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Afia Walking Tree Resume
Community Activism and Leadership Development Experience
Spirit Drumz Oakland, California 1994 to Present
Position: Visionary and Lead Facilitator
Designed and implemented an integrated diversity training program for educational organizational change, specifically geared for teachers, staff, and students from pre-school to college-level, called Transformative Leadership: Exploring Our Diversities (TLEOD). TLEOD framework provides strategies and accessible tools which advances effective leadership, professional development, productivity, and pro-active communication in teams, trainings, and organizations working towards ending all forms of oppression.
Spirit Drumz Oakland, California 1996 to Present
Position: Founder, Executive Director, Lead Facilitator
Envisioned and created an empowerment organization which fosters community involvement and activism. Envisioned and developed culturally relevant components, which uproot oppressive systems of communication, information, and leadership, engaging personal and collective explorations of cultural awareness, positioning and accountability. As a multi-instrumentalist, performer and songwriter I produce, direct, write, arrange, and perform unique ³grass-roots² music specially designed to awaken the voice of all peoples to activate revolutionary liberation via simple sound power affirmations. Create drumming empowerment intensives and ongoing classes for women and youth in the Bay Areas. Provide empowerment workshops for various public and private sectors non-profit and for-profit organizations. Visit our website at www.spiritdrumz.org
Sistahs Steppin in Pride Oakland, California 2001 to Present
Position: Spiritual Advocate, Musical Director, March Facilitator
Assistant to long time-Activist and visionary, Peggy Moore; coordinate all aspects of creating vibrational medicine via drumming and walking on a hour-long route with hundreds of women and allies in the streets of Oakland; set the spiritual tone and design the healing sanctuary at the march and festival. Core committee member for planning and implementing all aspects of annual East Bay Dyke March an Festival, a grassroots celebration.
University of California at Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California 1995 to 1998
Position: Residential Life Coordinator, Student Advocate
Facilitated campus-wide operations for all residential life housing needs for 550 undergraduate students; created and implemented housing logistics and discipline modules; designed and supported the personal and professional development of a large network of students and staff leaders utilizing culturally relevant communication strategies and innovative programming contributing to attrition rate of Oakes College; Created and directed a multicultural video and historic documentation of the College, adopted at other Colleges at UCSC and beyond. Revived a sense of community through involvement in task forces to ensure the creation of safe spaces for the population of 55% students of color. Added new security system in dorms and community spaces; assisted in the redesign of community run café, which housed a monthly open mic night, building alliances within the college and initiated bridges across colleges. Supported the initiation of caucuses and forums for underrepresented students and staff.
Bank Street College of Education - Liberty Partnerships Program New York, New York 1991 to 1999
Position Youth Advocate, Program Coordinator, Instructor
Fostered in-depth knowledge and advocacy for the educational rights of youth with special needs; Shared resources and newfound theories to support organizational infrastructure and hone life skills for thousands of young adults in school environments; Weekend College 1991 to 1994; After-School Program, 1993 to 1994; Environmental Science Summer Academy at Bard College, 1994 to 1997; Language Arts, Creative/Expressive Arts and Technology Summer Academy at Vassar College, 1999. Served over 250 inner-city youth per year.
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York 1987 to 1990
Course of Study: Psychology, Feminism, Africana Studies
Positions: Campus Activist & Cultural Ambassador; Transfer Student Liaison to the Dean of Studies 1987-1990; Head Summer Program Counselor for Transfer Students, 1987 1990; Founder and Convener of the only Black Womanıs Caucus, 1989 to 1990; Black Feminism: A new Pedagogy Course Instructor, 1990.
Public Speaking/Interviews
NPR National Broadcast by Lonny Shavelson The Underground Drum Sanctuary and Harriet Tubman, 2004
Bay Area Business Womenıs News, East Bay Lesbians March to the Beat of Their Own Drums, July 2004
Desert Sun Newspaper, Give Peace a Chance, October 2003
Bay Area Business Womenıs News The Underground Drum Sanctuary in East Oakland, Spring 2003
Oakland Tribune Walking Tree of Spirit Drumz leads Sistahs Steppin/ March with Drums, Sept 2002
Bay Area Business Womenıs News, Community Activists Respond to 911, September 2001
KZSC 88.1FM, Ladies of Jazz Program, Soul Affirmationz CD Release, Santa Cruz, California; April 1999
Village Heartbeat Magazine, California, Spiritual Leader and Drummer; December 1998
University of California at Santa Cruz, Independent Project: Local Santa Cruz Artist Lives; October 1998
Womenıs Voices Newspaper, Walking Tree: Walking Her Joy, September 1998
KPFA 94.1FM, Elemental Roots Show, Berkeley, California; September 1998
Audio/Visual Recordings
Into the Rhythm by Debbie Nargi and Friends, September 2004
Sum Of Us Quartet CD, California, April 2003
Gather The Women Theme Song with Electric Angel Band, Feb 2003
Soul Affirmationz CD by Afia Walking Tree, May 2000
Liberty Partnerships Program, New York; Video documentary for Summer Academy, August 1999
Afia Walking Tree Live, Santa Rosa Public Access, August 1998
Spirit Drumz: Affirming Community Spirit through Percussion and Ritual, Video documentary, 1998
In Da House: Multicultural Theme Housing at Oakes College, Video documentary, September 1995
Souls Aı Gathered CD by Ase Drumming Circle, New York; 1994
Awards & Honors
San Francisco Vanguard Sabbatical Grant. $14,500, May 2005.
Afraka 2005 Project- Spirit Drumz raised $20,000 for Walking Tree to Souljourn to Guinea and Ghana, as an Ambassador to learn rhythms, culture, and study with master healers and drummers; January to April 2005.
Community Coronation Ceremony, honored and crowned Afia Walking Tree, Chief Amazon Master Drummer: Sa Chet Kuti Wa, for her immense life path journey as a visionary, master drummer, healer and activator; December 19, 2004.
Oakland Cultural Funding Grant. $4,800 For FunDRUMentals Workshop Series for Women. 2002-2003.
Shirley Oakes Butler Scholarship award for international students: Full tuition package for three years. 1987 to 1990.
African American Student Life Community Appreciation Award, University of California at Santa Cruz. 1995-1996.
Masterıs Thesis Portfolio Project: Multiple Life Skills for Adolescents at Risk of School Failure received honors and acclaim as the first of its kind to address the needs of inner-city adolescents using the renowned Bank Street Collegeıs Early Childhood Special Education framework. May 1994
Education
Bank Street College of Education
Masters in Special Education (M.Ed.) May 1994
Special Education & Adolescent Development
Vassar College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) May 1990
Psychology, Africana & Women's Studies
LaGuardia Community College
Dean's List March 1986 to July 1987
Accounting and Liberal Arts
Contact Afia Walking Tree at 510-534-9603 walkingtree@spiritdrumz.org
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