degree in Sociology from Morgan State College and, in 1975, went on to earn a master's in Library Science from the Catholic University of America. Mathis has written many books for children and young adults, and has received many accolades in her career. Her book Ray Charles, a nonfiction biography of Ray Charles, received the Coretta Scott King Award. The Hundred Penny Box received a Newbery...

  March is Women's History Month Two companies that focus on women and girls include African American Women's Resource Center, Washington, D.C - Cassandra Burton The African American Women's Resource Center is an educational and cultural service center. Esther Productions, Inc - Jonetta R. Barras Esther Productions, Inc. is dedicated to using a variety of vehicles—traditional and nontraditional—to develop communities throughout the United States and Europe. It was created in 2004 by Jonetta Rose Barras, award-winning journalist and author of Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl? It is a non-profit organization that empowers young women and girls to heal from past familial trauma and tension. It is supported through generous contributions from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, Emmanuel Bailey, Veterans Services Corp, Pepco, an Exelon Corporation, Fort Myer Construction Corporation Charitable Foundation and Esther’s Friends. ​ Some of the sponsors of the programs include The Black...

  The registration for African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition  (AACL) held on March 2nd has been closed as of Feb 23, 2024.  This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick. Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, and BusBoys and Poets. estherproductionsinc.com/aachildrensliterature

     Registration has re-opened for AACL as of February 16, 2024. Info: aachildrenslit2023@gmail.com. https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/seating-added-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST 125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 The following below panel discussions are apart of the African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at Trinity Washington University. Among them include REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive ; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the...

  Me, Myself and Our Story was launched in 2023 by Esther Productions, Inc and The Institute for African American Writing and is designed for teen girls who have an interest in creative writing. It is a professional creative writing institute providing instruction in poetry fiction and memoir writing. Course of study will provide six weeks of focus and instruction on each topic. That is six weeks of poetry six weeks of fiction and six weeks of memoir writing. The Institute is for young ladies 15-19 years old who have an interest in creative writing. The first session will be in poetry. Students should be prepared to attend all six sessions.  The next session is scheduled to take place on February 24, 2024 at Trinity.  Feb 24, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST Washington, 125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA--Room 230 Me, Myself and Our Story: Creative Writing Institute for Young Ladies Aged 15 through 19 is a free course led by professional and published writers. Thi...

  Feb 20, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM workshop via Zoom KALEIDOSCOPE WOMEN’S WRITING COLLECTIVE is a monthly writing club for women 18 and older. This is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-racial group of women who share their in-progress writings. Benefits for being a member of this collective: "You meet a fantastic group of women who are at various stages in their development as writers; you will receive the encouragement you need to start or finish a creative project through the regular gatherings; and you will meet professional writers (guest instructors) who can impart words of wisdom and guidance as you pursue your creative dreams." If you are interested in being a member, please register at  https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/kaleidoscope-womens-writing-collective-accepting-new-members-1

  Sidney Clifton is the opening speaker for African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2nd at Trinity. "Emmy-nominated producer Sidney Clifton has over twenty years of experience as an executive producer, director and creative executive overseeing animated, mixed-media and live-action content. She has produced hundreds of hours of episodic and longform content, a partial list can be found at her imdb page here. She has produced children’s and primetime content on Apple TV+, BET, NBC, Showtime, Paramount, and Hallmark Channel, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Academy of American Poets. In her role as mentor and recruiter, she has been a featured presenter, guest, and commencement speaker at colleges and universities across North America. "Ms. Clifton’s passion for developing and supporting the underserved community of writers, artists, storytellers and creators was the catalyst for her launch...

UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: A Look Beyond the Immediate Horizon at The Future of Children’s Literature Written by African American Authors is one of the panel discussions that is a part of the  African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition which is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2024 at 3pm. The presenters include Kwame Alexander, Tricia Elam Walker, David Miller, Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, Leroy Nesbitt and Joy Jones. " Kwame Alexander has written 38 books, three of them in a chair next to a fireplace at his neighborhood Panera Bread. He now writes in a penthouse in London, where he lives. But, he misses the writing studio he built in Virginia a few years ago. It has huge windows, a large painting of John Coltrane, 3000 books, heated floors, a blue couch, and a loft which was Randy’s idea. When he’s not writing, Kwame’s playing Softball with his soon-to-be six feet tall middle school daughter, walking around London listening to audi...