Melissa Apedo
Melissa Apedo was raised and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. As a writer, she champions honesty and raw storytelling. She believes it strengthens the human connection. She enjoys her professional work as a project manager in signage design, which allows her to give purpose to spaces. Melissa graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management & Tourism from Virginia State University, an HBCU. She loves travel, yoga, dance, and spending time in nature.
Denise Evans
Denise Evans is a Brooklyn native, a community outreach worker, Photoville’s Fort Greene Community Hero, a Parent Coordinator, and a nature photographer (https://www.communityheroes.nyc/projects/denise-evans/).
Sukyana Fairweather
Chasity Fryer
Chasity Fryer will never lose her love for her childlike imagination – she has a big imagination and has always encouraged her children to think big. She also has a love for fantasy, and believes it is important to never lose that wow factor – be impressed by the lights and wonder and keep that childhood light to be amazed. Chasity’s saying is “dream in color,” and she gets to put this into practice by being a vocal/chorus after school teacher, putting together shows and teaching the children to sing their heart songs. Chasity also runs a organization called Being A Great Samaritan where she puts her imagination to work by putting on community events. No matter the event, Chasity incorporates music, dance, poetry, and art. One other way Chasity incorporates her imagination is by writing. She has written one self-published children’s book and has more to come. She is also an independent filmmaker and is looking forward to her first film feature on the big screen.
DaQuan Herring
DaQuan Herring is a modern day renaissance man with a backround in fine arts, teaching, TV studio productions, and film. Born and raised in Brooklyn, DaQuan dreams of becoming the male version of Oprah.
Nicole Norton-Evans
Nicole S. Norton-Evans is the Editor-n-Chief for Nowprmagazine.com. Nicole was born and raised in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. She lives with her family and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications from Long Island University. She then acquired her Master’s degree in Information Technology with a minor in Business and PR from NYU.
Squala Orphan
Squala Orphan began freestyling and writing music as therapy to deal with the hardships of life at the tender age of 14. Squala has made a name for himself with hip-hop fans and industry insiders all over the globe.
Tanja Richardson
Tanja Richardson is a Brooklyn native who enjoys poetry, writing, hip hop, and various forms of art. Community outreach, giving, and connecting people are her passions.
Desiree Rucker
Desirée Rucker is a multidisciplinary artist who tells stories using film, video, and words.
Her purpose with the ICAC is to share her enthusiasm for the arts with fellow members and to share her skills as a writer and filmmaker to further the group’s efforts to increase communication and the spirit of community.
She completed her MFA in Creative Writing (LIU Brooklyn) in 2015. In the past two decades, Desirée has filmed and produced hundreds of hours of content for her cable access television program Culture Matters TV on BRIC TV, which features local artists in diverse genre. In 2017, she received the B Free George Stoney Award for Social Impact for her program. Her mockumentary The Theatre screened at Anthology Archives in the 48 Hour Film Festival (2004), and her documentary Hairstory screened at B Scene’s Documentary screening series at the Bishop Gallery (2016). Her writing has been published in literary journals such as Brooklyn Paramount, By the Overpass, and Downtown Brooklyn. Her poem “The Legacy” from her MFA Thesis Relativity: A Memoir in Prose and Poetry is anthologized in the Writers Studio, 30th Anniversary Anthology. Her Monologue “Junk In The Trunk” was selected by Frank Silvera and the Billie Holiday Theater for inclusion in the bicoastal theatrical reading of 50 in 50: Letters to Our Daughters. She is a founding member of The Future Historical Society, which uses art to celebrate and strengthen community while collecting the oral histories of the people living and working in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Her documentary short “Ebony Kiss,” produced in the 2021 Documentary Intensive Lab at BRIC, premiered in January 2022 in broadcast and online.
