BCB Welcomes Marvelous Marvin

We are honored to welcome Marvin McCraw to our movement.  Marvin has been working with youth inspiring them poetically and we welcome his humble spirit. Marvin is our Creative Producer for Bringing Consciousness Back and manages over thirteen youth in Rochester, New York and started "It takes a Village" ITAV workshops that teach inner city kids to use their voice poetically.  We look forward to collaborating with Marvin and the youth from ITAV.  

Bringing Conscious Back in February

Join us February 17th

Our new website!

Blessings Friends and Family 

we finally have our new website up. 

We are so excited to share our new look. 

Please leave a comment if you approve our message.

Click below and it will take you straight there.

Bringing Conscious Back Website

Upcoming events

Upcoming Events

NEW YORK CITY!

ROCHESTER, NY

Sponsored by Filmstress Filmz, The Rochester Black Bar Association, The Art Factory, 

The Monroe County Public Library System

March 25th

Today Was A Good Day!

Feel free to make a conscious donation.

Bringing Conscious Back 2 The Jailz

So, we finished up our public engagements and have partnered with Just Us Inc. a non-profit organization in Rochester, NY that has been helping incarcerated individuals in the system and upon release helping them with housing, employment and education.  James Caldwell has a had few people come in and out to help in the jails but from my observance most people who donate time are the church people trying to indoctrine their beliefs on individuals in a compromising position.

I didn't give up my events but I will be writing to get money from investors and online funding to keep doing what I have been doing and that's inspiring audiences artistically with a message.

So I have been working with the inmates for about a month.  We have had some technical issues as far as my DVD playing for the inmates. I have changed the format 2x and still to no avail they have the oldest DVd players it's not even funny. So we are still moving forward with our discussions and mentoring time. I look forward to the next DVD working this weel,

 

So please help donate if you can as we need to print some materials for the holidays for the inmates. We have raised $70 thusfar and still have a long way to go.

Have a great day and remember to keep a positive mind. Because a positive mind cannot be denied.

Unity in the Community!

It's coming up on a year since we started our campaign "Bringing Conscious Back" and we are proud to say we are still running and campaigning using media, spoken word and music to inspire communities to have conscious dialogue and spur action for change.
We started on May 19th which happens to be "Malcolm X" birthday and the day the "Last Poets" got started in Marcus Garvey Park. As our one year anniversary comes up we are proud to say that we have gained some reputable artists and speakers.  

 Along the way we lost some but it's okay because everyone that participated was a winner. We welcome any new talent with a conscious message to perform.

For more information how you can participate please email our Admin.  at Filmstressfilmz@gmail.com

Consciousness as Power

The state of being conscious  refers to attainment & maintenance of a level of physiological arousal or alertness which permits the conscious being aware of, to remember, to recall both past & contemporary, internal and external events.  The state of being conscious essentially refers to a state of wakefulness & knowingness.  Today a young woman reached out and found what I had posted a while ago  I wanted to share it again today.

It's been said, people can only be as good as their thoughts, as successful as mental patterns, as progressive as their ideas.  In today's society being conscious is to listen to our thoughts, praying for divine guidance and following the intuitive urging.  Globally many unconscious individuals believe education, money, fame & notoriety are instrumental to their success.  If you are aware of the misconceptions of success you realize they are as useful as dirty dishwater without a clear firm, focused mind.   The process is quite simple to be conscious of who you are as individual.  When you develop a strong faith and connection to the Creator.  Demonstrate a healthy love and respect for your ancestors and parents, being committed and dedicated to your family traditions.  And a trusting relationship  to the spirit of your soul.  Trust your conscious and your first thought regardless of what others may say.  You own conscious takes you to the places you need to be...

With that being said let's all work collectively in making our neighborhood and communities more fruitful and inspiring.

Have a terrific day and may the Creator guide your journey to be successful. 

Blessingz

Bringing Conscious Back with Jake Simmons

We are honored to have Rochester native Jake Simmons and SOTA graduate come share his inspirational story before heading out to Italy.  Our movement Bringing Conscious Back is to inspire communities through media, music and spoken word.  It is our goal to inspire communites for change.  

