Buffalo, NY – On Wednesday, August 31, local artist Aitina Fareed-Cooke,
owner of Get Fokus’d Productions (GFP), will host a public art
exhibition, community celebration, and premier of her newest
production, Tales From the Porch, at 225 Glenwood Avenue, starting at
5:30 pm.
Fareed-Cooke was awarded funding by the New York State Council on
the Arts (NYSCA) through Arts Services Inc.’s fiscal sponsorship in
support of the second iteration of Tales from the Porch, a
groundbreaking exhibition that amplifies stories told by minority-
owned businesses and organizations that are impacting the Buffalo
community. Through the combination of media arts, dance and
movement, music, and poetry, these stories will be displayed in a public
art exhibition in conjunction with a community school supply
giveaway.
GFP amplifies the stories of Black leaders and organizations that are
doing good work even in the face of the pandemic and the Buffalo
tragedy of May 14. GFP will provide high-quality production to capture
community leaders who are diligently doing the work necessary to help
overcome evil with good. This work, when displayed to the public, will
ignite thought, expand perspectives, and encourage the community to
persevere.
“We all have our porches. Our platforms from which we share our
stories. Our lives. From these porches we learn perspectives. We learn
of the varying commonalities and complexities that exist, human to
human,” said Fareed-Cooke. “As we exchange these tales, we share our
hopes, fears, and dreams. Together we discover the beautiful weight of
reality, which is that we are all human. Different, yet the same.”
Creative Partners
The Get Fokus’d Productions team has partnered with multiple
organizations that support youth development through the arts and
Black entrepreneurs within media, music, dance, and more. GFP’s
creative partners are:
• Alex Felix, EarthBound Films NY, Videographer
• Carolinah Blu, BangerHouse Music Group, Audio Engineer and
Music Producer
• Stephen Davis, 40KDesigns, Graphic Designer
• Luqman Muhammad, 22Reform!, Videographer
• Schondra Aytch, SneakVibing, Social Media
• Jillian Hanesworth, Poet/Spoken Word Artist
• MeKisha Rivers, Dancer
• Lindsey Niccs, Singer
• The Crusader Marching Unit of Buffalo NY
• The Foundry, Mayor Summer Youth student carpenters
• Greg Garrett, MUDD Renovation LLC, Owner
• CEPA Gallery, Photography Works student photographers
• Wakanda Alliance, Student Photographers
Participant Storytellers
• Anthony Pierce—Wakanda Alliance, Founder
• Kelly Diane Galloway—Project Mona’s House, Founder
• Jamil Crews—Crews Control Media, CEO
• JoAnna Rozier-Johnson—Community Action Organization, VP of
Youth Services & The Crusaders Marching Unit of Buffalo NY,
Founder
• Stephen Forman Sr.—Christ Crusaders Assembly, Pastor and
Thyme & Honey, CEO
• Gail Wells—Buffalo Freedom Gardens, Founder
• Alexander Wright—African Heritage Food Co-op, Founder
About Get Fokus’d Productions
Get Fokus’d Productions is an award-winning creative media arts
company specializing in capturing “human-first” stories through
photography and film, teaching emerging artists and entrepreneurs
how to capture and share their own stories, and giving back to the next
generation of creatives.
Get Fokus’d Productions Team
• Aitina Fareed-Cooke, Creative Media Director, CEO
• Alanda Gethers, Communications & Logistics Liaison
• Shannon Mays, Communications Liaison
• Joshua Cooke, Operations Lead
• Isaac Fareed, MyKiss Washington, Hannah McAndrew, Young
and Fokus’d Apprentice
