This pandemic has affected us all in so many different ways. The artist community is especially hard hit and one of our own community members, Miss Habiba Addo, has been affected immensely and has lost all forms of income since March!

Miss Habiba and her art are an important part of this community. We would like to help Miss Habiba survive through this pandemic (money raised will pay for rent and other essential expenses) so that she can be there for our children once more when we go back to our school buildings. 

For helping Miss Habiba we would like to offer the following gifts (if interested, please email us at [email redacted] once you have donated on the site to arrange for your gift):

$1 - $49                   Miss Habiba's gratitude
$50 - $100            15 min story session over Zoom for kids, families or adults
$101 - $200          30 min story session over Zoom for kids, families or adults
$201 - $300          Persian meal (vegan) for 4 (Portland Area delivery only)
$301 - $400          30 min story session in person at a Portland park for up to 15 people, for kids, families or adults
$401+                       1 Hour dance workshop in person at a Portland park for up to 6 people, for kids, families or adults

 
Please read further for more information on our beloved Miss Habiba.

Miss Habiba Addo was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. She studied Dance and Theater at the University of Hawaii in Hilo and at Portland State University. During this time she studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Haitian and West African dance forms.

Miss Habiba has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She teaches dances from Ghana, Guinea, Senegal and Cuba. She is also a Vocalist and a Storyteller who presents and teaches her art with reverence and laughter. Miss Habiba shares, practices and lives her art. She has performed, give lectures and taught classes at universities, K-12 school (including our own Irvington Elementary), cultural events, private studios, libraries and community centers. During the beginning months of the pandemic when schools were forced to go to online teaching, she even offered free storytelling sessions over zoom twice a week to help uplift kids’ spirits.

In Miss Habiba’s own words:

Stories carry messages.
The messages reveal, they tell us something about the cultures from which they come…
We begin to sense and learn what is important to the people of that culture.
What do they prioritize, what do they value?
Also, what does their history include?

Some stories remind us of what we might have forgotten.
How precious we are to each other.  We need each other. 
How we can best take care of ourselves and each other.

The animals always help me remember.

Thank you!