**Nekia Wright** is a flutist, filmmaker, and holistic wellness & education specialist based in San Francisco, CA. With an MA in Special Education and 16 years of global teaching experience, she is certified by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health as an African Traditional Healer, and is also a certified Practitioner of Sound & Vibrational Therapies and Reiki Master. Nekia integrates these practices with social emotional learning, wellness dimensions, and social justice to promote holistic wellness and sustained success for her clients. She is available for retreats, conferences, events, and private sessions.

Nekia has been honored as a 2024 Black Futures Resident with Zaccho, a recipient of the 2024 San Francisco Arts Commission Dreamkeeper Award, the New Champions Award from the Educating All Learners Alliance, and the Ubuntu Award from the African American Arts and Culture Center.

Dir. Statement :

In 2021, I embarked on a transformative journey to Zimbabwe to study traditional healing and prepare for the Liberated Learning Teacher Fellowship. This trip profoundly impacted me, and I felt a deep desire to share this experience with other Black folx, especially those who haven’t had the opportunity to travel.

Armed with just my phone, I recorded my experiences and began sharing clips during my community performances and sound baths. One particularly moving clip from the Binga region brought an audience member to tears, affirming the powerful resonance of these traditional practices.

Inspired by this response, I applied for a $5,000 grant through the SF African American Arts & Culture Complex and the Office of Economic Workforce Development. This support enabled me to return to Zimbabwe and film “Afrolistic: Black Healing from Zimbabwe to the Bay,” a documentary aimed at connecting Black Americans to traditional practices as a form of spiritual reparations for our community.

Sylvesta Stuart was born on the Island of Barbados and emigrated to Canada with his family at the age of 4. From a young age he was an avid reader and spent countless hours in the public library. Always drawn to Fantasy and Action genres, an early career in Business was set aside to pursuit his passion for Film and Television. Sylvesta became a sought after professional Stunt Performer, Stunt Double and Stunt Coordinator and Actor. This has taken him around the world and he has worked on many Big Budget Film and Television projects, with A-list Actors and Directors. Always looking to learn and grow, he continues his film studies and writing up to today.