Ujima Wednesdays | Angelito Collective

Liberation Study Hall: 

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Schools of 1964, the Boston Ujima Project proudly presents "Liberation Study Hall," a year-long exploration of historical figures, schools of thought, experiments and sites that have contributed to shaping our contemporary movements and global landscape.

In Real Time:

"wherever we are, we must expect each other"

This September, we explore hyperlocal grassroots organizing strategies and practices; from arts and culture, to internationalist Pan-African struggle, to local mutual aid and housing advocacy, we will learn practices from collectives which operate locally (and translocally). The All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, and Voices of Liberation, will share reflections on people power and person-to-person base-building in Boston and Massachusetts; the Angelito Collective, based in New York, will describe their work in uplifting queer and trans visibility through culture and community-building mechanisms. Through this series, we hope to learn how we come together on the ground and how we can build relationships that lend themselves to forward momentum. 

Workshop Description:

The Angelito Collective, a creative initiative based in Brooklyn, NY, prioritizes trans and queer visibility; their strategies for community development and sustainability (via crowd-raisers and mutual aid, alongside cultural production), will provide many learnings and ground our conversation. 

Facilitator Bio:

Demiyah Perez is a multi-disciplinary artist, storyteller, and co-founder of the Angelito Collective. Her work challenges oppressive frameworks and champions trans futurism. She began her artistic journey at Ryerson University, specializing in fashion and media business, and became a prominent DJ in Toronto’s queer Caribbean scene. Moving to New York, she co-founded the Angelito Collective in 2020 to create a utopia rooted in equity for Black queer trans communities. Following the pandemic, Demiyah pursued yoga teaching to curate spaces for wellness, healing, and community building for Black trans individuals.