Beyond The Studio

Aitina Fareed-Cooke

Bio

Aitina Fareed-Cooke was told at a young age that she would be a “failure to thrive” as a result of her biological mother's addiction to drugs. At 14 months old her and her 2 siblings were placed into foster care and diagnosed as “Emotionally Handicapped”. When Aitina was three years old she and her sibling lost their mother due to a drug overdose. Though the odds were against her she managed to strive due to her adoptive mother's efforts in keeping her involved in extracurricular activities, community arts programs which introduced her to photography, film, and creative writing. Aitina continues utilizing her camera or “my weapon of mass creativity” and her love of writing music and poetry as a type of “Art Activism” igniting thought and change within her community.

Aitina received her Associates degree in Arts & Humanities at Erie Community College (2009), Bachelor Arts degree in English (2012), and Masters in Science & Education with a focus in Educational Technology (2016) at Buffalo State. Aitina has worked within various non-profit organizations for over 15 years throughout the city of Buffalo NY where she has developed, managed, and implemented countless high-quality creative arts programs. Her unique and innovative ideas have assisted countless youth and young adults in fostering opportunities for growth in creative thinking and problem solving, self-esteem, self-expression, social awareness, and peer collaboration.

Aitina has worked with organizations such as Say Yes to Education serving as a Community Schools Navigator; Young Audiences of WNY serving as the ArtWorks Director & Education Coordinator, Community Action Organization serving as a Youth Services Site Coordinator; CEPA Gallery continuously serving as a Photography Teaching Artist and Board Member, just to name a few. Throughout her tenure at each organization, she was able to contribute to the increase in retention rates of youth and parent involvement in programming and activities, the development and increase in community engagement and partnerships, and securing grant funding for the successful longevity of such programs within such organizations.

The skills that Aitina has developed over time has led her to developing ​Get Fokus’d Productions​ (GFP). GFP is a creative media arts company ​dedicated to capturing project-based stories, designing curriculums to teach youth soft skills through the implementation of photography, film, and creative writing programs, and giving back to the next generation of creatives through a movement called ​Young & Fokus’d​. ​Aitina’s original work has been exhibited at ​CEPA Gallery​, Jamestown Community College, Darwin Martin House, Crzurles-Nelson Gallery at SUNY Buffalo State, Main Street Art Gallery, Blue Plate Studio, and PineAppleCo.

Aitina is now an award-winning photographer, teaching artist, creative director, and lyricist earning recognition through ​43North​’s Ignite Buffalo People’s Choice Award, CEPA Gallery Exhibition Award, SUNY Buffalo State Young Alumnus Achievement Award, Canisius College Trailblazer Award, the National Society of Leadership & Success Excellence in Teaching Award, Kingdom Choice Up Next and Breakthrough Artist Award, BULYPNY Entrepreneurship Award, Mayors Citizens Participation Academy Award, and more. Aitina has also been featured in Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine, Upstart New York, Challenger News, Buffalo News, Buffalo State Alumni Magazine, National Young Audiences Emerging Leaders, ​DJ Booth​, Rapzilla, Trackstarz, and much more.

Eliza's Bio and ways to connect with her:

I'm Eliza Schneider, my mission on this planet is to empower women through embodiment & entrepreneurship.

I currently offer a package called Vocation Activation: branding, logo & web design along with business coaching to midwife your dream into reality.

I live in Marietta, NY where my techno producer husband & I are renovating an old farmhouse.

I spend my time painting, hiking with my pup, reading tarot, dancing, and supporting amazing women through Vocation Activation.

I host a free Tuesday Tune-Up on Instagram at LIVE weekly at 8 pm EST.

Pop by and join me for a collective tarot reading, astrological insights, and storytelling.

Instagram @resolvetoevolve

Check out this link to know more about your human design - https://www.jovianarchive.com/Human_Design/What_is_it

From chemotherapy to now radiology. Lisa's story in our first episode was just scratching the surface of her journey. When we sat down again, earlier this month, she explained things to me that I never could have imagined. Her story is moving, inspiring, and shows how remarkably resilient she is. 

Lisa’s Dance Bio

Lisa Latempa was born and raised in New York City. She started dancing at the age of 5 taking contemporary, tap, ballet, jazz, and African dance. Her dance roots began at a local community dance school, Children’s Arts & Science Workshops before moving on to the Heights School of Ballet and the Harlem School of the Arts. She began flamenco lessons at the age of 10 and continued for over 8 years under accomplished flamenco dancers Ricardo Santiago and Maya de Silva. Following her move to Buffalo, NY in 2006, Lisa began teaching flamenco in the area after taking several workshops in Toronto. She joined the Syracuse-based flamenco dance troupe Puente Flamenco in 2012. Lisa was also a troupe member of Devi Bollywood Performing Arts. Outside of dance, Lisa is a special education teacher in the Buffalo schools and a mom of a 3-year-old boy. 

In March of 2020 she gave a talk about "Identity", the very next day, she finds herself in a nationwide lockdown. Singer, songwriter, recording artist Maya loses herself but finds her purpose during a global pandemic.

Maya By Name, aka Maya Satterwhite, is a recording artist, writer, and inspirational speaker. Maya has self-written and released four musical works, and has had songwriting placements on the Today Show, NCIS: New Orleans, and more. Behind the lens, she has been a part of modeling campaigns for Wristcam, Jared Jewelers, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JoAnn Stores, and Fisher-Price. In 2020, Maya started her “Be Love, Spread Love” movement: daily inspirational and motivational messages, along with her Be Love, Spread Love Podcast.

A dancer’s battle with breast cancer.

Lisa tells an incredible story of her experience with being a stage 3 breast cancer survivor. In our one on one, Lisa takes us through her journey, where she was surrounded by courage, love, support, along with the pain and strength which unfolded after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Through her story and experience, Lisa hopes to inspire others to speak up, to share their journey, and for everyone to take their bodies and health seriously.

Lisa’s Dance Background

Lisa Latempa was born and raised in New York City. She started dancing at the age of 5 taking contemporary, tap, ballet, jazz, and African dance. Her dance roots began at a local community dance school, Children’s Arts & Science Workshops before moving on to the Heights School of Ballet and the Harlem School of the Arts. She began flamenco lessons at the age of 10 and continued for over 8 years under accomplished flamenco dancers Ricardo Santiago and Maya de Silva. Following her move to Buffalo, NY in 2006, Lisa began teaching flamenco in the area after taking several workshops in Toronto. She joined the Syracuse-based flamenco dance troupe Puente Flamenco in 2012. Lisa was also a troupe member of Devi Bollywood Performing Arts.