Spark: Igniting Dynamic Dialogue

Welcome to Spark, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute!

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Caitlin King is an Innovative and action-oriented leader with experience in nonprofit development, personnel management, facilities management and event execution. She prides herself on being a resourceful problem solver who is well-versed in leading a wide variety of events with a focus on increasing community awareness and involvement. Caitlin has worked as the director of Red Oak Festival along with many other arts institutions in Atlanta. We are so happy for her most recent path of being the executive director of Onward Theatre, a new company who specializes in comedy and improv with a mission to create accessible and diverse theatre experiences within the community.

Welcome to Spark, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute

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Today we talk to ANON the Griot! ANON is a dynamic force at the intersection of spoken word, education, and Hip-Hop culture. Drawing inspiration from the impactful ideologies of Gil Scott-Heron and the subtle subversion of James Baldwin, he wields words as his sword and shield. As an educator, ANON passionately believes in the transformative power of education as a noble revolution. He prioritizes the holistic growth of students over standardized assessments, challenging the status quo. ANON has reimagined the poetry club as “The Griot Circle,” a space where he cultivates empowerment through creative expression. An avid emcee and devoted advocate of hip-hop as a culture, movement, and music, ANON seamlessly integrates his passions into the realm of education. He is the author of “Locked Up but not Locked Down: A Guide to Surviving the American Prison System” and “Poems for a Barfly.” Additionally, he serves as the Cypher Master for the freestyle rap organization, Soul Food Cypher, and pioneers his original course, “Criminology in Hip Hop,” at Pendulum Ink. ANON The Griot’s latest musical endeavor, “Alchemy,” can be discovered on bandcamp.com and all major digital streaming platforms.

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

This week, we sit down with Tatiana Fitata (he/they) about all things flower arrangements, being a filmmaker, an artist, and an organizer in the city of Atlanta. Tatiana will be leading a flower arrangement workshop titled "Harmonious Gardens" this Saturday, October 14th, at the Red Oak Arts Festival in partnership with the Red Oak District. Join us for an insightful conversation as we explore his artistic journey, his unique blend of talents, and his remarkable impact on diverse communities, and get a sneak peek into what to expect at his upcoming floral workshop.

Welcome back to SPARK! A podcast from the South Fulton Institute. This week we sit down with Jessy Díaz.

Jessy is a highly motivated and energetic musician (singer, percussionist, musicologist, and teacher) with international exposure. Originally from Cuba, as a performer she focuses on the Latin jazz, cha-cha-cha, danzón, son, mambo, and bolero genres. Not only is she an excellent singer, she is also competent in playing a wide range of musical instruments. As a multi-instrumentalist artist and music teaching professional, she endeavors to give her all in each single performance and project and is fully committed to providing a solid education and instilling music appreciation in all her students.

Before emigrating to the U.S., Jessy had the opportunity to perform with the Matanzas Symphonic Orchestra (Matanzas, Cuba), University of Arts Symphonic Orchestra (Havana, Cuba), Failde Youth Band (Matanzas, Cuba), and Suns of Cuba (Matanzas, Cuba).

One of the highlights of her career include a performance for President Barack Obama during a Cuban State Dinner in Havana, Cuba, on March 21, 2016. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2017, she has performed at various venues in Florida and Georgia.

A well-rounded music professional, in addition to performing live on stage, working on several studio recording projects, and being a dynamic and energetic teacher, she is also a sought-after Cuban and Afro-Cuban music lecturer. Keep up with Jessy through here website, jessydiaz.com and on Youtube at Jessy Diaz Music!

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Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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This week we sit down with cellist Jenn Cornell. Jenn Cornell is a performer, composer and educator bringing cello across boundaries with her visionary style of playing, creating songs that stretch what a cello can be, and inspiring young musicians with her mentor approach to teaching.  Jenn has had a diverse career as a professional musician beginning at age 11 when she realized she desired to play cello the rest of her life.  Since then, she has crossed over from classical into the genre-bending music she creates today in performance, film scoring, and education of the arts.

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Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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This week we sit down with Co-founders of Reentry Arts Connection. The Reentry ARTS Connection was established in Atlanta, Georgia, in the Spring of 2021, by co-founders Curtis Alexander King, CEO, and Garry Yates, Creative Director.  With combined experience, King and Yates have spent over 50 years of service and patronage in the arts. They understand, on a personal and professional level, how the arts can be transformative and have life-long effects on individuals and communities.

The Reentry ARTS Connection seeks to serve individuals impacted by the justice system by creating platforms, places, and possibilities where their creative voices can be expressed through the arts.

For over 30 years, Curtis Alexander King has been a champion for the arts, beginning in the mid-1980s with his involvement at the Los Angeles Inner City Cultural Center, a multi-arts institution founded as a positive response to the Watts Riots. He relocated to Washington, DC, and worked in public relations and marketing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. King distinguished himself as a leader in audience development as the Community Relations Director for the Alliance Theatre Company and for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, respectively. During his tenure at the Alliance, he also led the Patron Services Team.

Garry Yates has worked in Theatre Arts, Television, Film, and higher education from Atlanta to LA for over 20 years. He has consulted with various organizations on innovative curriculum design and performing arts creations and has memberships with the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, Stage Directors, the Choreographers Society - Associate Member, and the North American Association of Drama Therapy. He is an academician, actor, director-writer, a pioneer in theatre. Yates has held leadership roles throughout Atlanta as the Chair of the Theatre Arts and Mass Media Arts academic programs at Clark Atlanta University and the Educational Director for Theatre in the Square.

Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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This week we sit down with Atlanta quilter and CEO of the Atlanta Quilt Festival, O.V. Brantley. In her own words:

Make sure you don't miss out on the Atlanta Quilt Festival August 4 - September 2 at the Southwest Arts Center with a special showing of "Stitch" on August 6th at 1:30.

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Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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This week we sit down with McKinley Stinson, Jr. Dr Stinson is the band director at J.C. Booth Middle School in Peachtree City, GA. His responsibilities include directing the 6th, 7th and 8th grade concert bands, BMS Warrior Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and Percussion Ensemble. McKinley is the co-founder of Atlanta based trio, North Star Percussion. Mr. Stinson has also performed with Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass, Habib Kiote, The Marcus Young Jazz Quintet, and Aretha Franklin at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA.

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Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant

Welcome to SPARK, a podcast from the South Fulton Institute.

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In this episode, we’ll be talking with Actor Jeff Hathcoat. After living and performing in NYC for almost a decade, Jeff Hathcoat moved back home to Atlanta in 2018. That year, he made his Atlanta debut at Synchronicity Theatre in Midtown, followed by an appearance at Essential Theatre during the summer of 2019 performing in Slaying Holofernes by Emily McClain. Jeff recently appeared in South Fulton Institute's Connect play reading of Clyde's by Lynne Nottage as Jason.

Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, Executive Director

Produced by: Jordan Battle, Administrative Assistant