The Black Art Today Foundation Announces Scholarship and Grant Recipients

The Black Art Today Foundation awarded two scholarships and two grants to four local students. The scholarships, each worth $1,000, were awarded to Taiwo Adebowale and Maya Ivory. The grants, each worth $500, were awarded to Gabrielle Love and Jasmine Spencer.

These students demonstrated outstanding academic achievement with an average GPA of 3.5 and an unwavering commitment to community service. We wish them all continued success in their academic pursuits.

Taiwo Adebowale is a graduate of the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology and is from Baltimore County. In the fall, Taiwo will attend Howard University, where she will major in Strategic Communications (Advertising). Taiwo was awarded the scholarship for her academic achievements and her commitment to social justice. She has a passion for writing and is committed to changing the advertising industry by writing authentic, diverse content. Taiwo is a youth advocate and demonstrated her commitment by her involvement in organizations that support youth that are often unacknowledged, whether academically or socially. By being involved in these activities, she hopes to change that dynamic, by promoting empathy within various environments.

Maya Ivory is a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School and is from Prince George’s County. In the fall, she will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), majoring in Animation. Maya was awarded the scholarship for her academic achievements and her commitment to community service. Her commitment to being an Autism champion resulted in her receiving the Luv Michael Certificate of Recognition for being an Autism Advocate. Luv Michael is a Non-Profit dedicated to training, educating, and employing autistic adults and improving the lives of the autistic community beyond the lives of their parents.

Gabrielle Love is a graduate of St. John’s College High School and is from Montgomery County. In the fall, she will attend Temple University, majoring in Music Technology. Gabrielle was provided a grant due to her academic achievements and her commitment to community service. Gabrielle’s long-term career goal is to create and inspire others to create. She hopes to work as a composer and producer. Gabrielle is a multi-disciplinarian who excels in visual and performing arts. Gabrielle also founded a non-profit to provide art supplies and musical instruments to children in underserved communities who do not have easy access to creative materials.

Jasmine Spencer is a graduate of Suitland High School and is from Prince George’s County. In the fall, she will attend the Cleveland Institute of Art, majoring in Drawing. Jasmine, like the other recipients, received a grant due to her academic achievements and her commitment to community service. Jasmine wants to be an artist because of art’s potential to change the world. She wants her artwork to add to the representation of underrepresented communities, express feelings, open conversations about mental health, and create connections. Jasmine is also an advocate for the lives and welfare of animals, especially those who have been neglected or abandoned by their owners. To fulfill her commitment, she served as a volunteer for the Leighton Farm’s Good Horse program that rehabilitates abused thoroughbred racehorses.

The Black Art Today Foundation
The Black Art Today Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Its mission is to support artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, and literature. Our purpose is derived from Kwanzaa’s sixth Principle, Kuumba, meaning Creativity.

“Kuumba is the commitment to being creative within the context of the national community vocation of restoring our people to their traditional greatness and thus leaving our community more beneficial and beautiful than we inherited it. The principle has both a social and spiritual dimension and is deeply rooted in social and sacred teachings of African societies.”

The Foundation supplies a variety of services and opportunities for artists and art organizations to aid artists in reaching their creative potential.  Donations and purchases aid the Foundation in funding those services and opportunities and helps to preserve the African Diasporic’s Culture and History, through the arts. Please consider donating or volunteering your talent and time.

Alicia B. Clark, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/President
Lisa A. Lumford Clark, Chief Operations Officer (COO)/Vice President
Black Art Today, Inc. dba The Black Art Today Foundation

[Source: The Black Art Today Foundation]