This is the SuRa FoMa Collective. We’re a group of passionate facilitators and youth-development professionals that know the value of thoughtful collaboration. In March of 2019, we teamed up to pursue a project that excited each of us – the facilitation of the Youth Arts Initiative Learning Community in June of 2019 in Chicago, in partnership with The Wallace Foundation and Boys & Girls Club of America. We did it all again in our hometown of Atlanta in November 2019. The best news is that the tour continues and the next stop is Boston!

Two of us (SuRa) work for VOX ATL (aka VOX Teen Communications), Atlanta’s home for uncensored teen publishing, self-expression and youth voice. Three of us (FoMaPa) work for HTI Catalysts, a collaborative network of consultants that provide facilitation and professional development to schools, youth programs, and community-based organizations. With the multiple perspectives on the field of youth development and shared expertise in facilitation, we knew that we were the right fit for this project.

As we prepped for our interview experience and thought about our roles, we had an ah-ha moment of just what we were building. We’re a quintet of facilitators, each bringing a style and skillset uniquely our own that builds a stronger collective. And that is how the group became the SuRa FoMa Collective. We each have our roles (or instruments) to play. It was awesome to add to our sound in Chicago with Amanda and Keinika. For Atlanta, we loved deepening our sound with Trequita. And now we bring you the line-up for our next digital convene on June 8th – 10th. You can click through and read about all of us below.

Here’s the full line-up for LC 7:

Susan – bassist and content lead

Rachel – guitarist and communications lead

Folami – lead singer and community builder

Mashona – drummer and band manager

Patrice – keyboardist and YAI Liaison coach

Kateshia – synthesizer and event planner