I feel very lucky to be able to call Alika Hope a friend and client. I have been working with her and photographing The Ray Of Hope Project for over three years now. This project is moving and special. Working together with Ray and Dexter, Alika brings The Ray Of Hope Project to schools and organizations, educating and inspiring a new generation.
To quote the text from The Ray Of Hope website... "Alika Hope and Ray Morant incorporate African American spirituals with live guitar music in their participatory programs. They use historical accounts of successful African Americans in New England, and primary source readings by New England-based abolitionists to teach about slavery in 19th century America. "This is my story, this is my song". Blacks and whites in 19th century New England often worked together to achieve the goals of freedom and equality, from Boston to Albany, Hartford to Manchester. Stories and songs about people like: Prudence Crandall, William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown, George Lewis Ruffin, and Mary Eliza Mahoney come to life. Connections to contemporary discourse on rights and responsibilities are made. "
To learn more about this inspiring project, please visit The Ray Of Hope website at http://www.rayofhopeproject.com/home.html