Samuel Standard
Samuel Standard as a child was introduced to the world of arts by his mother Sarah L. Standard who was a dancer and a ballerina. He attended public school 45 and Westlane Middle School. Samuel graduated from Broad Ripple High School for performing arts. Samuel played football for three years and was on the All City Second team football honors. He continued football at Central Lake Community College in Brainerd, Minnesota as a running back and cornerback. Samuel made second team all conference both seasons at running back. Samuel then transferred to University of University Wisconsin Stout where he played strong safety as a junior and outside linebacker during his senior season. Samuel was selected to the second team all conference his senior season. The GreenBay Packers were very interested in Samuel, however it wasn’t his calling. After graduation Samuel took a job at Ameri-Tech as a home security system salesman. After two years at Ameri-Tech, Samuel started his own Company Standard Construction LLC. Standard Construction focused on home and commercial building and remodeling. After the housing meltdown, Samuel decided that he was going to do something he has been running to his whole life. He ran full speed ahead into the arts as an actor in Film, TV, and Theatre productions all over New York City and the surrounding areas. Samuel Standard was a utility stand-in for the hit Television Series The Good Fight for Wayne Brady. He worked as a background actor in many other series which eventually landed him a principal role as the lawyer in Notorious Anteater through his hard work with showrunner Brooke Kennedy. This role lit a fire in Samuel to take off running to the big screen in Hollywood. In 2016, Samuel opened Rumble in the Jungle Filmworks LLC where he is focusing on Film, TV, Theatre productions. Samuel hires a variety of people in the community of different ethnic backgrounds. Focusing on cultural and physical wellness educational programs to help encourage people in our community here in Brooklyn to live productive lives. Samuel has been a proud member of SAG-AFTRA for the past ten years. He is most proud of finishing The TCS New York City Marathon three times, completing the Brooklyn Half Marathon 8 times. Samuel is now building a fitness and health wellness program for the community of Brooklyn to help with the fears we all have and need to overcome. The most important thing to Samuel is being a good and present father to his children and an asset to his family. Samuel also does volunteer work at CHIPS, a women’s shelter for homeless and pregnant women in Park Slope. He has also been a caregiver to people in the Brooklyn Community with HIV and Retired Military Veterans. He is excited about bringing his positive experiences from Arts, Health and Physical activities to help enhance the lives of his Brooklyn community and is grateful for the opportunity to serve them.
Celeste Staton
Celeste Staton is a PROUD Brooklyn native, a tenant and communitay advocate, and a founding member of the ICAC. She is so Brooklyn that she remembers MAYS Departments Store on Nevins and Fulton. She served for many years as the President of the Atlantic Terminal Tenants’ Association. She loves music, dancing, the ICAC, laughing, and chanting with her fellow Bodhisattvas. https://www.communityheroes.nyc/projects/celeste-staton/
Karyne Tinord
Karyne Tinord is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and braider who blends culture, beauty, and storytelling through her work. As the founder of Kay de Trés, she uses braiding as a creative and cultural art form, celebrating the heritage of Black hair while modernizing its role in fashion and self-expression. Karyne’s photography and designs are deeply personal, capturing individuality and empowering clients to tell their stories through style. Her work has touched a wide range of clients, from everyday people to celebrities, and is rooted in connection, creativity, and community.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Karyne is the founder of Yadestiny Treasure Chest, a nonprofit providing youth with sustainable career opportunities and development in fashion and media. Her passion for empowering others extends beyond beauty and fashion, as she continues to uplift her community through service. As a proud member of ICAC, Karyne is excited to expand her artistic reach and further represent the diverse voices and stories that inspire her work.
Anthony Jay Van Dunk
Anthony Jay Van Dunk moved to Fort Greene in 1968. He attended Queen of all Saints elementary school and Brooklyn Technical High School. He credits Fort Greene for giving him a strong educational foundation. Anthony attended the College of Staten Island, Parsons School of Design (New York, Paris), and finally New York University where he studied sports marketing.
