the ish that keeps your lips moist
I know some of the most stunningly beautiful (inside & out) people in the world. Thank you Caits for sharing!
BREAK THE SILENCE | Maya Azucena (Brooklyn, NY), Maia Von Lekow (Nairobi, Kenya) and Lavosti (Arusha, Tanzania)
The woman in the middle is one of my dearest, dearest friends in the world, my sister Maya Azucena. She is often traveling the world with her big voice and combining her songwriting with on-the-ground activism and art with social messages. Here is a brand new song she wrote on her latest trip to Tanzania. I was moved to share this.
The day before Maya wrote her verse for this song, she was told about a 12 year old girl, nearly walking distance from where she was staying in Arusha, who was found raped, dead, with her organs and eyes missing. This song is to encourage abuse and rape victims to heal. It was written in collaboration with Maia Von Lekow of Nairobi, Kenya, and Lavosti of Arusha, Tanzania. “Break the Silence.”
I am so proud that my family all live such extraordinary, important lives. Thank you Maya, for being my best friend and for caring about the world, so deeply.
Dear Jacssel,
Thank you. Thank you for your selflessness, your generosity, and your tenacity. You are the Notorious B-I-G, you make biggie…small. Ha! You are an alchemist. You transformed your darkest moments into sunshine and daffodils. Your are brilliant and resilient. Acknowledge yourself for that. Give yourself a hug, pat yourself on the back, and tell your self “I Love You”. Thank you for bringing a heightened meaning to our lives - 15 reasons to live & live life endless. Your aliveness radiates and shines. You give me warmth. Our love and gratitude are everlasting. You are everlasting. I appreciate and love you deeply.
<3 Ash
Jacssel Concha is leading a week-long campaign from May 7-12 in high schools and colleges with tool kits and online engagement. One aspect of her campaign is to gather 1,000 reasons to live. She is asking people to tweet them to @nowlivelife or email them to livelifeendless@gmail.com. Make a contribution by submitting your 15 Reason to Live.
Check out Sallome’s 15 Reasons to Live.
“Girls are the future mothers of our society, and it is important that we focus on their well-being.” - Miriam Makeba
Mama Africa. Empress. Thank you for your voice, your voice, & your voice. For taking a stand for Africa. For sharing your song. For your relentless fight. For your patience. For your love.
We appreciate you.
March
March. Women’s Herstory Month.
Breaking barriers. Shattering glass ceilings. Re-inventing the way we make things happen.
Let’s give thanks for all the women who took a stand for the future, which is you & me.
Immense love & gratitude.
One word.
PUCCI.
Emilio Pucci began revolutionizing fashion on the slopes of the Swiss Alps by creating a ski suit for a young woman. From the Alps to the run way, his vision for fashion speaks to the modern & active women. His designs are free-flowing and full of colorful patterns that have the world of fashion vibrating on a lovely frequency. His selective palate of silk textiles and his drapery put Emilio Pucci in the limelight. He kept them coming back to his palace in Florence. His aristocratic upbringing continues to demonstrate class and elegance. His legacy lives.
At times his designs remind me of stained glass from the windows of a church or mosaics embedded in the floors and walls through out Italy. The Roman Catholic Church may have been an indirect influence that steered his vision. Either way, his body of work is fascinating, colorful, and when I look at Pucci I see women being free to be themselves.
Thank you Emilio for reminding that we express freely, openly, and every shade of ourselves.
This is oh so very special to me.
After four years of digging, two months of hand writing & scanning, one month of extensive editing and laying out, Gratitude Made From Scratch is in my hand. It’s incredible to pour yourself into a project, breath life into it, and then having it in other people’s hands. Like an singer with an album or an artist with a painting, it is a HUGE accomplishment. Every detail matters. Every moment precious. Everything to be thankful for.
A labor of love. Worth the effort.
Immense. Gratitude.
Mahalo. 100% Gratuity Included.
Gratitude Made From Scratch - 365 Days of Inspirational Gratitude by yours truly.
It’s almost here. One more round of edits and off to the final print. The whole world is moving closer to vibrating on a frequency of love and gratitude. Thanks to you.
Veronica B. Vallenes is major! Her 2012 collection Midnight Dream is airy, light, and absolutely stunning. It’s like she’s styling the Goddess Venus herself. Their is a rhythmic element to her designs - a certain kind of flow. Her fluid use of silk makes each garb fit like a glove. I know women would live for pieces like these in there closet. Hopefully one day I’ll have the pleasure of stuntin’ some Veronica B Vallenes…I’m an optimist.
Click HERE to view more of her work.
Sometimes I think to myself, Why Brooklyn? I came to Brooklyn four years ago not knowing what was going on. But I think I came here for it’s charm, it’s 3 major bridges, it’s port, it’s cultural diversity, it’s parks & gardens, it’s tree lined blocks, but more importantly it’s artistic communities.
Over the last three years, I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside Hip Hop historian, author, film maker, Nelson George. He has become my mentor and friend, and I’ve been very privileged to participate in the development of many of his recent projects; Left Unsaid, Migrations, The Plot Against Hip Hop. But most recently he had his feature length screening at Urban World Film Festival of his very own documentary, Brooklyn Boheme, an intimate portrait of the black arts movement that exploded in Fort Greene from the mid 1980s through the 90s.
With the new stadiums, cultural centers, and all the gentrification going on in Brooklyn, this documentary captures the epic stories by Brooklyn’s Finest - Spike Lee, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock. It’s a reminder of all those who have contributed to Brooklyn’s advancement and that willingness to collaborate is at the heart of creating a cultural movement.
Brace Yourself! Brooklyn Boheme will be featured on ShowTime, February 2nd, at 8:30pm.
What’s even more amazing is that my mentor & very good friend, Freddy Anzures of Props & Art Director of Wax Poetics Magazine, designed the Movie Cover. Talk about collaboration!! Nonetheless, this project hit home and holds a very special place in my heart.
Congrats Nelson & Diane! (Oh! and Freddy)
Thank You Brooklyn.
I have a love for letters. Well letters and letters. Those I receive in the mail and those slanted strokes that make up the lovely letters of the alphabet.
This innovative spelling crosses my t’s and dots my i’s. Enjoy the lesson.
Video by N9VE.
