DIVAS for Social Justice launch DIBS in Laurelton to encourage Economic Growth

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DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice in partnership with One Source Consulting provided a six- week entrepreneurship inter-generational program to parents and students at the Linden SDA School where the organization provides a 5-day week after-school program to 6-8th graders. DIVAS for Social Justice encourage youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change. In the after-school setting youth are trained in 3D Printing, Digital Media and developing their engineering and literacy skills. Every year the program must utilize the technology skills they learn towards a social action project. The theme this year for the program at the Linden SDA School program is economics development. In order to provide a holistic parent engagement program to expose the entire community to STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math). The DIBS (Digital Inter-Generational Bridges to Success) is a free program offered to all community members to encourage all generations to be “makers” by developing their business ideas while utilizing technology and designing websites to launch their business ideas.

The business ventures varied from creating a juicing business on Merrick Blvd to creating a non-profit, which mission targeted parents needs for a healthier lifestyle. At the closing ceremony for the DIBS program two entrepreneurs pitched their business in Shark Tank Fashion for a $1000.00 prize and it was truly inspiring. Bevo’s Kitchen and Gather To Get HER successfully pitched their ideas to judges. Bevo’s Kitchen was presented by Gracia Leonce, along with her children and business partners Zipporah and Christian Leonce. Bevo’s Kitchen offers healthy versions of preserves and spreads with little sugar. They also offer healthy soups with all organic products. Gather to Get HER founder was presented by Melissa Apedo who will curate exhibitions that speak to underserved communities and provide access to the arts. Bevo’s Kitchen won over the judges and the $1000 prize but Gather To Get Her gained a client and will be serving as a consultant for DIVAS for Social Justice end of year event with the after-school programming. One Source Consulting and DIVAS for Social Justice are hoping to offer DIBS again in 2017 in Laurelton.

Please feel free to check out photos from the DIBS closing event.

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Clarisa James
Clarisa James is the Co-Founder/Executive Director of DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice. For the past seven years DIVAS has provided free or sliding scale technology training to youth in underserved communities in Central Brooklyn and Southeast Queens. Ms. James has been dedicated to youth development work for the past 15years in the roles of Teaching Artist, After School Director, Curriculum Specialist and artist. Her life's work encompasses empowering youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change and think critically about the issues that are affecting them most. For the past seven years Ms. James has facilitated workshops that help youth develop multimedia projects around environmental justice, housing, leadership development and reproductive justice. Ms. James holds an MFA in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College's Film & Media Department. In addition to DIVAS for Social Justice, Ms. James currently serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Cabinet, Office of the Deputy Mayor Strategic Policy Initiatives at City Hall. Clarisa James is full of gratitude to her parents for providing such a wonderful upbringing and having the foresight to move into the community of Laurelton in the early 1970's. Clarisa is proud to be a daughter of Laurelton.