Intersectional Souls Project |
about us
About the CORE Team
PROJECT DIRECTOR:
Miki Smith, a Chicago born, was raised in Gary, Indiana where she attended and graduated from Indiana School for the Deaf. She attended Gallaudet University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Austin Community College, and is currently a student of Texas State University, majoring in Communication Studies and Media. She has worked various jobs within the community, including a night residential educator, ZVRS telesales specialist, basketball coach, and an ASL lab tutor at Austin Community College. Miki is a member of the Austin Black Deaf Advocates and Austin Black Deaf Society. Last but not the least, Miki is a die-hard Chicago Cubs & Bears fan and enjoys hiking, bicycling, writing poems, zentangling, and getting herself lost in deep thoughts about life, love, and humanity.
Miki Smith, a Chicago born, was raised in Gary, Indiana where she attended and graduated from Indiana School for the Deaf. She attended Gallaudet University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Austin Community College, and is currently a student of Texas State University, majoring in Communication Studies and Media. She has worked various jobs within the community, including a night residential educator, ZVRS telesales specialist, basketball coach, and an ASL lab tutor at Austin Community College. Miki is a member of the Austin Black Deaf Advocates and Austin Black Deaf Society. Last but not the least, Miki is a die-hard Chicago Cubs & Bears fan and enjoys hiking, bicycling, writing poems, zentangling, and getting herself lost in deep thoughts about life, love, and humanity.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR:
De'Lasha Singleton, a native of Austin, TX, is a social justice activist and freelance photographer. After graduating from Texas School for the Deaf, she attended Gallaudet University where she got her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is the a single mother of two young children, Sosiua and Siaosi. She co-founded Take A Stand (TAS), is part of Brown Girls Collective and Austin Black Deaf Advocates. She is also the peer advisors coordinator of Y.E.S.! a leadership retreat for Black Deaf youth which will happen in August 2015 at the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) conference. De'Lasha has spoken up on a wide variety of topics, mostly related to social justice, self-love and body acceptance, breast feeding, and is very involved spreading awareness about issues related to domestic violence. You can see examples of her community involvement in the #whowillanswer campaign and Educating Children of Color conference.
De'Lasha Singleton, a native of Austin, TX, is a social justice activist and freelance photographer. After graduating from Texas School for the Deaf, she attended Gallaudet University where she got her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is the a single mother of two young children, Sosiua and Siaosi. She co-founded Take A Stand (TAS), is part of Brown Girls Collective and Austin Black Deaf Advocates. She is also the peer advisors coordinator of Y.E.S.! a leadership retreat for Black Deaf youth which will happen in August 2015 at the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) conference. De'Lasha has spoken up on a wide variety of topics, mostly related to social justice, self-love and body acceptance, breast feeding, and is very involved spreading awareness about issues related to domestic violence. You can see examples of her community involvement in the #whowillanswer campaign and Educating Children of Color conference.
About the Nathie ASL Soul Poetry Team
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Felicia Williams, born and raised in New Jersey, Felicia has an Associate of Arts degree in Deaf Studies from Camden Community College, a Bachelors degree in ASL and a Masters' degree in Sign Language Teaching from Gallaudet University. She is currently an associate instructor in the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies there. Felicia has been actively involved in organizations such as the Black Deaf Student Union, Delta Epsilon Sorority, The Sisterhood Organization, and the Keeping The Promise. Throughout the year, she has passionately taught about the issues of diversity and the social justice, and how it has affected her personal growth. Her goal is to teach American Sign Language in academic settings and continue to be involved in organizations for social justice. She was recently awarded the "Dr. Nathie L. Marbury Award" and is thrilled to be joining the team.
Candace Jones, is a Black Deaf ASL teacher at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Georgia. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Gallaudet University and a Master's degree in Deaf Education from Valdosta State University. While a student at Gallaudet University, Candace did several ASL poetry performances and she currently does translations professionally through the Accessible Materials Project. A single mother of two children, Candace loves to travel and shop. She enjoys doing ASL poetry translations, and we are blessed to have her join to help out with the translations.
Storm Smith, is currently a graduate film student at American University in Washington, D.C. She will be involved in assisting Felicia Williams with editing parts of the ASL Soul Poetry Project. She has made a numerous of films through her production, Thunderography Films, and is among the few talented Black Deaf women filmmakers in the United States.
Ritchie Bryant & Lisa Gelineau, are both professors in the ASL/Interpreting Department at Austin Community College in Austin, TX and former colleagues of Dr. Nathie Marbury. Ritchie and Lisa have been very supportive of this ASL poetry project, providing us with resources, reserving space, and assisting with the ASL Soul Poetry night happening at ACC on January 28th, 2015.
Other members of the team we are thankful for include Danielle Graybill (film assistant) and Jariatou Sibi (voice interpreting).
Candace Jones, is a Black Deaf ASL teacher at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Georgia. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Gallaudet University and a Master's degree in Deaf Education from Valdosta State University. While a student at Gallaudet University, Candace did several ASL poetry performances and she currently does translations professionally through the Accessible Materials Project. A single mother of two children, Candace loves to travel and shop. She enjoys doing ASL poetry translations, and we are blessed to have her join to help out with the translations.
Storm Smith, is currently a graduate film student at American University in Washington, D.C. She will be involved in assisting Felicia Williams with editing parts of the ASL Soul Poetry Project. She has made a numerous of films through her production, Thunderography Films, and is among the few talented Black Deaf women filmmakers in the United States.
Ritchie Bryant & Lisa Gelineau, are both professors in the ASL/Interpreting Department at Austin Community College in Austin, TX and former colleagues of Dr. Nathie Marbury. Ritchie and Lisa have been very supportive of this ASL poetry project, providing us with resources, reserving space, and assisting with the ASL Soul Poetry night happening at ACC on January 28th, 2015.
Other members of the team we are thankful for include Danielle Graybill (film assistant) and Jariatou Sibi (voice interpreting).
Deaf Women of Color
Deaf Women of Color, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., is supporting this project by offering tax deductions for donors and sponsors. We thank the four founders, Laurene, Francisca, Thuan, and Leticia, for their support.
[image description: Logo of Deaf Women of Color consists entwined arms in a circle; seven heads, representing different races/ethnicity, are outside the circle. The colors presented are: black, yellow, grey, red, white, tan, and brown. Inside the circle are handshapes spelling out D.W.C. in American Sign Language]