We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support of our inaugural Dreams in Action: A Night Of African-Inspired Excellence Gala. Your attendance and contribution made the evening truly unforgettable.
The success of the Gala and your generosity brings us closer to fulfilling our mission of establishing a dedicated performing arts center to serve our community. We are sincerely thankful for your trust and loyalty.
With warm regards,
Rubie and Kofi
Dreams In Action was an unforgettable evening, where the Brooklyn Children’s Museum rooftop was transformed into breathtaking installations celebrating North, South, East, West, and Central Africa! From the regal grandeur of the Asante Kingdom to the vibrant rhythms of the Zulu Nation and the enchanting allure of Marrakesh, Morocco, guests were immersed in a sensory journey like no other through the vibrant art, cultural experiences, cuisine, and heritage of the African Diaspora.
We presented our first four recipients of the Asase Yaa Impact & Excellence Award, Atiba Edwards, President & CEO, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Cheryl Todmann, Founder & Executive Producer, Stars of New York Dance, Sheena Wright, NYC’s first Deputy Mayor, and Malik Yoba, actor & CEO, Yoba Development. Sharon Gordon, a multi-talented and acclaimed journalist, actress, and film producer will serve as Host/Mistress of Ceremonies. The night included a high energy dance performance by the Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble, Arkestra Africa feat. Amma Watt, an 11-member Afro beat band, and The Jouvayfest Company, winner of the 2023 J’ouvert Band of the Year- “THE RED LETTERSSSSS” (presented by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association). The afterparty featured music by the renowned DJ Spinna.
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation’s Impact
For over 20 years, Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation has evolved with imagination, agility, discipline, dedication, resourcefulness, and passion. Within its first decade, we established a popular performing company, Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, and powerful enrichment cultural arts-based educational programs. Today, the organization encompasses a robust range of programs, including Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater; Asase Yaa School of the Arts; Asase Yaa Children’s Arts Camp; and Asase Yaa Arts Outreach serving over 1,000 students residing in Brooklyn and its surrounding areas. There is a deep commitment to continue to create a positive impact through arts and cultural practices in our communities. This gala is an effort to balance its founding purpose and spirit with improved infrastructure and the acquisition of a new home base —all of which will better support each program area of the organization that is the entirety of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation.
Kofi Osei Williams, ZAKIYA HARRIS, RUBIE INEZ WILLIAMS and Yao Ababio
Enono Anantom: Symbol Of Making An Impact
Resembling an “elephant’s foot,” Enono Anantom symbolizes the mark that one person can make on the world. People are encouraged to aspire to greatness and to have a positive impact not only in their community but also in the world at large. As an adinkra symbol, adinkra meaning farewell or goodbye in the Twi language spoken by the Ashanti/Asante people of modern-day Ghana, it motivates individuals to take meaningful action and to contribute to the betterment of the world.
Dreams In Action Honorees
Here are our four recipients of the inaugural Impact & Excellence Award. They are being honored for tirelessly advocating and supporting the Arts.
Click on each honoree to learn more.
Atiba T. Edwards
President & CEO, Brooklyn Children's Museum
Atiba Edwards is President & CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM). Prior to his role as President, Atiba spent nearly five years as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at BCM, overseeing visitor experience, finance and human resources, building operations, and marketing.
Cheryl Todmann
Founder & Executive Producer of The Stars of New York Dance
Cheryl Todmann began her career in marketing for media companies like Essence Magazine, The New York Times, TV Guide and MTV Networks. She found her calling as the founder and executive producer of The Star of New York Dance, a 501 c3 nonprofit organization that makes children’s dance dreams come true.
Sheena Wright
New York City’s first Deputy Mayor
Sheena Wright has served in the Adams administration since January 2022, first as deputy mayor of strategic initiatives and, since January 2023, as first deputy mayor.
During her time in the administration, she helped launch the first phase of the MyCity portal, a one-stop-shop where New Yorkers can easily apply for and track city services and benefits. She has helped the city deliver on key planks of the Blueprint for Child Care & Early Childhood Education in New York City — most notably, clearing a backlogged waitlist for vouchers and allowing families of 36,000 children to apply for low-cost, high-quality child care. First Deputy Mayor Wright also co-led the Joint Taskforce to Get Nonprofits Paid on Time, which unlocked more than $4.2 billion in contractual dollars for more than 460 large and small organizations.
Dr. Malik Yoba
Actor, Founder & CEO of Yoba Development
Although this Hollywood veteran offers over three decades of commitment to the arts with over fifty film credits and more than a dozen lead roles in network/cable television series, he considers himself a community and youth advocate first. Born in the South Bronx and raised in Harlem, it was his debut in the 1993 Disney classic Cool Runnings and his performance as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams in the groundbreaking nineties police drama, New York Undercover, that catapulted Malik into the fabric of American culture.
Dreams In Action Gala Committee Members
- Osei Williams
Executive Director - Renee Smith
Gala Chair and Director of Development - Yao Ababio
Founder and Artistic Director, Asase Yaa Dance Theater - Rubie Inez Williams
Director of Operations - Zakiya Harris
Artistic Director, Asase Yaa School of the Arts - Kwesi Nkroma
Managing Director and Program Manager
Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach - Dr. Jawana Johnson
Chairman, Board of Directors - Maisha Sumbry
Treasurer, Board of Directors - Pastor Shaun Lee
Board of Directors - Marlon Rice
- Joy Williams
- Afriqiyah Woods
- Sharon Gordon
- Eugene and Kilanga Santiago
- Sheryl Davis
- Kwesi Brima
- Aidah Muhammad
- Kelley Ndoye
- Asha Akowe
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS!
Community Partnership Sponsors
Dr. Safiya Bandele
Egbe Iwa Rites Of Passage Program