Film screening of "110 Morningside" directed by 

Nicholle La Vann Q & A directly following.  Musical Performance by Matthew Corey, Lyricist Jahzi, Spoken Word by Stephanie Paredes and Goddess Shana King!

Join us 

Saturday, April 19th 12- 2 P.M. 

 Phillis Wheatley Library

33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way

Rochester, NY 14608

Please click link to get your free complimentary ticket

Filmstress Complimentary Admission

We are always looking for volunteers please email us at filmstressfilmz@gmail.com

#BconsciousB #Bconscious #Bconscious2014

2014 Ready or Not!

Happy New Year

Blessingz to all we are excited to start a new year with no apologies.

We are excited about our venues and the many folks who will be on stage sharing their talent.

Please be aware that we work off of donations from the public until we can get a grant to assist us.

We are currently looking for a fiscal sponsor so we can apply for funding that will allow us to concentrate on our artistic expression.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday

January 11, 2014

3-5 P.M.

Countee Cullen Library
New York, NY 

FREE TICKET

Tuesday

January 14, 2014

6-9 P.M.

THE SHRINE
New York, NY

FREE TICKET

Saturday

February 22, 2014

3-5 P.M.

Phillis Wheatley Library
Rochester, NY

FREE TICKET

If you can't make any of our events please feel free to support us via internet and make a conscious donation here. Thank you for your support.

Bringing Conscious Back for 2014...

We are super excited we have great goals for this year and we are on our way to a great start. Our movement started this year on May 19th,  Malcolm X's birthday.  It happens to be the same day the "Last Poets" were born.  Started with three of us, at the end of the day folks excused themselves and I kept on pushing what I believed in which was to bring art to communities by using art, spoken word and media.  I came out of my pocket for dinners, transportation and food for the events just to make each event special along the way.  I can't help to say I felt frustrated because with all I was doing folks just wanted to get paid then to see the  movement succeed.

I now know that this movement will have to be taught to our youth so that they can carry the torch. Sometimes when we work with adults there are to many egos or agendas in the way.  Though I still look up to the creator for guidance that the right individuals will come on board this journey with the rest of us that stayed on board. So I started at home and grabbed my own children and the kids I mentor.

Our first event we had spoken word, a performance by IMPACT Repetory, a discussion on how Malcolm effected our lives with Jamal Joseph, Abiodun Oyewole and myself.   The Shabazz Center allowed me to show my trailer "Living Legendz" which featured both men and Dr. Leonard Jeffries.  Because we collaborated made the flyers and organized our talent, the executive director Mark agreed there was no overhead.  Most of you are aware to have any type of function in NYC there is great price to pay when it comes to a venue. I went to folks I knew and to the public library asking for space to keep inspiring communities. Monique (manager) from Nicholas Brooklyn offered space but I had to charge so I could pay for the space. 

Still looking for venues a Harlem writer, Marc Polite invited me to an event at the Countee Cullen Library to be a speaker at his event.   While I was at the Countee Cullen I spoke with an employee and they guided me on how to rent a room at the library. Since then I have had events at the Countee Cullen Library. 

The rest of the year we had events in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Rochester, New York.   We have made our events free though we do ask for donations so we can keep doing what we do which is inspiring communities.  

BCB Musician
Matthew Corey

BCB Spoken Word Poet
Shana King

Our last events for the year have been inspiring and motivating. We rapped up our last event for the year at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for NonViolence where youth came out to support and watch a free film. 

It was snowing like crazy and bitter cold but we packed the room at the Gandhi Institute.  The Gandhi Institute was awesome they had refreshments and allowed us time to discuss the films we watched.  My intern Shamar asked me to play 110 Morningside,  I did and the youth loved it. 

Bringing Conscious Back Youtube Channel

click on link to view our channel

We also released four episodes on youtube that highlight the positive actions of what folks in the community are doing to make it better.  So much negative everyday we rarely hear about the good in the world, that is what prompted us to make a channel and dedicate it to positive energy.

We are looking forward to a great New Year and the opportunities are limitless.

Upcoming Engagements

Saturday

January 11, 2014

3-5 P.M.

Countee Cullen Library

FREE TICKET

Tuesday

January 14, 2014

6-9 P.M.

