Break The Boxes

Author, award-winning researcher and inaugural chairperson of the Department of African American and African Studies at Michigan State University, Dr. Ruth Nicole Brown, sits with our hosts Lama, Azmera and Leen to discuss Hip Hop feminism, the value of vulnerability, the importance of honoring Black girlhood and her pioneering book "Hear Our Truths: The Creative Potential of Black girlhood", a fruit of her work with the Saving Our Lives Hearing Our Truths (SOLHOT) Collective.

Harvard Professor of Education, Consultant, Artist, and Choreographer Aysha Upchurch aka The Dancing Diplomat dives into the importance of centering Joy, alternative modes of learning and different ways of being in the world with Lama, Lynn and Azmera.

Upchurch is the founder of @HipHopExLab and creator of the Cant Stop Hip Hop Conference based at Harvard Graduate School of Education with a plethora of resources, inspiration and encouragement to continue to feed the inner creative inside you!

Logo art by Azmera.

To learn more about our volunteer based work visit: breaktheboxes.org/btbstories

Palestinian writer, journalist and cultural activist Rami Younis discusses life post Harvard Religion, Conflict and Peace Fellowship as he calls in from Haifa, Palestine. Azmera Hammouri-Davis, Lama and new guest host Lynn Ezzeddine dive into the creative cypher discussing everything from Black-Palestine solidarity to keeping creative energy alive during the realities of COVID.

#BreakTheBoxes

Model, actor, educator, father and author of “The Media: Shaping an Image of A People” Bill Overton sits down with Lama and Azmera to discuss his formative years in Roxbury, the moment he shared his book with President Barack Obama, and the importance of womxn's representation in the public sphere.

Learn more: breaktheboxes.org/btbstories lamaoudi.com | azmerarhymes.com