YOUNG WOMEN RISING
Day Camp for Girls Age 12-16
STAFF BIOS
Amani Malaika
As a multi-disciplinarian, Amani’s work draws from her broad education in counseling, the arts and experience as a professional singer, songwriter and producer.
Her multidisciplinary degree in performing arts and counseling from the University of New Mexico provided a solid foundation for Amani’s work over the last 10 years as a wellness practitioner providing private and group sessions, educational and transformational workshops, as well as program and curriculum development. Amani has worked with youth in several settings including behavioral health treatment facilities for youth, juvenile detention centers and has provided “holistic practices for the artist” workshops for the University of New Mexico Department of Theater, and several theater companies across the US.
An accomplished singer, performing since a child, Amani’s music has taken her around the globe to many cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ibiza, Vienna and Amsterdam. She is currently a recording artist and staff songwriter for two Amsterdam based labels Be Yourself Music & Pencilbrain Records.
Brenda H. Marley
Born in Salt Lake City Brenda H. Marley is a seasoned performer/entertainer and entrepreneur. She is the mother of 5 children and has 3 grandchildren. She became a foster parent to assist the families of some 25 children while living in the Belen, NM area.
Ms. Marley, known as the Story Songbird Woman, has worked with her own band and currently works with a band called: The Casualz. Brenda Marley also travels throughout the state providing storytelling and one woman presentations throughout New Mexico. Ms. Marley has helped found or assisted with the opening, research & foundations of: Crown City Security, The Pasadena Inception Committee, The Human Performance Training Center, Crown City Martial Arts School, La Siringitu Vegetarian Café, Kamaria Creations Beauty Salon and Day Spa, and Young Women Rising... as well as her OWN performing arts business.
Ms. Marley is a member of the National Council of Negro Women as well as the Storytellers of New Mexico. Ms. Marley is dedicated to: Education, Creativity, Multi-Cultural empowerment and enrichment, and spreading joy and light to her family and community at large.
Bethany DeLaHunt
Bethany has been pursuing a visual arts career by learning whatever skill is necessary to accomplish her vision. Most recently, the vision, being a small house in which to live in while completing a Masters degree in Fine Art at the University of New Mexico. Bethany moved to New Mexico in 2007 to work at VSA North 4th Art Center, teaching and developing visual and performance arts curriculum for individuals with developmental disabilities and children on the Autism Spectrum. During this time, she had the opportunity to facilitate multimedia art classes at community centers and juvenile detention facilities and programs around the Albuquerque Metro area.
As a councelor at the National Hispanic Cultural Center's, Circo Latino, she discovered a surprising sense of empowerment through learning how to walk on stilts, a skill she never even imagined having as an interest. Today she loves to teach people, of any age how to both build and walk on stilts.
Bethany will be an art instructor at Young Women Rising, facilitating art projects that explore concepts and issues that are being introduced through out the Program.
Erin Damour
In 2007, after being a dedicated Nia student for 5 years, Erin decided it was time to expand her experience beyond being a student, and became a White Belt certified teacher. She has taught regularly since , and in 2010 earned both her Black Belt and Nia 5 Stages Certification. Trained in hatha yoga and bodywork (massage therapy, polarity, reflexology, shiatsu, postural alignment), Erin has a deep and playful curiosity of human anatomy and physiology, movement potential and health. And, she loves to share the Nia Technique with anyBody! Erin's philosophy is that movement is not only our birthright, but a venue for fun, exploration, creativity, discovery and transformation. Come enjoy great music, fun, community and movement exploration in one of Erin's classes
J.J. & Samantha Bear
J.J. and Samantha Bear have been teaching Zumba for two years and teaching exercise classes for over four years. Exercising and teaching class to others runs in the family. They grew up going to their parents' exercise classes. Recently, J.J. and Samantha have fallen in love with teaching Zumba. Zumba is an amazing way to work out without feeling like you are working out, its all about dancing and having fun! They are excited to share their passion with the young women participating in the Program.
Kalika Tallou Davis
Kalika started her career as a cosmetologist in 2004. She has extensive training and knowledge in the art of hair coloring, cutting techniques and make-up art. As a woman of Navajo decent, she offers Sacred Circles for young women to connect with one another to discuss global perspectives, create art and bond together. Her focuses emphasize traditional Native practices in connecting with Mother Earth, Cosmo Father Sky meditations, getting in touch with root chakra and moon time. She has a passion for building community at a young age and for educating young women on the power of their design as life givers and connecting with our ancestors by offering gifts & food to all our relations, thereby continuing to create trust in these relationships and securing the knowledge that we are never alone.
