Introducing the 2024 Cohort
The Seeding Conscious Co-Creation cohort is made up of an amazing collection of people from both the New Haven and Hartford areas who are practicing the conscious use of power for greater liberation and equity in a variety of areas of interest and initiatives.
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Learn more below.
Arvia Walker
Arvia's initiative, Reverence: An Archival Altar, is an art-based project celebrating the unique stories of the everyday people that we hold as our “greats and giants.” This project intertwines the power of storytelling, archival preservation, and the transformative essence of altars. It provides a platform for healing, understanding, and appreciation while emphasizing the inherent worthiness of reverence for Black communities in New Haven.
Dan Ramírez
Dan’s idea for El Rincón de Papel (ERP) is to build a zine distro and resource library for artists, activists, and community members of New Haven and greater Connecticut. The purpose for ERP is to advocate for a radical platform where any member of the community can amplify and share their voice + work without restrictive regulations within institutions, media, and politics currently within New Haven.
Denisse Cruz
Denisse is developing workshops focused on providing tools to people who accompany women survivors of violence - people who have some connection with a survivor and who want to learn how to accompany them more effectively. The purpose is to develop a solid group of people willing to accompany and provide support to survivors of violence in future activities.
Gabbie Barns
Gabbie is gathering artists, cultural workers, and creatives to engage in deeply reflecting conversations about the current state of affairs, then we will study mutual aid principles, solidarity economics, political education, and organizing principles. Then radically imagine new futures and generate project-based solutions to deep seeded problems in Hartford, specifically as they relate to the material needs of single mothers, queer and trans folks, and disabled people.
Juanita Sunday
The 6th Dimension Black Futures Institute is an Afrofuturist social impact enterprise developed by Juanita Sunday that cultivates Black Radical Imagination through community-centered programming in arts, design and technology. Rooted in principles of Black liberation and collectivism, 6th Dimension BFI creates spaces for Black creativity and imagination to thrive through education, co-creation, and arts & culture programming.
Justin Hernández
The la Casa Verde, Justin’s community of practice, meets often and is discovering ways to have more access to fresh fruits, herbs and vegetation. Our shared goal is to create micro greenhouses in spaces that are easily accessible on New Haven bus lines. While sharing tools and access, we will reinvest community members through classes that lead to more food growing knowledge and creating communal and regenerative spaces.
Sagacity Walker
The purpose of Sagacity’s area of interest and community of practice is to create social conscious rap music where the participants get to share their perspectives and experiences with social issues while learning and exploring ideas around song structure and the creative process. It is for young people aged 16-18.
Stefan Keller
Stefan’s community of practice is connected first and foremost by a deeply held belief that the movement for social justice needs more people engaged that are actively organizing people to move more money to social justice, community care, and mutual aid work.
Seeding Conscious Co-Creation Team
Eric Rey
Facilitator + Cohort Support Guide
Farron Harvey
Facilitator + Cohort Support Guide
Kristianna Smith
Facilitator + Team Support Guide
Armela Waters
Facilitator + Cohort Support Guide
varun khattar sharma
Facilitator + Cohort Support Guide
Slate Ballard
Facilitator + Program Director