Growing up I was taught preconceived notions about Africa. My history classes made me believe the country was underdeveloped. However, it was my peers who shared their experiences and exposed me to the power that their home country holds. From there I learned about different dance styles, music, clothing, and parts of history my teachers were not allowed to teach. It all started when I was enrolled in African drumming class while in elementary school. This is when I learned how live music is used to support movers. We put our skills to the test for our Black History Month showcase, in which we played the drums for the West African dance class students. Intrigued by the relationship between drummers and dancers, I was eager to learn more about African culture, and dismantle the stories being taught to students. Fostering change is important to me.

During my undergraduate career I studied sociology alongside dance, in order to better my understanding on education policies. As a sociology major, I learned how the epistemological practices of educational programs can have a significant impact on students' performance. I was honored to be a Pensby fellow in the summer of 2021, at Bryn Mawr. During this fellowship, I created a WordPress site with an embedded digital timeline that explored why change is slow-moving in the space of higher education. Now, as a graduate student of the Dance education program at Steinhardt, I am deepening my understanding of social structure and how it affects the education system. Therefore, traveling to Uganda will allow me to put these theories into practice, while I get hands-on experience with movers there.

 Through dance I was able to gain knowledge of the motherland. Traveling to Uganda will be a transformative experience. As a Jamaican I often feel disconnected from African culture. Although through history I learned that through the Atlantic slave trade, my ancestors were relocated. Yet, it is hard to believe that when all I am exposed to is Caribbean culture. So, I studied various styles of West African dance. From Sinte, to Kuku/Kulku, to Manjani. As a mover studying these dance styles, I believe it is crucial to connect with the land and those who practice these techniques on a daily basis. I hope to expand my movement vocabulary all while learning more about my history. It will be a privilege to learn about East African dances and compare it to my knowledge of West African dances. It is crucial that students of color get to imagine these opportunities, all while having educational experiences that can provide it for them.

 In conclusion, bringing my visions into fruition starts with this moment here. I am in need of financial support as I try to collect gouges for this opportunity. The expenses will go towards my flight, stay, visa, and other expenses such as food, excursions and much more. I would love to embrace all that Uganda has to offer in a comfortable manner. Financial stability will allow this to be true.