Joyce Adewumi: native of Nigeria, singer, actress, dancer, choreographer, scholar and music director. Ms. Adewumi has a ten year cumulative teaching experience in Music and Dance at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom in Nigeria. She is one of the leading interpreters of African Arts songs as well as an innovative choreographer of contemporary African Dance. Her vocal performances are dedicated to preserving her African musical/cultural heritage. To promote and preserve diverse African cultures, and ensure that African music is authentically and professionally presented to the Western world, in 2004 Ms. Adewumi founded the New York African Chorus Ensemble Inc (NYACE), a not for profit company located in Harlem, New York. NYACE is the only arts organization in New York City that specializes on the performances of African traditional, popular, and art music.
Ms. Adewumi is the founder, producer, and director of ‘Celebrate Diversity Celebrate You Day’. This is a festival which serves as an appeal to stop racial and ethnic violence in New York City while encouraging young people to be proud of their cultural heritage.
Miguel Mendizabal: has been the Director of the Immigrant’s Rights Center, a legal organization dedicated solely to representing refugees and immigrants before the Department of Homeland Security, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Immigration Courts, for the past 20 years. He is a graduate of Boston College Law School (J.D. 1981) where he served as citations and executive editor of the Boston College Law Journal (1979-1981) and a VISTA Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Legal Services Institute (1980-1981) He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (1986-present), the Bar of Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. A frequent lecturer and author in the area of immigration court litigation. www.ircorlando.com
Ta’Isha Gist: is founder of Colors.At.Peace, a not-for-profit organization that caters to gang members who are seeking a change of life that is free of violence, drugs and sexual promiscuity. Gangs are identified by the colors of their bandanas are, so Colors at Peace calls for peace between them. Growing up, Taisha turned to the streets in search of escape and respite from the confusion in search of understanding, unconditional love, loyalty and protective dedication. Having observed incarcerated women who shed light about womanhood’s principles and characteristics, she took part in programs that promoted mental, educational and self-esteem growth.
Lynn Moffat: has recently joined Armitage Gone! Dance as the Executive Director following a two-year hiatus from performing arts. In that time she earned an MA from the New School’s Graduate Program in International Affairs. Her career began at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in the early days of the NEXT Wave Festival. She has also served as Managing Director for Performance Space 122 and New York Theatre Workshop, and as a panelist for the NEA, the Mellon Foundation, and ART/NY.
