I first met Aminata Cairo sometime around 1988 when she walked into Syncopated, Inc.’s large, airy, window-lined dance studio in Lexington, Kentucky one evening, just in time to take my African Dance class. It was quickly evident that she is a passionate person and an exciting dancer. As I got to know her better, I became familiar with her grounded presence, her compassionate heart and her fiery intelligence.
Meriah Kruse, CEO of Life Force Marketing, interviews Dr. Cairo on May 31, 2021, just a few days in advance of the release of her book Holding Space. Listen in to hear Aminata speak about her work and her book.
Although I couldn’t have predicted what her future path would look like, it certainly comes as no surprise that she has pursued her education to the doctoral level, has taught in and acted as an advisor to universities on diversity and inclusion, and begun to make a name for herself in international circles as a promoter of justice, fairness for all people, speaking truth to power, and the healing power of storytelling. She often refers to herself as a speaker, scholar and storyteller.
Recently I interviewed Aminata as the premier chapter of HEAR TELL, Spotlight on Pathfinders, an initiative of my current efforts to help small businesses, writers, change agents and artists BE HEARD, Online and Beyond (see video above).
Her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology helped to prepare her for the role she’s currently cultivating, being heard internationally as an expert with proven techniques and a fully developed methodology for getting beyond the often overly simplistic rhetoric of our culture wars. She’s particularly interested in using academic skills, resources and community-based research to affect and empower communities – especially her students.
the role she’s currently cultivating… being heard internationally as an expert with proven techniques and a fully developed methodology for getting beyond the often overly simplistic rhetoric of our culture wars.
With an extensive background in Dance and African cultural arts, Aminata knows, and has demonstrated, that the Arts are an especially viable and effective way to engage communities and to help people celebrate their cultures and be proud of who they are — especially those who have been marginalized and silenced. She has spearheaded community service, education and mentoring projects in Ghana, Suriname (her birth country), the Netherlands, and the U.S. She has an extensive background in community arts in Kentucky, where she lived from the age of 18 until she completed her doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky. She’s been an integral part of the Lexington arts community, still a part of long-time partnerships with such artists as Tripp Bratton (March Madness Marching Band, Berea College Drum Ensemble) and Teresa Tomb (Mecca Dance, Rakadu Dance), and many others.
Aminata has just launched her book, entitled Holding Space: A storytelling approach to trampling diversity and inclusion. She says of her book, “This book was written for you. Join us and engage as we learn how to embrace Holding Space as an alternative philosophy and approach to creating inclusive living and working environments.”
her book, entitled Holding Space: A storytelling approach to trampling diversity and inclusion.
As a kind of preparation in announcement of her book, she has produced 8 episodes of a well-produced and mesmerizing podcast, also called Holding Space.
She currently lives in the Hague, Netherlands and is a Lector in Inclusive Education at the Hague University of Applied Sciences where she is in charge of promoting inclusive education in all the faculties of the university. She has also worked as an associate professor of anthropology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and as a policy advisory on diversity and inclusion at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
THIS VIDEO:
Learn more:
Aminata on Facebook at AminataCairoConsultancy.
Website at aminatacairo.com
Podcast HOLDING SPACE on Spotify.
Her book is now available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and in book sources in the Netherlands.
