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Cultural Research

 

Santa Fe College has paved the way for me to discover the world around. In the course of two years I've completed two major projects involving the Humanities and the opportunity to create an interview with an international focus. The aspiration in my  pursuit of understanding culture is not only academic, but also an attempt to capture the depths and signaficances of humanity.

 

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Visonary Encounters
"The Yoruba Light in Gainesville" 2012

  As a student of an American Humanities Honors course, we were assigned to develop a research project based on a theises of choice within the Gainesville community. I discovered

local artist Baba Onabamiero at the Harn Museum and sought to learn more about his identity. Being an Ifa priest of Yoruba spirituality, Baba Onabamiero introduced a profound lifestyle existing within Gainesville. I was encouraged to expand my project into multiple perspectives of the local Yoruba culture. From there, I met Priestess Omitto Salewa and University of Florida's African Art specialst Dr. Robin Poynor.  This project was ultimately not an assignment, but a life experience.

  • Presented in Santa Fe College's World Humantities Expo 2012

  • Awarded First Place in Humanities  division of WHE 2012

  • Presented in the Florida Honors Colligiate conference 2013
     

"A Journey to St. Georges Wooden Church" 2013

  Above all, nothing was more enchanting than the monumental 500 year old Wooden Church of St. George. Now serving as a museum preserving Drohobych's 16th century Ruthenian heritage, the St. George Wooden Church can be found listed under the World Heritage Convervation centre, UNESCO. Distinctively, the church bears testimony to rooted Othodox tradition and symbolic references to the communities cosmogony.

 

  • Presented in Honors Student Research 2013

  • Presented in Florida Honors Colligiate Conference, Tampa 2014

  • Presented in Southern Regional Honors Council Conference, Savannah Georgia 2014

"Santa Fe College International Faculty Interview with Dr. Naana Banyiwa Horne"  2013

 

   This interview with Dr. Naana Banyiwa Horne shares the intercontinental abilties students may discover within their own college community. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Naana Banyiwa Horne, who is a Ghanaian Queen Mother, author of two published books, and Santa Fe College English professor.

I've had life rewarding opportunities to engage and exchange with worldly influential people. Listed below are inspirational and revolutionary people that I've encountered of our time. 

 

Please click their photos to discover more!

 

 

Dr. Joan Brown Campbell

2013

 

I had the honor in being part of a select student luncheon with Dr. Rev. Joan Brown Campbell. As co-founder of The Charter for Compassion,  she shared her philosophy and message on the power of human connection. 

Dr. Arvind Singhal

2013

 

I also had the honor in joining Dr. Arvind Singhal for a luncheon. He specializes in social justice and social change where positive deviance is key. Dr. Singhal shared the innovative way to conqure social issues is by approaching and applying already working social methods to change issues.

Dr. Robin Poynor

2012-Current

 

My research project "The Yoruba Light in Gainesville" lead me to University of Florida's African Art and Art History specialist, Dr. Robin Poynor. In my interview, he shared his perspective on cultural background and spiritual views of Yoruba peoples. As well as the work of his latest book "Africa in Florida: 500 years of African Presence in the Sunshine state."

Raul Villareal 

2012-13

 

I had the great opportunity twice in meeting international artists & author, Raul Villareal, during his Santa Fe College visits. The first interaction was with my American Humanities Honors class attending an insightful tour lead by Raul of his artwork on exhibit. The second time, Raul was featuring his new book "Hemingway's Cuban Son." Before he left, we exchanged artwork.

Baba Onabamiero Ogunleye

2012-Current

 

My relationship with Gainesville's  local priest and artist Baba Onbamiero Ogunleye also began with the reseach project "The Yoruba Light in Gainesville." Baba Ona demonstrated and shared insight on practicing Yoruba lifestyle and religion in the works of his wooden sculptures. Recently, Baba Ona and I attended the Harn Museum for Dr. Poynor's lecture and his featuring on "Kongo Across the Waters."

 

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