Black Philanthropy Month Celebration - Arts Expo Booklet by Hampton Roads Community Foundation

August 7, 2025

Cocoa Brown

Arts Expo Artists

Daquan Garnett

Daquan Garnett is the 2024 Norfolk Youth Poet Laureate, recognized for his exceptional talent in poetry and his dedication to community engagement. His poetry often explores themes of suffering and hope, particularly in relation to his experiences in a community grappling with food insecurity In 2023, Garnett created an original poem that he performed alongside his Teaching Artist Mentor, Pharrell Williams, at The Mighty Dream Forum. Alongside his role as a poet, Garnett has also been an apprentice glassblower at the Chrysler Museum of Art's Perry Glass Studio since 2020. This experience has enabled him to delve into the intricacies of glass art, showcasing his versatility and dedication to the arts.

Dr. Janice Sims Johnson

Dr. Janice Sims Johnson began quilting in 2010 and has made over 200 quilts since that time. She loves to use bold multiple colors in her works and often combines embroidery with traditional blocks. Her work has been exhibited at several galleries and museums. In 2004, Dr. Johnson formed the African American Sewcial Threaders Quilt Guild which has grown to a membership of over 30 quilters. She is also a member of the 54-40 African American Quilters Guild and the Tidewater Quilters Guild. Contact Dr. Johnson at janicejoh@hotmail.com.

Earl Manning III

Earl Manning III is a visual artist and photographer from Hampton, Virginia, whose work centers on Black stories. His work explores themes of love, humanity, and the full spectrum of human emotion, often using black and white imagery to emphasize rawness and truth. Manning’s work has been exhibited in several institutions and reflects on intergenerational memory, fading communal bonds, and the emotional landscapes of Black life asking viewers to slow down, witness, and feel. Beyond the gallery, his imagery has appeared on city-commissioned billboards and murals. Manning has served as a resident studio artist with the Contemporary Arts Network. Contact Earl Manning at manningearl7@gmail.com.

Sonya Phillips

Sonya Z. Phillips is a Virginia Beach native, U.S. Army veteran, and multipassionate creative entrepreneur. With over 30 years of sewing experience, Phillips is an international fashion designer. She is the founder of Stretch Couture and Sustainabili-T, two brands dedicated to sustainable fashion and empowering creativity. She teaches sewing lessons and mentors aspiring designers through hands-on education and incubator programs. Phillips’ creative work and global storytelling extend to Ghana, where she serves as the Executive Aide to Torgbe Volo Yingor 1st, the Economic Development Chief of Volo. Through this role, she helps amplify culture, entrepreneurship, and innovation across borders. Learn more at www.sonyazphillips.com or www.StretchCouture.com.

L. Prenell

Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, L. Prenell is a multidisciplinary artist known for his detailed, lifelike works in sculpture, ceramics, and painting. Prenell’s work explores themes ranging from history to nature, blending realism with stylized forms to create emotionally resonant pieces. His life-size sculpture, Hester’s Achilles Heel, was featured in the Arthritis Research Foundation’s magazine in 2017, and in 2023, his ceramic piece Riaba was highlighted by the Chrysler Museum of Art’s e-magazine. Widely exhibited throughout the region, Prenell’s art continues to engage and inspire diverse audiences. Learn more at www.Lprenell.com.

Clayton Singleton

Clayton Singleton, a Virginia resident, is a dynamic force in the realms of verbal and visual art. His creativity has shone through in notable projects, such as designing sets for The Virginia Opera’s productions of “Porgy and Bess” and “Freedom’s Journey.” His artistic contributions have garnered attention in prestigious publications, and he has created public murals and participated in group exhibitions. Recently, he was honored as an artist-inresidence at The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in St. Croix, USVI. Additionally, Singleton joined the Zawadi International Artists Exchange, traveling to Amsterdam, Paris, and Nairobi, Kenya in 2024. Learn more at www.claytonsingleton.com.

Cynthia Thomas

Cynthia Thomas is a Virginia Beach-based visual artist, costume designer, singer, dancer, actress, comedienne, and owner of a thriving art gallery. A self-taught sculptor, painter, and sketcher, Thomas brings bold creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to every piece she creates. Her work reflects a deep passion for storytelling through texture, form, and color, making her a unique voice in the local art scene. Thomas has participated in local art shows and visual art exhibitions. Learn more at www.look-artgallery.com.

