The Nurture The Creative Mind Foundation Family

(Photo Cred: Bryan Smith)

A near unbearable amount of talent, creativity, passion, loyalty, and innovative intelligence.

Nurture The Creative Mind Celebrates Our 5th Birthday With Wonderful Supporters

(Photo Cred: Bryan Smith)

It's amazing what five years of handwork, unfailing belief, and one amazing cause can do. We were able to celebrate with all of our supporters, friends and family. A special thanks to Mitch and The Wine Cellar for all their handwork in hosting our birthday party, as well as the talented band Shaky Trade who performed. We are eternally grateful for all the work and contribution of our NCM supporters and family.

It was quite emotional and awe inspiring when everyone in The Wine Cellar lit their Vintage Cupcake with birthday candles. The flames seemed to represent the light that turns on in a child when we are able to foster and encourage their creativity. Without our supporters and friends, the impact just wouldn't be possible. Nurture The Creative Mind has had the opportunity to help over 3,500 students in our short five years. Thanks to you, we will be able to take the message to more children and teens.




(Cake made by Ms. Jayme Cash)

Deja Mitchell- NCM's Newest Member & Artistic Dance Instructor

Déja Mitchell has a Bachelor's degree in Modern Dance from Utah State University. She has studied African dance and drumming for 14 years with numerous renowned teachers. She teaches African-based movement in an invigorating atmosphere with polyrhythms, which are the basis of African dance. She helps her students explore the depth and cultural significance of the dances, while making the movement accessible to beginners. She also teaches traditional African drumming rhythms and Djembe techniques as well as other tribal styles in a facilitated drum circle environment.

Deja is a frequent performer and gives interactive and educational workshops for all ages. Performances and workshops are customized. Entertainment can include an African drumming ensemble with dance performance.

About African Dance

African dance embodies athleticism and graceful beauty flowing with rhythm. Traditional dance in Africa occurs collectively, expressing the life of the community. African dance utilizes the concepts of polyrhythms and total body articulation. The traditional dances are a means of marking the experiences of life, encouraging abundant crops, and healing. It is also done for pure enjoyment and building community.

Deja is an amazing addition to the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation Family and we look forward to building with her in the future.

If you are interested in participating in dance classes instructed by Deja please leave a message here or contact the NCM Foundation Director Amir A.H. Jackson via email amirjackson@NurturetheCreativeMind.com. Thank you

Our Newest NCM Member and Program Instructor

Stephanie Kilgore Heath believes in life as a performance. She graduated with a Masters of Arts in English degree from Weber State University in December, 2009. She graduated with a BA in Communication with minors in English Language and Literature and Public Relations in 2005 from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Stephanie graduated from LSSU at the top of her class as the “Outstanding Communication Graduate.”

Her literary research interests include Literature from the Middle East and Africa, particularly postmodern, performative texts; Shakespearean Studies, and American Literature from the 40s and 50s. Her current research is on the works of Kathy Acker and Diane di Prima. Stephanie enjoys finding the voice of women in texts.

As an undergrad, Stephanie was part of a Competitive Papers Panel for the CSCA National Conference with a paper on how Jane Austen molds rhetorical space with her writing. Stephanie had a paper presented at the 2009 RMMLA Conference titled: The Ceremony of the Conceptual Self in Silko’s Ceremony and Acker’s Blood & Guts in High School. Her performance studies credits include: Eliot Enacted: at the Petit Jean Performance Festival in fall 2004; Things Reveal Themselves, a weaving of mini personal narratives: at the St. Cloud State Performance Festival in spring 2005; Majoring the Minor Characters, a spatial exploration of the women of the Beat Generation: at the Superior Festival where she was the featured solo performer in fall 2009; and Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: at the 10th annual Superior Festival in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan during the fall 2010.

Currently, Stephanie works at Weber State University as the Recruitment Coordinator for the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education where she was awarded the WSU Crystal Crest Friend of Student award in spring 2010. Her future plans include pursuing a Ph.D in Performance Studies, where she can continue her research on victimization narratives, decision making processes of the individual, and adaptation of literature for academic performance. She has been married for almost six years to David Heath and has a four-year old son, Holden and two-year old daughter, Harper Jane.