Wow. 2020 threw us for a loop. My last post on this blog was regarding my doctorate I earned last May 2020. I’ve been quite busy in 2020 despite the quarantine and general shut down of life as usual. I don’t believe I will be posting much on this blog in 2021. I have quite…
Category: Arts Advocate
I Graduated with My Doctorate this Month
I received my diploma digitally this past Saturday and it’s official, I’m a graduate of Morgan State University’ department of Advanced Leadership and Policy Studies as a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership/Higher Education! Not sure if it matters, but I graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I was one of 45 doctoral students who…
Why Distance Reiki Is Just the Thing You Didn’t Know You Needed Right Now
COVID-19 has taken our world by storm as country after country has implemented measures to ensure that the virus does not take any more lives. For the first time in my lifetime, I have been quarantined in my home, mandated to work from home and restricted in my interactions with other citizens. Social distancing is…
Becoming a Doctor During COVID-19
View this post on Instagram This and my robe came in the mail. I am not above building a stage for my own personal graduation. Lol #graduation #morganstate #doctoral #doctor #graduate #capandgown #doctoralrobe A post shared by Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman (@khadijahonline) on Mar 19, 2020 at 10:55am PDT I became a doctor when quarantining…
New play in Silenced Voices festival
My new 10-minute play View from the Porch has been chosen to be part of the Anacostia Playhouse’s New Works Festival, Silenced Voices. This festival includes plays that ponder the themes of displacement and its effect on the residents of Anacostia and neighborhoods East of the River in Washington DC. As residents are displaced, what…
Intersection of Being a Parent & Being an Artist
My artist journey largely intersects with my parenting journey. In 2009, I was so siked to perform in the DC edition of the Green Fest which was at its height around that time. The festival took place at the Convention Center and I had invited visual artist Choke to do live art while my girl…
Being on the Apollo
Watched an amazing documentary on the Apollo theater on HBO last week. The history of that venue never ceases to amaze me and I am honored to have performed there three times in my lifetime. The first two times were in 1999. I went to Harlem, NY with a group of friends I had met…
Parent’s Guide to Watching the Movie ‘Harriet’
Originally posted on So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.):
I had the privilege of seeing a screening of the movie Harriet, directed by Kasi Lemmons about a month before it was released in theaters. So, be warned that this article has spoilers regarding the plot of the film although we are all familiar…
Healing Mom, Happy Mom Workshop
So our youth aspire, we, as parents, heal ourselves so our children will be healed. I have experienced many shifts, challenges, highs and lows that have impacted my mental, spiritual and physical wellness over the last ten years and I have seen it impact my parenting. I started The Creative Midwife as a creativity…
Thank You, Toni Morrison
The Queen artist Toni Morrison passed away this past Monday night. I found out on Tuesday , devastated. Toni Morrison has been a blessing to my life. Her use of language has been a lesson of continual giving. Show, don’t tell. Infuse words with the essence of feeling and soul. Depicting the humanity of Black…
Maryland Citizens for the Arts Creative Placemaking Presentation in Inaugural Conference June 6-8, 2019
The 2019 Maryland Arts Summit will be the first of its kind for the arts sector in Maryland, highlighting the work that is being done through our communities. Dialogue, learning and networking opportunities will focus on the growth of Maryland arts. I will be presenting a presentation on the first day of the conference which takes place…
Choose Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. I was certified as a Level II practitioner yesterday, but became interested in the practice once beginning my doctoral journey and realizing I needed to learn new skills and develop current skills to maintain my balance during my rigorous educational journey….
