ABOUT PDAP
Mission: Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. (PDAP)’s mission is to support the arts in underrepresented communities of Tampa Bay through creative programming, family events, and civic education.
Vision: Our theory of change is that by connecting our children, adults, and families with community-based artists, educators, health practitioners, stakeholders, activists, and leaders, we can build solutions and support systems to positively impact our whole citizenry. We strive to form solutions to the silos, poverty, illiteracy, and sense of hopelessness among many through art, wellness events, and community conversations. PDAP brings together a community of creative producers focused on developing and inspiring educational, collaborative, and uplifting engagements for youth and families.
PDAP was formed in June of 2021 when several members of Pinellas County’s BIPOC arts community came together after the Healing While Black conference’s conversation for artists held at Studio@620. Initial conversations led PDAP’s first-year programming to include working with local artists to offer pop-up art shows, movie nights, artist talks, musical performances, and literary/spoken word events on the Deuces and at Studio@620.
In its second year, PDAP hosted the inaugural Tampa Bay Afrofuturism Festival (TBAFF) in November which brought free pop-up events throughout St. Pete, Clearwater, and Largo, including events at the Studio, Urban Drinkery, The Woodson Museum of Florida, Creative Pinellas, Artz 4 Life, and The Factory St. Pete. The festival brought together over 35 artists and musicians, youth performers, tech experts, community leaders, and stakeholders to hold art workshops, dance presentations, musical performances, and panels focused on the current and future social, cultural, and community issues facing Black and Brown residents of Tampa Bay. In its second year, TBAFF expanded to Tampa/Hillsborough county, and added theater presenters, LGBTQ/queer Ball culture activists, an art show featuring creatives over the age of 50, a film festival to “explore the past, present and future of Tampa Bay’s Black and Brown community.” It also held an interactive Community Tech Day at Childs Park, often considered the location of the largest concentration of under-resourced and poverty-line children/families in Pinellas County, to explore AI, 3D, robots, VR goggles, and youth art and literacy workshops.
In May of 2023, PDAP hosted the inaugural Tampa Bay Chalk Festival (TBChalkFest) in St. Petersburg, bringing together over 50 families, dozens of professional and community artists, youth centers and activists, and community leaders, as the sidewalks of 22nd street between 7th Avenue South and 9th Avenue South on the historic Deuces were transformed into a kaleidoscope of colorful square, giving children and families a day of art expression using chalk. TBChalkFest’s second year happens in May of 2024, expanding to include more community partners, artists, and activities.
In 2023, PDAP also began the ROYAL (Reaching Our Youth Artist League) Project, connecting BIPOC community artists with youth and young adults in low- and under-resourced neighborhoods in Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg. The PDAP teaching artists were tasked with bringing culturally relevant experiences and lesson plans to provide the youth with impactful, educational, and meaningful art engagements that included a diorama project and producing their own musical tracks with a professional audio engineer. Current ROYAL programming at Artz 4 Life in Clearwater has brought filmmaking to the 30+ year arts project, continuing in 2024 with local artists and community activists using art to educate the 120+ children and youth who attend the community center.
PDAP’s newest project is cofounding AFROFLORIDA Media Collective, with a mission to support filmmakers and videographers in producing media projects examining the rich cultural traditions and resilient communities of BIPOC Florida. The vision of Afroflorida is the expansion of a culturally rich Florida as we support the development of media projects fostering connections through communities; its first project, FOR THE CULTURE TAMPA BAY, has completed work on the first episode this fall.
In July 2024, our board strategically expanded the mission to include civic education throughout underrepresented Tampa Bay communities.
2024 – 2026 Board Members
Co-Presidents – Bob Devin Jones & Maranda Douglas
Vice President – Tresalynn Morris
Secretary – J.A. Morton
Treasurer – Kelly Debure
Member – Jabaar Edmond
Member – Eunice Park
Member – Carrie Boucher
Member – Charli Funk
Member – Jabari Reed-Diop
Teaching Artist
Debbie Yati Garrett
Advisory Committee
Jai Hinson
Dr. Dallas Cooper Jackson
Erica Sutherlin
Bryan Voliton
Geveryl Robinson