TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024, 7PM

BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S
MUSEUM ROOFTOP

145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Dress: Festive African Attire

Dreams In Action promises to be an unforgettable evening, where the Brooklyn Children’s Museum rooftop is 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 will be immersed in a sensory journey like no other through the vibrant art, cultural experiences, cuisine, and heritage of the African Diaspora.

We will also present 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 headlining performers will include 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 will feature 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.

Featured Performances & Event Activities

Featured performances and gala activities include captivating performances by the Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble and Arkestra Africa featuring Amma Whatt, The Jouvayfest Company and an inspiring award ceremony hosted by Sharon Gordon.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
DOORS OPEN & VIP COCKTAIL RECEPTION

8:00 – 9:00 PM
MAIN EVENT, PERFORMANCES & AWARD PRESENTATIONS

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
AFTER PARTY/DANCING

Host Sharon Gordon

Arkestra Africa Feat. Amma Whatt

Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble

The Jouvayfest Company

An exhilarating after-party headlined by the renowned DJ Spinna

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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