Watch Recap of Liberated Muse’s Kennedy Center Performance
On March, 27, 2019, Liberated Muse presented music from our 2018 CD Awakening, a tapestry of music from jazzy blues and spoken word to soulful a capella ballads highlighting today’s tumultuous times mixed with optimistic reverence, set to the music and culture of the African diaspora. Presented as part of the Kennedy Center’s DIRECT…
Zora Neale Hurston Tribute at Beatley Central Library
Thank you to all of the great folks who came out to Liberated Muse’s tribute to Zora Neale Hurston! Was so great seeing music director Amy Conley Musician/Actor who I met as a performer at the Celebration Center in Fairfax, VA where she served as music director for over 15 years before leading music at Unity in fairfax,…
Liberated Muse @ The Kennedy Center-March 27, 2019
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the full lineup for DIRECT CURRENT, its two-week celebration of contemporary culture, which returns for a second season this spring (March 24–April 7). Showcasing new, topical, and interdisciplinary work by some of today’s foremost cultural risk-takers, the 2019 immersion takes place at the Kennedy Center…
#SurvivingtheRKellyDoc: 3 Moms Share Their Thoughts
Originally posted on So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.):
The six-part Surviving R. Kelly docu-series that aired on Lifetime this month has been a ratings gem for the network. The intense series dug into the embattled singer’s thirty-year career and personal life to uncover a world of pedophilia, family crisis and celebrity manipulation.…
January 2019 Interview on WPFW 89.3 FM
Host Brenda Hayes of Sophie’s Parlor, one of WPFW 89.3 FM’s longest running shows, interviewed my artist collective Liberated Muse Arts Group two weeks ago. One of the best interview experiences we have had together. Was excited to share music from our new CD! Listen to the interview and you will get to hear tracks…
#SurvivingtheRKellyDoc: A Recap with Black Educators
Originally posted on So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.):
The six-part Surviving R. Kelly docu-series that aired on Lifetime this past week has been a ratings gem for the network. The intense series dug into the embattled singer’s thirty-year career and personal life to uncover a world of pedophilia, family crisis and celebrity…
#SurvivingtheRKellyDoc: A Word from a Therapist
Originally posted on So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.):
The six-part Surviving R. Kelly docu-series that aired on Lifetime this month has been a ratings gem for the network. The intense series dug into the embattled singer’s thirty-year career and personal life to uncover a world of pedophilia, family crisis and celebrity manipulation.…
Goddess Energy: 5 Ways Women Can Manifest Their Personal Power
The Akan and Ashanti people of Ghana prayed to and still celebrate feminine deities. Nana Aberewa, known as the “old woman of wisdom” is the inspiration behind the title “Nana” who is the elder who bestows wisdom to the young.
BuildingBeautiful in the Kennedy Center’s 2018 Page to Stage Festival
The idea of justice quickly changes meaning when a grieving mother attends the press conference following her son’s tragic death. BuildingBeautiful is a short play written and directed by Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman and performed by Liberated Muse Arts Group during a staged reading on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 8pm at the John F. Kennedy Center…
Thank You for Attending Kwanzaa In August!
Thank you for attending Kwanzaa in August! Would like to thank the following people who made Kwanzaa in August possible with their participation: Ben Dawson, Jr., Khari Dawson, Colette Williams, Lyn Artope, Angela Ballard, Luis Henriquez, Hatina Covington, Camille Kashaka and Anacostia Arts Center, Terrence Nicholson, Alan King, Tracy Chiles McGhee, Quineice, Kareema Wambuii,…
Liberated Muse Celebrates 10 years with Kwanzaa in August (KIA) Festival in DC
PRESS RELEASE Kwanzaa in August (KIA) Festival celebrates African-American culture in the Washington DC area On Friday, August 3, 2018 to Sunday, August 5, 2018, Liberated Muse Arts Group hosts Kwanzaa in August Festival: unboxed/unbroken at Anacostia Arts Center in Washington, DC. The festival commemorates Liberated Muse’s 10th anniversary and arts and social justice in…
Order Mariah’s Maracas Today!
