Ms. Afrika Abney has over 15 years of experience providing visual arts, dance, and poetry instruction to children and adults through workshops at private schools and government agencies in Washington D.C. She is the recipient of the Young Artist Grant from the DC Commissions on the Arts and Humanities in 2003 and the Arts in Education Grant from 1995 to 1998.

1. Afrika Abney
202-384-5925
SUMMARY
For more than 15 years, Ms. Afrika Abney has used her talent and skills to
provide and offer instruction to children and adults. Additionally, she has
designed, produced, and implemented workshops at several private schools
and government agencies, including the D.C. Department of Parks and
Recreation. Ms. Abney is a recipient of the Young Artist Grant from the DC
Commissions on the Arts and Humanities in 2003 and the recipient of the
Arts in Education Grant from the DC Commissions on the Arts and
Humanities from 1995 - 1998.
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Hands-on experience in providing education to students for visual arts, dance
and poetry.
 Thorough knowledge of art education principles and youth development.
 Excellent knowledge of designing and implementing curriculum.
 Ability to resolve various issues effectively.
 Ability to coordinate with children and youth for the teaching process.
 Trained art and dance professional.
 Solid understanding of English language.
 Coordinated, designed and implemented workshops for children, youth and
adults in visual arts, dance and poetry.
 Ability to plan ahead, anticipate and articulate teaching program.
EDUCATION
Bell Multicultural High School - 1993
Corcoran School of the Arts – 1997

2. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
AFFILIATEDTEACHING ARTIST. Young Playwrights' Theatre (YPT),
Washington, DC. October 2012 – May 2013. Taught a group of first and
second graders visual art for Young Playwrights' Theatre (YPT) SoJam
Program program. Planned and presented visual arts classes for first and second
grade students of varying backgrounds and abilities , integrating literacy fundamentals
within the context of the classroom instruction; created a safe, structured, and positive
environment for each student; established my own classroom rules for each student to
follow; and prepared and disseminated a weekly report for the Program Manager,
Laurie Ascoli.
ARTS SPECIALIST. Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington,
DC, Washington, D.C. June 20, 2018 - July 25, 2018. Plan and present visual
arts classes for students of varying backgrounds and abilities , create a safe, structured,
and positive environment for each student; and prepare and disseminate a weekly
report for the Program Manager, Justin Love.
SUMMER ACADEMY CAMP PART- TIME ELECTIVE ART TEACHER. Higher
Achievement, Washington, DC - Metro. July 1, 2013 - August 1, 2013 (Center
City PCS - Capitol Hill Campus); and 2003-2004 (Bruce Monroe Elementary
School). Created and implemented a visual arts lesson plan for summer program,
specific to 5th - 8th grade students of varying backgrounds and abilities. Students
gained knowledge and dexterity in specific forms of visual arts, including abstract
painting.
PAST DANCE WORKSHOPS
Malcolm X Park, Washington,DC. 2009 – 2015
Bloombars,Washington,DC. 2012
Columbia Heights MarketPlace, Washington,DC. 2012
Greenbelt Rhythm and Drum Festival, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD.
2013- 2015
Greenbelt Greenman Festival, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD. 2013 - 2015

3. PAST LITERARY WORKSHOPS
Mt. Pleasant Library, Washington, DC. 2013 - 2014. Designed to assist children
ages 6 -12 to expand their literary skills. Information about the workshops was sent via
email and posted on social media.
Takoma Park Library,Washington,DC. 2003. Enhancing Our Imaginations
was funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The
workshop was geared towards young adults. Invited many poets and literary artists to be
a part of the workshop. Some of them include Rebecca Bishophall, Judine Slaughter,
Hank Okoro and many others.
PAST VISUAL ART WORKSHOPS
KUUMBA EXPRESSIONS, WASHINGTON, DC. Culture Coffee on January
31, 2015 and Potter's House on May 16, 2016 and May 23, 2016. They were
sponsored by Culture Coffee, Potter's House and Esther Productions, Inc
Art Enablers. Designed to serve youth between the ages of 6 through 12, including
those with developmental disabilities. Participants were provided instruction in
painting, using traditional and non-traditional materials, with the intent of enhancing
their own natural artistic talent while expanding their fundamental information about
compositional studies, light and shadow, and technique. Further, the workshop
augments participants’ overall education, particularly their communication skills.
Additionally, participants were introduced to many renaissance artists. Some of them
include Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Polluck and Lois M.
Jones. Information about the workshops was sent via email and posted on social media.
Additionally, flyers were circulated and created to promote the workshops.
KUUMBA ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAM. D.C. Department of Recreation
(Emery Recreation Center, Parkview Recreation Center, Hamilton
Recreation Center and Upshur Recreation Center) from 1997 - 1998 and A -
T Seban Mesut (1995- 1998). conducted free fine arts workshop for children
ages 7 – 10. Taught students ages 7 to 10 techniques of drawing, finger painting,
sponge painting, abstract design, clay work, collage designing and monoprinting.
Sponsored by Ms. Afrika Abney and funded by the D.C. Commission of the Arts, Arts
Education Grant Program