Pride in my Stride - Softcover

Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga is the founding Executive and Artistic Director of the OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center a non-profit performing arts organization based in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She has extensive training, teaching and performance experience in all areas of dance and theater and has been writing poetry and plays for nearly 20 years. She has received numerous awards for her work with OrigiNation including The Philanthropic Initiative Boston Fellows Award, The Boston Renaissance Charter Public School Living Legend Award, Friends of Melnea Cass Commitment and Service to Youth Award, and the Portraits of Courage Upstanders Award and has appeared in several films, musicals, industrials, television commercials and interviews including WCVB s Chronicle, Urban Update, Sunday Morning with Liz Walker, and Fox 25 Early Morning Show. She founded OrigiNation in 1994 to provide a safe haven for youth where they can learn the importance of having a voice through poetry, self-respect, health, nutrition, education, self-confidence and the extent of African influences on various contemporary art forms. OrigiNation is home to four professional youth dance companies - NIA Dance Troupe, Girlz of IMANI, IMANI Jr. and Aleye Boyz Troupe - as well as the Performing Arts Program and IMANI Summer Dance Program. In 2007, Shaumba-Yandje launched the Empowerment through the Arts Youth Tour which enabled members of NIA Dance Troupe to travel to South Africa, Senegal, England and France. During these tours, the dancers performed in schools, facilitated dance workshops, immersed themselves in cultural exchanges with youth and distributed clothes and school supplies to underprivileged students. She currently resides in Boston with her husband Taalib, son Taalib-Said and daughter Shaumba-Subira.

Through these poems, Ms. Dibinga gives a voice to children about children that resonates even with adults. It educates, informs, empowers, and inspires with sincerity and poignancy. --Judith Jamison, Alvin Ailey Artistic Director

Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga has done it again! Her poems are relevant, meaningful, and inspiring! She touches the hearts and minds of youth and adults of all cultures, causing us to think and behave with renewed compassion, consideration, and a commitment to social justice. --Dr. Roger F. Harris, Boston Renaissance Charter School

Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga has made a difference in countless children's lives for well over a decade by building self-esteem through dance. This latest endeavor of writing poetry will allow her to reach even more children with her positive attitude. She has been a positive role model for my growing girls for over five years and she is often the topic of discussion at the dinner table. Keep up the work! She is a true asset to our community! --Koresha Braxton, parent