THE SHRINE

FREE TICKET

Saturday

February 22, 2014

3-5 P.M.

Phillis Wheatley Library

FREE TICKET

If you can't make any of our events please feel free to support us via internet and make a conscious donation here. Thank you for your support.

BCB Seeking Volunteers

Are you a high school student or college student and need some community hours? Are you neither and just tired of the violence in Rochester? Than we want you!

Bringing Conscious Back movement is looking for conscious individulas that don't talk about change but are part of the change. We are looking for volunteers to assist us canvass the Southwest neighborhood to give out flyers for our upcoming event next Thursday.

Our events inspire communities by using the arts such as film, music and spoken word. Your welcome to download our flyer for the event and pass it out of you can't make the canvassing over the weekend.

Thank you we look forward to making a difference with you.

Upcoming Events for BCB

We are so pleased by our new sponsor in Harlem.

Akil Rose with the Harlem Transformation Project has agreed to be our Harlem Sponsor.

It is our goal to do this around the country and then globally.  The New York Public Library system has also been sponsoring us special thanks to Victor Simmons at the Countee Cullen Library for allowing us to educate and inspire audiences in the Harlem community.

Our Holiday 

EVENT SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013 5:30-6:30 P.M.

Phillis Wheatley Library

33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way

Rochester, NY 14608

Free Film Screening of 

"110 Morningside"

special performances by

Shana King

Matthew Corey

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 7:00- 9:00 P.M.

Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

929 S. Plymouth Ave.

Rochester, NY 14608

Free Film Screening of 

"Millennium Slave"

special performances TBA

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014 3:00-5:00 P.M.

Countee Cullen Library

104 W. 136th Street

New York, NY 10030

Free Film Screening of 

"25 Years 2 Freedom" 

The Betty Tyson Story

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 6:00 - 10:00 P.M.

 Shrine World Music Venue

2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd

New York, NY 10030

Free Film Screening of 

"Living Legendz"

Special Performance by

LAST POET, Abiodun Oyewole

Featuring the artwork of 

Charly J. Dominguez

Being conscious can really change your perspective on the world.

 But don’t expect the world itself to change without a contribution from you.

Bringing Conscious Back

Your invited!
We are looking forward to our next event next week, Wednesday. We have partnered with the non-violence organization MCC MVP and look forward to partnering with many more. Christine Plumeri who hosted our last event will be out of town. We look forward to having some of her students and MVP alumni come and share in our event. 

Mentors in Violence Prevention Program (MVP-MCC)  in Action!

Mentors in Violence Prevention at MCC (MVP-MCC)   MCC faculty, staff, students and community members are proud to now have over 100 mentors in our communities who are educating others about social injustice and the gendered causes of most types of interpersonal violence. MVP was founded in 1993 at Northeastern University by leading anti-violence educator, Jackson Katz (HYPERLINK "http://www.jacksonkatz.com"www.jacksonkatz.com), who visited DCC in 2008 and gifted us this proven effective curriculum.  MCC is one of just three colleges in the U.S. and the only community college with an MVP Program.  MVP is also utilized in all branches of the U.S.  military, professional, college and high school sports teams, NAASCAR and many other organizations. MVP-MCC includes curriculum infusion in Criminal Justice, Sociology and Speech Communications coursework, bystander intervention training, co- and extra-curricular programming, and service work.   With our recent graduating class, we will expand curriculum infusion into additional Criminal Justice courses, as well as into English, Health Education and Psychology coursework. Bringing Conscious Back works hard to make a difference towards non-violence by promoting FREE community events.  Being conscious can really change your perspective on the world. But don’t expect the world itself to change without a contribution from you.

Bringing Conscious Back in November

Raising Conscious Children

Raising Conscious Children

Photography by Johnnie Lee Smith

Folks always say that character and education start at home. Nowadays we have children having children, many young women really don't want the responsibility. Some see children as toys or something cute rather than an individual.  Living in the hood you see the effects of children who have beed discarded and society not recognizing these individuals until they hit the judicial system.