CJ Telfaire

Raised in Philadelphia, CJ Telfaire’s creations—murals, scripts, garments, and sustainable systems—are living artifacts of survival, each woven with the spirit of revolution and the tenderness of home. His work exists at the intersection of art, ancestral legacy, and radical system design. Through Coowala Clothier, he honors those who came before while blueprinting futures for those yet to come, using sacred geometry, street language, and cultural memory to restore what’s been broken, forgotten, or stolen. Telfaire doesn’t just make art—he builds legacies, speaks in frequencies, and designs for transformation. Learn more @cjtelfaire.

Participating Arts Organizations

Aspire Art Gallery

The Aspire Art Gallery is located at 645 Church Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, in the Aspire apartment complex. The mission of the Gallery is to provide arts and cultural programming that will stimulate arts creativity, awareness, education and diversity for the residents of the City of Norfolk and for all of the Hampton Roads community. This mission will be achieved through programming to include arts education, art exhibitions, community arts and literary activities. Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays. Visit www.aspireartgallery.org to learn about art exhibitions and programs.

Tidewater African Cultura

In its 7 years of existence as a nonprofit or the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance (T has strived to unite the greater Tidewater ar through educational programs, cultural ar events. TACA moves to restore well-being and advance the status of Black people worldwide b addressing issues of equity and access in our global society. Our vision is solidarity thr the celebration of the African Diaspora worldwide.

TACA promotes both traditional and contemporary African music, dance, and other forms of African arts to the local community. Our African Cultural Education program exposes youth and adults to the rich and diverse cultures of Africa, helping to break down stereotypes and misconceptions, all while enjoying dance, music, and folk tales. Since its May 2022 début, the TACA Dance & Drumming Ensemble has been adding authentic African Dance to events all over Hampton Roads. The dancers and drummers hail from Ghana, Sierra Leone, the United States, and Zambia, bringing their diverse cultures and traditions with them to create a true African Diaspora cultural experience with every performance. Learn more at taca757.org.

Teens with a Purpose

Teens With a Purpose (TWP) – The Youth Movement is a peer-led, creative youth development (CYD) organization. Founded in 1996 by Deirdre Love, it became a nonprofit organization in 2008. Our mission is to create a platform for youth to use their voice, creativity, reflection, and action to foster personal growth, transform lives and positively impact their communities.

Through CYD, we engage youth in hands-on arts experiences— spoken word, music production, creative writing, visual arts, and horticulture—that double as tools for personal expression, social-emotional growth, and community building. These programs are designed to increase positive influences in young people’s lives, promote academic success, health and wellness, and develop workforce and life skills. Learn more at www.twpthemovement.org.

TRS KIDS

TRS Kids is a vibrant initiative that harnesses the power of arts and culture to educate, entertain, and inspire young minds. Through various creative programs, we empower youth to express themselves, explore their identities, and engage with their communities in meaningful ways. The impact of TRS Kids goes beyond just learning; it fosters a sense of belonging and encourages collaboration among young people. By celebrating creativity, we are not only nurturing the next generation of artists but also building a stronger, more connected community. Learn more at www.TRSKIDS.com.

VIRGINIA AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

The Virginia African American Cultural Center a nonprofit organization, will be a place wher residents and visitors can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience relating to their lives, historically, aesthetically and culturally The Center will transcend race and unite the history of many older communities by sharing stories that shaped the fabric of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It will highlight the contributions and achievements of African Americans in the region.

Its mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, inform and celebrate Virginia’s African American history, culture and community and to educate the public about African American contributions in all areas of endeavor. It will be the statewide leader in generating historical and cultural content through programs, artistic performances, and curated exhibits. Learn more at www.vaaccvb.org.

HOW CAN YOU ADVANCE PHILANTHROPY?

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Individuals:

Learn about and support your local arts organizations.

Join a giving circle at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation

• Visionaries for Change

• Community Leadership Partners

Designate a nonprofit organization as a beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement accounts

Use your voice to share your personal philanthropy story in person and on social media.

Families:

Spend time together on a volunteer project.

Support the Black Community Partnership Fund at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation This fund supports local, Black-led nonprofits.

Start a family fund at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and involve younger generations in recommending grants to nonprofits

Businesses:

Start a charitable giving program that matches your employees’ donations to nonprofits

Encourage employees to serve on nonprofit boards and to volunteer

Support events hosted by nonprofits by sponsoring or buying tickets.

the QR Code to discover how you can partner with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for your charitable giving HamptonRoadsCF.org

HAMPTON ROADS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

INSPIRING PHILANTHROPY. CHANGING LIVES.

With roots dating back to 1950, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is a permanent charitable endowment whose mission is to make life better in Hampton Roads through civic leadership, philanthropy, and grantmaking. Its vision is a thriving community with equitable opportunity for all. The Foundation is the leading provider of grants and scholarships in Hampton Roads.