In 2008, my daughter Khari was four years-old and loved picture books. She had begun reading before I could catch a breath, and I was eager to quench her thirst for reading by buying as many books as I could. As a writer, the thought occurred to me that it would be really cool to…
Impact the World with Cheryl Woods
This past Wednesday I was a guest on the show Impact the World with radio host Cheryl Woods. I was able to talk a bit about my work as a creative and how I was inspired to walk my path. Check out some of the excerpts below: Thanks for having me! #khadijahmoon #impacttheworld #radiointerview A…
C3 Returns: Meet Other Creatives in May
Calling all poets! Calling all singers! Calling all musicians! Calling all actors and playwrights! Calling all comedians! C3 returns in 2018 to the RL Hotel Inner Harbor in Baltimore. WE ARE BOOKING PERFORMERS NOW. The dates will be: Thursday, May 17 at 7pm-9pm Thursday, July 19 at 7pm-9pm Thursday, Sept 20 at 7pm-9pm Thursday, Nov….
Do You Want to Be in My Film?
Do You Want to Be in My Film? In less than a month, for the weekend of May 4, Team Liberated Muse will be doing the Washington DC 48 Hour Film Project again. Last year, I had an amazing cast and crew that consisted of Mischay Mabry, Ben Dawson Jr, Khari Dawson, Jocelyn Alexander, Malauna…
2018 National Cherry Blossom Festival Recap
This month has been crazy! I have been very busy with school work and performance as well as general life struggles. But, guess what? Art always saves the day. If you are an artist in the Washington DC area, please watch this video to see what upcoming events we can work on together. National Cherry…
Return to the National Cherry Blossom Festival
I am excited to share music again to an audience of tourists and new people this Friday in Washington DC at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. If you are in the area, stop by and say hi. Free show. Visit KhadijahMoon.com to listen and download my music. __ Mama Artist, Master Teacher. & Social Activist,…
Check Out Feature on New Blog
“After many years of not seeing each other due to distance, Khadijah and I reconnected in December of 2017 when she travelled to PA to do an event for children at my local book and toy store, The Brainlet. Simply being in her presence and speaking with her after the event was so refreshing and it…
Liberated Muse at Busboys & Poets 3/19/18
Liberated Muse celebrates 10 years this year! We started in 2008 as a digital online community and became a community-based performance troupe providing cultural presentations in the forms of theater, film, literary art and music. We are excited about this year and hope you come out to this performance where we will share pieces from…
MyNDTalk Interview with Dr. Pamela Brewer
I was interviewed last month for the show MyNDTalk with Dr. Pamela Brewer and it aired last week. You can listen to it here. I enjoyed the interview very much. Very rarely am I asked such deep questions about my education and ideas and the ways that my appearance has shaped my interactions with the…
Online Birthday Screening Dec. 11 of my film BRACELET
Liberated Muse Arts Group will screen online the short film BRACELET, written and directed by Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman and starring Lyn Artope, Mischay Mabry, Malauna Steele, Kiana Lawyer, Khari Dawson, Ben Dawson, Jr., Khadijah Ali-Coleman, Jocelyn Alexander and Colie Aziza. The screening will take place in this event group and after watching the 7 minute…
Learn How to Start a Liberation School
Agyei Tyehimba is founder of the Harlem Liberation School (HLS), a center committed to empowering Black people with knowledge and skill sets to raise consciousness and leadership capacity in our community. The HLS provides free political education, presentations, grassroots organizing/activism workshops, and creating a space for open and informed political discussion in our neighborhoods….
Join Me for SACRED ADORNMENT at Silver Spring Civic Center Nov. 19
Calling all Queens to participate in the art of sacred adornment as a collective. Celebrate your inner experience with outer beauty! Imbibe on delicious kombucha. Enjoy live music. Adorn your hands with the ancient art of henna. Browse our local artisans, sacred crafters, visual artists, and more! Choose unique, one-of-a-kind sacred tools, jewelry, accessories and…
#BaltimoreCeasefire Take 2
The first Baltimore Ceasefire took place in August. Read about it here Through the Morgan State Graduate Student Association, I organized an event that was part of the second round of the Baltimore Ceasefire initiative. Here is footage from the 2-day event of designing hoodies and displaying them in the Morgan State Graduate Student Association…
Highlights from Last Night’s Screening of ‘BRACELET’ at Landmark’s E Street Cinema
Without friends and family, there really is no point to it all…that is why I am so grateful for my tribe who participated in the making of my film BRACELET and those who came out to support us last night at the screening. Awesome night. Thank you to the Washington DC 48 Hour Film Project staff for…
Hoodie Memorial Walk for Baltimore Ceasefire
My organization the Morgan State University Graduate Student Association is presenting an event as part of the Baltimore Ceasefire initiative. Please read here about what the Baltimore Ceasefire initiative is. Please read here to learn more about our event that is next week on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.
