About Us

What We're About
Griot Soul Films is a non-profit, dedicated to producing and providing
community members direct tools to produce complex literary and historical
images of African Descendants. Griot Soul Films seeks to decrease
racism and violence against African descendants through the production
and dissemination of stories that depict African descendants as whole
people. As part of its mission, Griot Soul Films seeks to partner with local
CBOs interested in community well being.

We intend to increase the number and enhance the quality of films,
both narrative and documentary, available for and about the lives of
African Americans and Black people throughout the Diaspora.

We have several quality screenplays ready for production and are
currently procuring our 501(c)3 status to support fundraising for our
first feature, She Wasn’t Last Night. In Spring 2007, we had a successful
reading of the script where community members offered valuable
feedback on its strengths and potential changes.

Griot Soul Films expects to engage community in several ways:
• Offering Free Films for Check Out By Community Members
• Volunteer Opportunities to Learn About Film & Non-Profit Work
• Low-Cost Workshops in Storytelling Through Film
• Free Movie Nights Followed by Moderated Discussions
• Low-Cost Writer/Storyteller Support Services
• Conferences To Explore Representations of African Descendants

We envision a world with a diverse variety of images available to and
about Black people, where the myriad of stories we hold are presented
with respect and integrity. The heart of our work is collaboration, and
everyone has a role to play.

Griot Soul Films Advisory Board

Tiffany Golden - Tiffany Golden is a film
producer, writer, and activist who engages
ideas of environmental and food justice in
Black and Black connected communities.
Tiffany has a long history of activism and
artistry in the Oakland Bay Area, using her
talents for writing, creating imagery, teaching
and cooking to express and address the
needs of her communities. Tiffany is currently
working toward the production of her
important film, First Born, which address
healing from grief, social trauma, and
sexual violation for Black families.

Kamika Cooper -
                  Kamika Cooper is an accomplished community
                       worker with a background supporting several
                       non-profit organizations. Kamika brings to the
                       board essential skills in finance and budgets a
                        as well as a commitment to community health.
                       Kamika is also a wonderful writer!

Sanjay Sooknanan - Sanjay Sooknanan
is a film producer who loves using
images to tell complex stories. Sanjay
is also a producer on Griot Soul Films
first offering and has experience as a
line producer as well. Sanjay is one of
the owners of The Pegasis Company.
Check out the web-site to see some of
Sanjay's work. Sanjay's Pegasis Company

Griot Soul Films Fiscal Sponsor
Progressive Research and Training for Action

Brenda Crawford - Brenda Crawford,
Executive Director of the Oakland
non-profit organization Progressive
Research and Training for Action,
made the decision to take Griot Soul
Films under the organizations wings.
Brenda Crawford is a community
activist who has supported several
organizations in Oakland while they
worked to procure their non-profit
status. She is also a great teacher
dedicated to helping new activist
learn the importance of building
bridges and working together.

PRTA's Mission -
PRTA promotes community-driven approaches to create
opportunities for people who are stigmatized and oppressed
because of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age,
disability, or economic status so that they participate fully in
society.

Visit Our Fiscal Sponsor Online!
Progressive Research and Training for Action

About the Logo
and the Artist
Dezha Sheppard

15-year-old art prodigy
Dezha Sheppard, agreed
to create the logo for
Griot Soul Films as soon
as she found out what
the mission of our
collective was all about.

The logo itself is three
African descendant's
faces emerging from
the sun. The faces are calm, used to the heat, the
intensity, energized by it. If the piece were three
dimensional one can imagine a fourth face completing the
circle, all their heads embracing a solar source.

Dezha has been drawing and creating incredible,
soulful works of art since she was about 9-years-old. Her
artwork has inspired not only tears or joy from those who
view it, but has provided a catalyst for some in their
spiritual journeys. One can only imagine the depth of
emotion and the depth of spiritual connection Dezha
naturally carries to be able to create such intense
masterpieces from her urban abode in the East Bay Area.

Artistic expression takes on other forms for Dezha as
well, who is studying guitar as well as exploring theatre
arts and film.

The Advisory Board, Executive Director, and all the Cast
and Crew at Griot Soul Films thank Dezha adding her
unique talent to mix and making our site beautiful.

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