DaraMonifah Cooper

I attended the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) with a full scholarship as the only early-admission student during my senior high school year of 1996-1997. My educational career includes a bachelor’s degree in Communication focusing on writing and photojournalism, and specializing in Layout and Publication Design with concentrations in both Music and Art.

As a multi-talented artist, community organizer and educator, I’ve collaboratively participated in various activities with other volunteer organizations either as an organizer, facilitator, graphic artist, photographer, news writer etc. My employment experiences with youth generally include teaching music, graphic design, arts and crafts, technology, culture and history as well as various forms of expressive or performance arts.

I write about all of my moving experiences while educating and influencing youth as well as the various cultural activities I either assist with producing or attend. I also will occasionally share insightful moments shared with random people while traveling that have interestingly helped me to understand myself and my purpose even deeper. I firmly believe in the importance of documenting experiences for the purposes of cultural preservation along with organizational, historical and personal importance. Thus, I encourage everyone to save and share memories of their experiences through the use of photojournalism, presentations, collages, scrap-booking, social media etc.