Keepers of the Culture, Inc

KEEPERS OF THE CULTURE, INC:

Philadelphia’s Afrocentric Storytelling Group

NABS Affiliate Report 2014

Founders: Linda Goss, Jawara Bishop, Caroliese Frink Reed, Wanda Gigetts, Isaac Mayfield, Charlotte Blake Alston, Queen Sheba

Officers: 2013-2015

President: Momma Sandi

Vice President: Queen Nur

Treasurer: TAHIRA

Corresponding Secretary: Caroliese Frink Reed

Spiritual Caretakers: Atiya Ola Sankofa

Active Members: Currently 15 active financial memebers

Goals & Objectives

The central theme of this administration is to strengthen and build community partnerships.

Our objectives are:

1)Build community partnerships to support NABS Festival 2016

2)Prepare for NABS Festival 2016

3)Re-establish youth storytellers program

4)Design innovative projects to address community needs

5)Grow membership

6)Host fundraising events to support Mama Linda Goss Blacks In Wax project

Meetings:

Our monthly meetings are held on the 1st Thursday at the Philadelphia Folkore Project. Our founder Linda Goss is well affiliated with the center and our president, Momma Sandi is currently on its Board

Programs

Honoring Our Ancestors

KOTC partnered with the Philadelphia Folklore Project to tell stories to support and expand its ancestral installation. KOTC developed and presented a community forum which facilitated community tellers and performance by KOTC members.

TEDx: Inspired Curiosity

KOTC was invited to present at the TEDx program sponsored by the Free Library of Philadelphia. This day long forum focused on city wide organizations and programs that inspired curiosity through services that impact residents in the city of Philadelphia. TEDx programs are independently organized TED events. The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia in sponsoring this event was to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning. TEDxFreeLibraryofPhiladelphia was the starting point for a wide range of community programs and collaborations between the library and Philadelphia’s innovative thinkers.

Sunday’s on Stage at the Philadelphia Main Library: Trickster Tales

KOTC’s annual family program was presented on October 16. Program Director was Momma Sandi. Featured tellers were: Momma Sandi, Queen Nur, Caroliese Frink Reed, and TAHIRA. The program focused on exposure to the political, social and cultural roots of the trickster tales in the African American stories involving trickster characters. The program was well received and generated an interest in participation in the KOTC’s developing youth component. As always, KOTC’s Sunday on Stage Program was well attended.

Upcoming Programs: KOTCKwanzaa Community Workshop (Open to the Public),

A Kwanzaa Celebration Partnership with Kappa Alpha PsiFraternity.

Respectfully Submitted,

Momma Sandi, President

11/01/14