Anthony started working early as a furniture cleaner at the age of 5. By 16, he had delivered flyers, worked at a motel restaurant, worked at a newsstand, and rented TVs to hospitals. Anthony grew up in the Scouting community, and accepted the role of Scoutmaster of Troop 181 at the age of 18. Prior to attending Parsons, he worked at a grocery warehouse and drove taxis. As a full time taxi driver and full time student, Anthony was able to squeeze in an Art Directing job at the music trade magazine, CashBox. This position led him to become the design director at Fountain Technologies.
In the first semester of his senior year at Parsons, Anthony moved to Paris to continue his education abroad. He liaised with world class designers and became the art director of The Planet, an English language newspaper. He completed his degree at Parsons in New York and thus began the life of an entrepreneur. Anthony founded AVD Graphics in New York, and then opened additional offices in
Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco. The company serviced smaller clients along with 3M and Nippon. The next step in Anthony’s entrepreneurial journey was in pharmaceutical advertising and other boutique work. Still working in design, Anthony created trophies for the National Basketball Association, promoted the largest amateur bike race in New York City, designed furniture featured on Martha Stewart Living, and opened Anthony Van Dunk: Woodworker and The Community
Woodshop. His fine art prints were displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Bronx River Art Gallery, and the African Burial Ground National Monument.
While building his career, Anthony felt a calling to service the tribal nation which his family is from. His father registered with the Ramapough Mountain Indians, which suddenly placed Anthony and his brother, John, in the middle of the tribal organization. Anthony and his family started out as volunteers to many of the tribal events. While learning about members of their tribe and traveling to other Lenape tribes they got to increase their understanding of belonging. Learning traditions, ceremonies and language moved them up the leadership ladder. Anthony’s brother became Clan Chief of the Deer clan, and Anthony became Tribal Chief during one of the most tumultuous times of the tribe’s existence. Through this experience, Anthony received a crash course in governmental politics, police negotiation, trauma counseling, and media control.
Most recently, Anthony has worked as a construction worker, handyman, actor, horseman, script writer, and community producer. Introducing BRIC into his life has brought a new set of skills. TV and film production education has allowed him to help other producers share their ideas. He has received two B Free Awards and his work has been nominated into seven seven festivals. Since 2018 Anthony has created over fifty shows, with two shorts in rotation on FNX, a national Native Network. At Àhwáaleew Stories, he is currently working on a feature length movie called House Music: A Love Story and four short films, all with an expected release date of 2025.
Monique Wright
Monique Wright is a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of QA expertise in the tech realm. She’s also a proud owner of an ever growing online clothing boutique called Thee Fine Art Connoisseur also known as TFAC. Born and raised in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she blends her Jamaican and British heritage into everything she does, bringing a unique perspective to her fashion taste and styling. Her boutique is known for curating distinct, feminine pieces that reflect her deep passion for fashion, creativity and assuring that her clients outfit reflects them as a distinguished woman or gentleman. As the eldest of all her sisters, she embodies leadership, empowering women in both her professional and personal life sectors. Joining the ICAC aligns with her devotion to giving back to her community and the neighborhood that helped raise her.
Ketriana Yvonne
Ketriana Yvonne is the Author of Sequin Soul Poetry from the Spirit. She is the Sequin Soul Spirit Writers and Ft Greene Community Hero of 2023. Katrina received a grant from Brooklyn Arts Council Su Casa Adult Center for Spirit Writing Workshops. She is currently a panelist for music grants and a Brooklyn Arts Council ThriveFest Speaker for Financial Counseling. Ketriana’s work was featured for a SpeakWord Poetry event in Ft. Greene Park. The Fling for the Ft. Greene Conservatory and performs the musical number, “Spread Love”, with The Intergenerational Community Arts Council throughout Brooklyn. Her writing was recently published in Brownstone Poets Anthology, Circular Whispers, and Allpoetry.com. Ketriana is an award winning producer of “The Ketriana Yvonne Show” that airs on BRIC Brooklyn Free Speech. Ketriana writes to inspire and transform lives through words.