Hi and welcome to my blog! I'm a DC-based musician and activist. This blog is an attempt to keep y'all updated with my various activities. I grew up in Missouri and attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, where I got degrees in music, women's studies, and journalism. I first moved to DC in 2001 to work as a Research Assistant for a labor union. I quickly co-founded the Rhythm Workers Union with several friends and fellow musicians, and later began working as an organizer for several peace groups. During this time, I also got involved with The Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency and began teaching drumming workshops to youth through Panorama Community Arts.

In October 2004 with the support of my friends and a grant from the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities, I founded the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project (YWDEP). This grassroots organization seeks to to empower a core group of young women living in the District by guiding them in a process of learning how to play African and Latin hand drums and percussion, along with expressing their opinions and telling their stories through spokenword, poetry, song, movement, and team building. Two years later we are still going strong and just wrapped up our second season with 4 amazing performances at the D.C. Arts Center.

Aside from YWDEP, I also teach drumming throughout the area and perform regularly as well. You can visit my website at www.drumlady.com. Be sure to check back often to find out what I've been up to and where I'll next be!

peace,
kristen

p.s. Below is a collage of some of my musical adventures...mouse-over each individual image to read the caption.