Who we are:
Black Rebel Nomads Creative & Cultural Exchange Program is a professional development opportunity for Black-identifying student artists.
What we do:
-
Close the travel gap for Black creatives by supporting
artists to travel internationally.
For one month, Nomads travel abroad to develop their
creative practice and open their minds to other cultures. We cover
the flight and board of Nomads to remove financial barriers to
experiencing life-changing travel opportunities.
- Grow the skills of future leaders by supporting them to learn abroad by taking classes and teaching classes of their own! Nomads apply the skills they've learned to their creative practice and go on to serve as cultural ambassadors and educators to their peers, families, and communities.
- Amplify emerging Black artists' stories by supporting Nomads to host an art exhibition after they return from traveling. By sharing their creative projects with the community, they gain valuable experience in public speaking, storytelling, event production, and curation while growing their artistic and professional resume.
- Provide mentorship opportunities to artists by connecting them with a network of professional artists locally and abroad. Additionally, past Nomads serve as peer mentors to incoming cohorts by running workshops to prepare them for travel and creative production.
Our 2024 Goal:
We need to raise $8,000 USD by June 30, 2024, to support the next 3 Nomads to travel to Indonesia!
Why give?
Every gift to Black Rebel Nomads ensures more creatives
will have the needed resources and opportunities to create artwork
and build relationships that make an impact in their lives and the
lives of others.
Your gifts will cover:
-
A ticket for Nomads to expand their world view
, experience new cultures and exchange creativity
through building an international community.
-
A safe space for youth artists
to grow their professional and artistic skills with
mentorship and guidance from professional artists and experienced travelers.
- A pathway towards financial freedom and agency by offering opportunities to young artists to build creative skills and artistic portfolios for themselves and their communities.
Why now?
We need leaders who think globally and serve locally.
For youth from communities with higher rates of
substance abuse and gun violence, having access to mentorship and
safe spaces to cultivate their creativity, professional skills can
be the motivating force that drives them to success..
That's why Black Rebel Nomads provides our Nomads with
international travel experiences so they can create more
opportunities for themselves and
the communities they’re from.
Dorien’s Story
Far from a simple vacation, Thailand became a turning point. Initially aiming for a fun action-packed travel film, through the sharing of stories and culture, my Philly background collided with a stark reality: limited travel opportunities for many, specifically Black inner-city youth.
Witnessing how previous travel experiences expanded my mind through learning about diverse cultures and nurtured my art and faith, I knew I had to act. Forget a breezy escape; Thailand became the bridge for a short film celebrating our experiences while shining a spotlight on this disparity.
Watch the film “Escape The Block” here
International travel is less accessible to African American/Black youth.
According to various reports only 35% to 40% of all Americans
hold a valid US Passport. Of that number an even smaller percentage
includes African American/Black identifying individuals.
Financial barriers, and the income gap between African
American households and their white counterparts prevent Black
travelers from obtaining a passport and saving up for international
travel.
Black Rebel Nomads is closing this gap by sponsoring Nomads
and making traveling abroad more accessible to low income communities.
Octavia’s story
Octavia is a 19 year old film student who was
attending Community College of Philadelphia. She applied to Black
Rebel Nomads for the opportunity to
experience international travel for the first time
in her life to experience a new culture. When she
arrived in Thailand, she not only discovered new cultures and arts
but learned more about herself as a creative. Upon returning she
took her experiences and planted the seeds in her community by
sharing what she learned with peers. This motivated her to
continue her creative education at Temple University.
Watch her Nomad Project
Creative culture is more accessible than ever.
We need storytellers who can see the world with humility and tell transformative stories with ethics.
With creative culture more accessible than ever, art
helps people understand and respond to the needs of our world. From
puppet shows to poetry, artists are on the frontline of activism and
building international solidarity to meet the needs of our rapidly
changing world. That's why media, cultural literacy, and
storytelling skills matter now more than ever.
Black Rebel Nomads is equipping our future’s creative
leaders with cultural humility, creative production experience, and
storytelling ethics so they can be the bridge to a more dignified
and just future in the communities they’re from.
In 2024 alone, we had over 20 students apply to be Black Rebel Nomads.
- 75% have never traveled internationally
- 90% come from low income households
- 100% were Black identifying
-
100% applicants were student artists
pursuing higher education
.
There are countless creators like Dorien and Octavia who deserve this opportunity to grow their creative skills and enrich their communities through international travel.
Sponsorship levels:
- Rebel Level. Gifts of $100 or more will be mentioned as Rebel Sponsors on our website. We are grateful to all the Rebels out there!
- Leadership Level. Gifts of $500 or more help Nomad’s become leaders. These supporters will receive personalized updates from our nomads through their journey as travelers, mentors and teachers.
- Nomad Wings Level. Gifts of $1000 or more give Nomad’s wings! These sponsors are invited to our BRN Bon Voyage Dinner to meet the Nomads and dine together.
Join the Black Rebel Nomad Movement!
-
Make a gift today!
Every donation no matter how small or large counts!
- Travel With Us on Social Media! @blackrebelnomads
- Check out what our Nomads are doing Now!
Octavia Cooper
