damali ayo • News

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						Dear Visitors, Fans, Colleages, and Friends: This one is big. Over the years I've brought you a lot of exciting projects. These projects have brought me more joy than I could ever imagine. "I Can Fix It!" has been presented to numerous audiences across the country. Last October 70 of you joined me in National Day of Panhandling for Reparations. Together we funded three amazing artists whose work engages people in social change. It's been a great time. Our work together has been amazing. You should be very proud. I definitely am. But, I admit, the years of fighting racism has taken a toll on me. I don't remember a time when I was not a spokesperson for racial literacy. My journey on that path begun when I integrated my schools doll collection when I was four years old and I can't remember having a day off since then. We all know how hard this can be. In fact, point 5 for people of color in "I Can Fix It!" is, "Take Care." It's now time for me to do exactly that. As of May 1st, I will no longer be giving talks about how to end racism, however, it is with great excitement that I make the following announcements: 1• How to Rent a Negro THE MOVIE! My acclaimed book, How to Rent a Negro is currently in development to be made into a film by Coalition Films (NY) in Partnership with Participant Productions (LA). Participant Productions is responsible for many outstanding films incliuding Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. This is incredible news. I know that these companies will create an experience in theaters that can help advance a dialogue in our culture about race. Stay tuned to find out when the film will be released. (Give it time, movies take a while to come to fruition.) 2• YOU Can Fix It! At my most recent talk, I met a young woman to whom I said "I'm ready to pass the torch" and she replied with great enthusiasm "I'm ready to take it!" This gave me the greatest joy. I know that with my work in your hands, we will continue to push our culture to advance and develop a greater racial dialogue. I will be training people to give the "I Can Fix It!" presentation. Trainings will be held in any community that can provide a venue, a plane ticket, and participants. The trainings will last for two days and you can participate for a sliding scale fee from $0-500.00. Kits for giving the talk will be available for download (I hope) by the end of this summer. If you are interested in learning how to give the "I Can Fix It!" presentation, please visit my talks page. 3• Connect With Each Other I've set up three networks for you to connect and continue the work we have done here together. BlackBrownGreen.Network.: Sustainability+Social Justice WORK: Whites Overcoming Racism through Knowledge UNITY- People of Color Connecting Please check these out and start a profile on them if you'd like. We are still setting them up but after we do, they will be yours to build, grow, and expand as you see fit. I've met some amazing people over the last few years and now it's time for you to meet each other. 4• Come CROW With Me! Making the connection between social issues has always been my greatest passion. Creating beautiful things with my hands has always been my best form of expression. Now these two parts of me have combined to create one incredible company. CROW Clothing is a new kind of clothing company that offers our customers more than what you wear. Come to CROW and find everything from 10 ways to combat racism to 163 things you can compost. When people compliment your awesome hoodie, you can tell them all about what it takes to build a world where people are respected, understood and honored. On our site you'll find videos, books, playlists and print-outs to help you get positive change started. We make our clothes with eco-friendly, sustainable fabrics that are made in harmony with the environment. Our clothes are made in the USA and we offer our contractors naturopathic care at a low cost. You can find resources on health, fitness and nutrition on our site. And to continue the work you and I started together, CROW will donate 1% of all sales to Now Art Grants, a program that funds artists creating work that engages social change. I can't express how excited I am about this new venture! I hope you will come with me on this journey and find as much satisfaction and joy in CROW as I do.
	Other speakers on race relations damali recommends: tim wise patricia williams ron takaki james spooner shawn taylor al letson harry allen dwayne mdcuffie angela davis paula giddings jenn richeson yuri kochiyama jane elliott
		Do YOU want to learn how to give the "I Can Fix It" presentation? You can! Find out more Free Download "I Can Fix It!: Volume 1 Racism" about this website: My website will remain up and functional and will continue to have resources for you to keep going strong in the work we have been doing together. I hope to continue the National Day of Panhandling for Reparations. It will need a new coordinator, so if anyone is interested in stepping in to that role, please let me know. Team Ayo: Heather and Grant will continue to work for me and for you and coordinate things during this transition.


			Buy it Now. How to Rent a Negro by damali ayo A hilarious and satirical look at race relations that is almost too close for comfort, this pseudo-guidebook gives both renters and rentals "much-needed" advice and tips on technique. Tips are provided in step-by-step outlines for renters to get the most for their money, and how rentals can become successful and wealthy, what they should wear, and topics of conversation to avoid. The book also serves up photo-dramatizations of some of the popular approaches covered in the book, handy tip-boxes, frequently asked questions for renters and rentals, a "How do I know if I'm being rented" quiz, a glossary of important terms, and "quickie" insta-rentals for those who need to rent on the go.						LIVE: How to Rent a Negro by damali ayo "Ayo turns bookstores into conscious comedy clubs" with readings and stories from How to Rent a Negro.

A fresh new direction for my life and yours...

Clothing
by damali ayo
A New Kind of Clothing Company.
Learn more at crow-clothing.com

At we make social change a stylish part of our everyday lives. We create sustainable, fashion forward clothing combined with an interactive resource-driven "web cafe" where customers can come to shop, learn, connect and improve their lives.

We are building a healthy human culture.
We see the many ways our society can change and we help to make that possible. We invest in social change, value physical health, stimulate intellectual growth, and protect our environment.

is written in all caps to remind us that all issues are equal, and that when we connect many aspects of social change including our own personal growth, we are powerful.

We offer a place where you can feed your body, mind and our planet all at once. Whether you are looking for a great new party dress or a resource on social issues, you can turn to .

Our sliding-scale pricing means that a wide variety of people can afford to wear . We may be the first retail clothing company to attempt this fresh approach to sales.

We donate 1% of all sales to Now Art Grants, a program that funds artists creating work that engages social change.

Our nest-egg program strives to re-grow industry in the USA by training people in need of skills and work to sew parts of our garments.

and there's so much more...

Founder and Designer, "MamaBird" damali ayo:
"I have a MFA in Visual Art and a finely tuned eye for all things visual and energetic. I have been sewing and designing clothes since I could thread a needle. I have practiced yoga for ten years, and live an eco-lovely life where I compost, sheet mulch, save rainwater, grow food and medicinal herbs. I have been teaching practical steps to end racism at venues across the US for over fifteen years. I have a comitment to health and fitness and finding natural paths to healing. My life demonstrates by belief that all things are connected."

"I have seen that change starts with people, relationships and courage. This fuels my passion for connecting people with resources and information to help them be all they can be.

Come join this exciting new venture with damali!

*it's more than what you wear.


	web design by tw designs		Photos by Pete Springer