Moon Mami Writes

DC Advocates for the Arts Today, I attended a training to prepare me for Arts Advocacy Day in DC. The training and the movement is led by the DC Advocates for the Arts . On Arts Advocacy Day - March 3rd, 2010 - we will meet with policy-makers in Washington DC to share our thoughts about what the arts need to thrive in the District. The arts has been a major part of my life, particularly the last two years. I've done everything from performing in theater, performing as a vocalist, teaching students how to write songs, producing concerts, producing an art exhibit and continuing to write my poetry, short stories, plays and songs. Earlier this year, I even took a hit at painting. The arts are so tremendously important. When we look at the value the arts are in connection to education and youth development, the list is a mile long. I'm hoping that our efforts ensure that funding in the district will not be cut any further. The arts provide almost 12,000 jobs and over 300 million dol...

So, Thursday was my very first day back on the road driving after Snowmageddon hit the area I live in. My car had hibernated under an igloo of snow for two weeks since the snow had come and I vowed I wasn't driving until the road conditions looked better to me. Ignite On Wednesday, me and my honey pulled out the shovels and got to making our driveway decent enough for me to get my tiny ride out from under its snow cave. I woke up on Thursday with pains radiating throughout my back and neck but my arms were surprisingly pain-free which was weird because I had them working on overtime while shoveling. I was in pain and hoping that it would be gone by that evening when I was set to do a presentation for Ignite DC , an evening event where folks from various walks of life give a five minute presentation using 20 slides about any topic under the sun. Mine was on motherhood. I liken Ignite DC to "intellectual karaoke" where there is drinking, mingling and an adult only atmospher...

Ok, so, I've been going back and forth over the sense it would be to take on a new stage name since I already have a following as Moon. However, in my area alone, there are already three other women I know who have the stage name Moon, so the name isn't the most original if I have any hope of headlining shows in the near future. As a speaker and writer, my government name has worked just fine because it is probably the most original that you can get, lol. Funny thing is is that my last name, Ali-Coleman is the whole name of a popular DJ in New York, Ali Coleman . He and I met on Facebook three years ago when he wrote me a note saying that when he gets google alerts on his name, my name always comes up. He said that he had been reading up on some of the work that I do in the community and was pleased that at least it was me that shared a similar name and not someone else. He is a great guy. When I say he is doing big things in New York, I kid you not. I am, as well, pleased that...

Happy Valentine's Day! Today, my sweetie made us breakfast and he and I are going to the movies later today as our Valentine's day date. I love Valentine's day, but, then again, I love all opportunities I have to hang with him and my daughter. It sounds really weird, but though I'm a performer, I very much prefer to be homebound and holed up with those two. Speaking of performing, one of the gigs that was to have taken place this past Friday was the Haiti benefit concert I'm producing called "To Haiti, With Love". The snow made it just impossible to hold the event because, though the snow had ended, the roads in DC made it very difficult to find parking. The event has been postponed to Feb. 26. We got great coverage for the event and the work I do with Liberated Muse by a local reporter, Wendy Coakley-Thompson. The article showcased our event which will benefit the organization YeleHAITI. You can read the article HERE. I was thrilled this year to include L...

So, my last post was about a week ago, but, the funny thing is, I have been in the house since two Thursdays ago. Yup, you heard me. Now, I did go outside to do this video for my column on Examiner.com: And then, this one. But that was it. (They were shot in my neighborhood, so I still didn't drive anywhere) The snow blizzard that decided to hit us again this past Tuesday had me fastened inside with no plan to battle the cold, snow and ice. My car is even snugly layered underneath a sheet of snow/ice because I haven't gone outside to shovel it off. See, I don't do snow. I don't drive in it. I don't like walking in it. And, I don't like driving in it. I know, I said that, but I wanted to prove a point. Snow and I don't get along! So, the three of us-- my daughter, her dad and I--were snowed in for more than a week and we have made it to this day alive. Frankly, we get along really well and our house is of nice size that we don't step on each other and can...

So...yeah. The Michael Jackson quotes from songs every day for Black History Month didn't last past day two. On day two, my kid chose the song "Rock My World" and I tell ya, you would be proud of the proverb I pulled from that song. But, it was so convoluted, extemporaneous and full of big words that flew over my child's head that her only response was "huh?". So, I vowed that I would not be so deep and wordy on day three, but the news of the impending blizzard kind of made me forget. ( In photo: I took this photo this morning. My spouse was outside shoveling our huge driveway and then decided to perhaps start with the cars because that would probably be easier. As you see, the cars were no easier. My car is the smaller one and it still has snow on it. That sucka only took snow off of his. "You won't be going anywhere anytime soon, he said." He's right.) That's right. A snow blizzard! The snow started on Friday morning and didn't s...

So, it's Feb. I have two gigs coming up this weekend-- if weather permits--commemorating Black History Month. For the first one, I am going to do a couple of my poems and an a capella song. I'm torn between "Redemption Song" and my song "All of Me". We'll see The second gig will be on Sunday at the Celebration Center for Spiritual Living and I will be performing with my friend Gary Young who will be accompanying me on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". I wanted to do an original song, but we haven't had enough time to rehearse and practice any of my new pieces. Michael Jackson's song should be very easy to deliver because I sing a Michael Jackson set almost every day with my daughter who is a MJ fanatic. She adores him and if he were still alive, she would definitely be an MJ stalker. At 6, she knows EVERY song by MJ. How is that possible? I don't even know every song by MJ...