Patricia (Patty) Raschel
Patty will be working with the Young Women Rising Summer Day Camp as an Instructor. Patty Raschel was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She became a vegetarian at the young age of 11 and is now a vegan and an animal rights activist. She has a passion for making "feel good food" and loves to be in the kitchen. She graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in 2010 with honors and received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She taught 2nd grade at a charter school in Albuquerque for a semester before moving out of state. From October 2011-March 2013 she lived in Fort Rucker, Alabama with her husband while he went to Army flight school. Now that she is back in New Mexico she wants to pursue her true passions in life; helping children and animals and making the world a better place!
Trey Pickett
Born in Altadena, California in 1985, Trey is a choreographer, dancer, instructor, personal trainer and coach who moved to NM with his performing family. Trey is currently working on his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance at the University of New Mexico. Trey has 14 years of dance experience which consists of African, Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Jazz, Ballroom and Street Dance.
Trey was selected to do a solo at the American College Dance Festival representing New Mexico in New York City. Trey has performed with companies and artists such as: Johnathan Cane and Vladamir con Dereche of Julliard, Karen Price, Celia Dale, Alex Osodnik, and Antwon Davis of the LXD, and Moladi and Jason Nias of stomp and cirque de soleil, Rujeko African Dance on Broadway, Patricia Dickenson, Odara Dance Ensemble, NM Ballet company, University Dept. of Dance and much more. Trey holds such honors as being the first black male principal dancer with New Mexico Ballet Company featured in new movie Lemonade Mouth, Guardian of the Seal NM treasures office, and featured in the NM awards for his role in a hit video to name a few. Trey is an advocate for dance and the youth in schools doing both school tours and motivational lectures and demonstrations.
Trey has taught at DSTW, UNM, Allwins, Harwood Performing Arts, Fishbacks, Marshalls Performing Arts, ABQ Academy, Chicago Inner City Youth, and many other schools and studios in New Mexico.
Trey is proud to be one of the founders of Warehouse 508, a New Mexico avenue for youth creativity and the arts! He is also the Artistic Director of his dance company Disciples of Chaos. Their mission is to reach the heart of New Mexico and inspire change! DC is inspired by a new age movement bringing passion, joy, and art to sculpt minds and bodies of today for tomorrow’s professional world! Trey as an ex-athlete that wants to bring a new athletic sense to dance and inspire PURE organic movement!
Vanessa Mathis
Vanessa Mathis was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. As a young girl she was very much into sports but, by the age of 7 she became interested in dance, and from there a new passion had formed. Throughout her dance career she has been trained in Hip Hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, ballet, tumbling, and Brazilian Samba. She views dance as a way to share the personality, character and spirit, as well as encourage and motivate. Vanessa has also been exposed to other aspects of the performing art world such as modeling and acting. Vanessa first started modeling at the age of 3. In her teen years she was signed to Gwynn Fox Talent Agency in Burbank, CA where she was professionally trained in modeling and acting and received her first professional gig being featured in a national music video “Unappreciated” by R&B group Cherish. She has also worked with many local photographers and has been in numerous fashion shows. Vanessa is also an aspiring social worker with a mission to uplift and help New Mexico youth rise above difficulties that life may bring. Vanessa is honored and blessed to be a principal dancer as well as director of Disciples of Chaos Dance Company, where she has been able to explore herself not only through dance but mentally and spiritually.
William (Will) Simmons
Will serves the Young Women Rising Summer Day Camp in the capacity of Administrative Assistant, Web Master and auxiliary support. Will Simmons was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and is father of eight (6 boys and 2 girls). He moved to Albuquerque in 1991 and has worked in the community supporting families and children as well as operating a small organization and de-clutter business Life of Leisure, through which his incomparable organizational skills have made dramatic impact on those he has aided. He is founder of the non profit Coalition for Human Advancement and programs such as R.E.A.C.H (Referral to Existing Agencies and Community Help), J.A.M. (Joining Adolescents and Music) and P.R.I.D.E (Preventing Recidivism through Individual Development and Education). As a United States Marine and martial artist he has instructed children and women in the art of self defense and emotional intelligence, yet his greatest passion and skill is as a father. Will is ever ready to lend his indomitable spirit and energies helping the community and often mentors youth in crisis.