Screening of my film ‘Bracelet’
Hello folks, here is a trailer for my horror film BRACELET which is an entry in the Washington DC 48 Hour Horror Film Project. Would love for you to come out to the screening at Landmark E Street Cinema in DC which is next week on Halloween Night. Click here to join the group and…
MINDFULLY CREATIVE PODCAST EPISODE 8: “PARENTING AS A CREATIVE”
Originally posted on SJB Creates Blog:
And we’re back! After a brief hiatus, the Mindfully Creative Podcast is back and looking forward to some great episodes this Fall. The Mindfully Creative podcast explores how art is being used for personal and community healing as well as some tips on how creatives can break through barriers…
The movie ‘mother!’ explained
You can watch the video above or read the analysis below. The movie mother! was a dynamic allegory of white supremacy’s use of religion to control and socialize humanity to invade and destroy the earth and cultures most connected to the earth, in particular indigenous cultures of brown and black people. However, to have made…
MUSIC REVIEW: ZAYN has us quaking ‘Till Dawn’
Zayn Malik, now called only ZAYN released new music that has tweens and teens around the globe losing their collective minds…
Left the Kennedy Center a Winner!
My arts company Liberated Muse Arts group was invited to participate in “Up in All Night Musicals” as part of the 16th annual Page to Stage Festival at the Kennedy Center that took place this past weekend. I talk about it here. WHAT IS UP ALL NIGHT MUSICALS: Five 10-minute musicals within 48 hours made…
Living Your Authentic Life
I went to Miami in mid-June to celebrate my partner’s birthday. Best vacation ever. No stress, blue waters, sand and sun. We went jet skiing, enjoyed fine dining and sunbathed. I hadn’t been to Miami in two years and hadn’t been to a beach or swimming since then. How had I let that happen? Most…
New Production for Artscape 2017
Join me and my artist collective Liberated Muse Arts group on Saturday, July 22 at 4pm at the Baltimore Theatre Project as the Artscape festival presents our show “When We Were Goddesses”. The show is a free presentation at family friendly. Following in the tradition of my production “In Her Words”, the story presents musical…
Liberated Muse Volume III: Creases Expelled from the Fold
On March 18th in Baltimore, at the RL Hotel Inner Harbor, we celebrated the launch of the third book anthology in the Liberated Muse anthology series. The contributors include writers Tichaona Munhamo Chinyelu, Maura Alia Badji, Serena Wills, Zaccai Free, Virginia Spatz, Aziza Mariama, David Weeks, Shameeka Dream, Slangston Hughes and more.. Read the full…
Fake Tweets, New Edition & A Growing Child
This weekend was flecked with bittersweetness as my 13 year-old auditioned for high school on Saturday. She will be starting high school this fall and these past few months have been busy with auditions and applications to schools in our area. She is currently a drama major at a performing arts academy that she started…
Join Us for a Walk Down Poetry Lane in Feb 2017
“People wish to be poets more than they wish to write poetry, and that’s a mistake. One should wish to celebrate more than one wishes to be celebrated.”-Lucille Clifton We celebrate Ms. Clifton, Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Audre Lorde, and other fierce wordsmiths on Feb. 20th when Liberated Muse Arts Group takes “A Walk Down Poetry…
Be Who You Are Segment on WEAA 88.9 FM with Sean Yoes
Most of us get caught in personality loops, presenting what we think is appropriate and acceptable, yet living in a disloyal way to our true selves. Most of us operate from a perspective of how we can fit in and be least offensive, believing it is the pathway to being most successful. But, conflict does…
The Creative Midwife 