Yusuf Abdul Lateef
Yusuf Lateef is a visual artist that works collaboratively to create positive and vibrant murals forneighborhoods in the midwest and abroad. He earned his BFA in the field of painting and drawing from the Columbus College of Art and Design. Since then, he has completed murals for Toledo Public Schools, The Toledo Fair Housing Authority and Bowling Green State University. Yusuf is a Co-Founder of The Toledo Black Artists Coalition- An advocacy group for Artists of color livingand working in the greater Toledo area and a Member of Rasquache Artist Research Residency - an artist residency and collective of artists working in the US and San Francisco Coapan, Cholula, a community on the slopes of the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl volcanoes in the state of Puebla in Mexico.With his guidance, participants are able to share their thoughts and aspirations while learning about the fundamental elements of painting. You can see his work at www.yusuflateef.com
Akili Jackson is a Consultant, Instructor and Community Activist- He is on the front-line in the movement towards innovative ways of enhancing the quality of education for children in Southeast Michigan. He has over 10 years experience as a Youth Development Worker specializing in programs that inspire positive character development in youth. As an advocate for community based programs, Akili has participated in and coordinated groundbreaking urban projects that served to motivate parents, and inspire youth to become forces for positive change in their communities. Akili has conducted workshops in Community Education using Hip Hop music as a tool for classrooms in Columbus OH, Atlanta GA, and Manhattan NYC. Akili has presented as a frequent guest speaker for the National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) and a panelist/speaker at Antioch University, University of Pittsburg, and University of Windsor Law School. He has served as a guest lecturer at Washtenaw Community College for African Poetry and Literature and at Eastern Michigan University for “Building Effective Classroom Communities”. Currently Akili serves as a founding member and Chief Development and Learning Officer for Community Records L3C an organization dedicated to building community activism through music. Read a bit more about Akili here.
Benjamin Cohen is a composer, musician and educator…. he has traveled the country with various music projects, composed music for film and television and has taught the art of music production and beat-making to people of all ages all over the United States…. He is a co-founder of Dream Louder Music, electronic Jazz collective HEAVY COLOR and the The Antivillains.