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_desmoney

@_desmoney

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very three of her 😭🎂 by @_desmoney

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a month ago

🙏🏿, YEAR 4!

CHICAGO GIRLS STREET PORTRAITS (PT.4)
TOMORROW, AUGUST 8TH , 11AM - 2:00PM
4702 S KING DR 📍

SEE YOU TOMORROW by @_desmoney

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2 months ago

what does it really mean to stand on the shoulders of ancestors? for me, it’s studying history, pulling inspiration from the past and then creating things that can serve us in the present and work for the future.

today, at the @mcachicago , our young people of @azaniadrum will honor our beloved ancestor, Mama Ann E. Ward, through a performance art piece entitled, “Queen Mother: Asase Ye Duru 💜”.

this offering and the overall work that John Chapman and I do as co-directors of Azania Drum is shaped by Mama Ann’s passion for educating and inspiring new generations of artists. She was my definition of Black is beautiful and Black is limitless.

it’s been ten years since Mama Ann transitioned into ancestorhood, yet we continue to ring her name, keeping her spirit and teachings alive for the young people today and of tomorrow .

celebrate this moment with our young people as they take part in this year’s “21MINUS LIVE”, one day festival hosted by @tcaatmca .

free show, No money.
all love.

we’ll have tees available
at the show today by @_desmoney

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4 months ago

making an archive of an archive.
gonna be a fun + spiritual journey ,
@chicagopubliclibrary 🤝🏿🤍✨ by @_desmoney

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4 months ago

a beautiful thing to be in partnership with community 💙🩵. today we had our first laundry day with AbsoluteCare, Chicago and it feels like the beginning of something special. So much gratitude for their support and we’re excited about what can build together in service of our community. taken in Chatham Laundry by @_desmoney

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4 months ago

Last week, we celebrated National Girls and & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) with @doitbetterforever , @leagueoftheirownchi , and @brkthru . Having a daughter who is a young athlete, I’m always learning and appreciating the progress and possibility for girls and women in sports.

When we got the assignment to create a t-shirt to celebrate the 40th Annual NGWSD, I naturally thought of how we could use the moment to honor and sing about a Chicago legend who some may be unfamiliar with. In our research, we found a winning woman! The storied career of a West Side Legend by the name of Dorothy Gaters 🏀 . Coach Gaters coached girls basketball at John Marshall High School for more than 45 years, becoming the winningest high school basketball coach in Illinois history with 1100+ wins, 10 state titles, and 24 CPS titles. I think most importantly, she’s prepared a great amount of young people for life beyond high school and instilled tools within them to become their very best selves.

Thank you to @leagueoftheirownchi , @brkthru , and @goldandapaiger for bringing us on to add onto this special and important moment 💕 by @_desmoney

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8 months ago

striving to get better every year, that’s always a big part of the mission. 2 yrs in the culture department @bettyshabazzics and I feel grateful to be on a team dedicated to shaping the journeys of Black children toward responsibility, leadership, care and creativity. I think the most beautiful thing I learned in 2025 is that culture is a gift that keeps on giving just as long as you stay true and seek truth .

more to learn, more to do, more good memories to make :)

❤️🖤💚 by @_desmoney

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9 months ago

Chicago (Girls) Street Portraits: Black Girls Are The Inspiration, a photographic documentation and love letter of sorts to the magic of living and the magic of being Black as a brother of mine reminded me. This past Bud Billiken Parade was our third effort in growing this heartfelt project where myself , Dr. Lewis, and a group of incredibly gifted image-makers and community organizers simply create space to celebrate and make photos of Black inventiveness, Black beauty, Black aesthetics with the hope and goal of reflecting our admiration and love for our people and gifting (that luv) it back to us. Looking forward to next year with plans of adding some core program elements that’ll help expand this project that’s full of language from the heart to youth in the city ❤️🖤💚 by @_desmoney

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a year ago

archival work has always been natural to me. digging, researching day & night, retelling stories in new ways, it’s one of my loves. Even as a shorty, i’ve always been close to rich history, and now realizing the accessibility i have sparks a sense of responsibility: to help keep our stories alive, to pass ‘em on.

this past month, working with third world press for their 58th anniversary, i had the opportunity to help organize an intimate tour of the headquarters with Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti (Baba Haki). i also co-curated exhibitions and a gallery walk that traced 58 resilient years of Black publishing.

a major thank you to the brilliant, @ani.do.bu for your talented curatorial skills, design mind, and being so clutch in such a tight turnaround ❤️✨.

found an old interview from 8 years ago with me, Baba Haki, and Mama Makita. i was a new dad, Indigo was only like 2 months old, and i was still trying to find my footing as a young entrepreneur. i remember being nervous, just trying to say the right thing, and Mama Makita told me she was nervous too. she reminded me to keep it cool and speak from the heart.

almost a decade later, those words of wisdom has opened doors, placed me on projects, and led me into full circle moments like this.

keep it cool, speak from the heart. by @_desmoney

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a year ago

trying to save as many memories as possible in this phone. I’m already knowing in a few blinks, she’ll be 16 driving to her homecoming lol. all my love to the virgos 🥳 by @_desmoney

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a year ago

year 3! our third annual “Chicago Girls Street Portraits” is happening saturday (aug 9th) during the Bud Billiken Parade! this year is a special one for us. @doitbetterforever and @meltmagazinechi is in collaboration with @girlslikemeproject and @southsidesanctuarychi to support our work of capturing beautiful Chicago moments of our girls and our people 💓

celebrating the 96th @budbillikenparade , we’ll be at 4702 S King Dr (11:00AM - 2PM) with our talented crew @byashleymia , @killls , @erinmorgantaylor , and @terrondx who will be taking free portraits.

our friends from @midwestinkairbrushing will be back with us again this year for customized airbrush giveaways. pull up, take a photo (or two!), spread some 💓 and you’ll be able to get a free hat or tee! by @_desmoney

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a year ago

hang on to your love - Sade 🩷 by @_desmoney

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a year ago