There are so many cases today of child molestation, child murders, child slavery and the stories continue.  The older folks blame the young folks and the young folks blame the old folks for not having backbone.  The old folks pick at the young folks in what they ain;t doing right and the young folks look at there elders as cowards because many have given up, they fail to show leadership and that's where the young folks do have a point. 

As I have experienced life and have witnessed many who claim to be loving parents but spend more time on facebook, twitter, instagram and google+ than folks who work in the field of social networking.  I have witnessed many mothers and fathers claiming to be a parent but you see no mention or pictures of their beloved children, it's like they don't exist. You do see pictures and mentions of them with their friends and celebrities and what they claim thety are doing.  We can laugh about this but what is so sad is the amount of selfishness that is displayed virally on these platforms.  Are you really a professional or are you just being distracted? I know for me it's a distraction unless I am promoting an event or film.

I know for a fact when I am on the phone or facebook while my daughter is home it's a rap.  Little Momma tells me immediately excuse me but I need your attention.  As parents sometimes we ignore our children and then we realize this little person is asking for some time.  I have been guilty myself recognizing that technology has my mind I have to make time in my schedule to do me.  Now don't get me wrong a little checking your tumblr while your at the playground while your child is being entertained is fine.  

I want to share today a Pledge from my film 

"110 Morningside" that my mentor Abiodun Oyewole chants.  

Dune's Pledge

I want to be

what I can be

To be proud

healthy and free

I want to say 

what I know

To help my Bruthas and Sisters grow

I want to feel

good about me

and blame no one for my misery

'Cause I'll be strong

to turn it around

I want go up

I'm not going down

I want to do 

what I can do

to make all my dreams come true.

Remember my past

the good and bad

How I made it art

even when it was sad

I want to share 

whatever my gift

and when your feeling low 

I'll give you a lift

I want to live without fear

and know that I'm blessed for being here!

and know that I'm blessed for being here!

and know that I'm blessed!

I encourage all parents to teach this to the youth that frequent your life or to your own children. May this inspiration inspire you and your family it has inspired my family for years and still continues to this day. My five year old daughter now recites this and yes they do understand the powers of these words. Try it, print and recite and see how your kids eat this up.

Blessings...

Live from Filmstress row...this is the Filmstress

Join Us August 16th!

Film Screening of 25 Years 2 Freedom

Friday, August 16th

7- 10 p.m.

Nicholas Brooklyn

570 Fulton Street

Brooklyn, NY 11217

$10 @ The Door

Join us as we inspire audiences through creative art and music to promote change in the community. Featured artist Johnnie Lee Smith. Film Screening of "25 Years 2 Freedom" with Q & A directly following. Light Conscious Refereshements are served.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” However this looks easier said than executed .  -Wayne W. Dyer

March against Monsanto in Union Square! NO GMO!

Today was an inspiring day to be proactive.  

"Bringing Conscious Back" was definitely felt in Union Square and the village this afternoon.  Many folks came out to rally this afternoon even with the rain and wind it was truly a peaceful march though many wished they had gotten out of hand so it would draw attention. I know about them but I didn't need no attention I'm already Black and that draws enough attention...lol

March against monsanto

The most stimulating about the march was that it was multicultural every ethnicity was out there.  There were Black folks, White folks, Asian folks, Spanish folks to was like everybody cared about what were consuming.

"The diversity in age and  ethnic, cultural and political background is a huge indication of how far reaching this issue is. People all over the world are fed up and will not stand for what Monsanto is doing to our planet and one of our most basic and fundamental human rights. You know you can't trust what they are putting in our food when they refuse to sell GMO food in their own headquarters cafeteria..."

Henry Rushmore

Henry Rushmore &  Oyemina Ekhator

"Food is something that no one can live without and therefore everyone should be entitled to, yet Monsanto is monopolizing on slowly killing us with that same necessity. Keeping labels off of their products while pretending that GMOs are completely safe for consumption is nonsensical. Despite efforts to sedate, distract, and manipulate the public for their benefit and profit, the attempts to hide their poison are transparent. This march was a testament to the consciousness of the general population; the people are not fooled". 

Oyemina Ekhator

If you have an event you feel is a conscious movement please email us at filmstressfilmz@gmail.com

"Bringing Conscious Back" movement