Ayo Handy-Kendi, Bio
The Breath Sekou & Founder of Black Love Day
The Breath Sekou & Founder of Black Love Day
BIO OF AYO HANDY-KENDI, the Breath Sekou, Founder, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th
Ayo Handy-Kendi, is ”The Breath Sekou”, a master teacher of 50+ years of breath study and training as a Certified Breathologist, Transformational Facilitator, Laughter Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Ra Sekhi, QiCong II, Diversity Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, Sound Healer, Loveologist and B.A. degreed Counselor/Community Organizer.
Renown also as Sekou Mama Ayo, she has connected the dots between culture, health and wellness, particularily for BiPoc's. Continued racism, oppression, economic and health disparities, have made it critical, that despite their gains, they still have far to go to be on equal footing with the larger society. Sekou Mama Ayo has created many opportunities for self-help, self-love and self-care using many healing tools, especially focused on breathology, and has created many programs and services, using holidays, celebrations and rituals for social change
She is reknown as the founder of Black Love Day, Feb. 13 and The Ritual of Reconciliation, co-created in 1993. Today, she further serves as the 2004, Founder/CEO of PositivEnergyWorks, a wellness service for Breathology stress/trauma management, connecting culture with health for People of Color (POC’s) and Founder of The African American Holiday Association (AAHA), since 1989, now, a private membership organization, that stewards, “Black Love Day (BLD) and perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations and rituals, providing education, social justice and healing services, globally.
BLD is the 4th commemorative African American holiday offering a day of celebration, atonement, forgiveness and reconciliation, in a 24 hour demonstration showing 5 specific tenets (loving acts): Love for the Creator, for Self, for the Black Family, the Community and so-called Black Race. So-called Whites show “love in action” through service, atonement and inspect their own racial behavior and attitudes. It is a day to end so-called Black self-hatred, so-called White supremacy/racism, as a day for pro-peace, racial and diversity healing, and to heal all and transform all relationships, serving as a more cultural, spiritual alternative to the commercial, often violent Valentine’s Day.
She personally credits transformative breath techniques for helping her overcome such adversities as the violent death of her son, homelessness, domestic violence, addictions, chronic depression along with healing the memory of childhood sexual abuse and emotional trauma frozen in her sub-conscious.
From these journeys, she has championed the belief that we heal only when we feel and that the key to healing the divides of race, inequality and cultural relationship disrespect and separation, is to breathe to feel to heal affecting the release of repressed stress, race-based/personal trauma and un-conscious biases, held in the cellular memory. Breathology unlocks limited beliefs, stuck emotions, pain, anger, fear and stress.
Sekou Ayo has evolved these experiences into certifying over 250 persons in Optimum Life Breathology (O.L.B.). her solution-based training system of applied, daily breath techniques and transformative practices, including her signature trainings, “Relearn How to Breathe”, “Transcendence Breathwork’, “Breath Circles to Heal the Divides”
She feels blessed to she have “breathed” with billions on radio, t.v, in print, via Internet; on stage, in private practice and with organizations, colleges and corporate opportunities. Notable media appearance include Steve Harvey’s Morning Show, Roland Martin’s News Hour, ABC, CBS, NBC and WJLA, Fox News; Washington, Post, and recently featured virtually on the International Breathwork Foundation (IBF) World Breathing Day, The Shift Networks’ 4th Breath Summits and the Breathing Festival.
Filled with love for her community and humanity, she still shares love with her big family. A grandmother of 20 and great-grandmother of 9 she is also supporting a Liberian adopted son ‘s vision for a trauma release, healing orphanage in his country. All while fostering a Black Love movement as a “Loveologist” along with a worldwide, “breath movement” as a “Breathologist” “to breathe better to live better, to love better” to change the world. tm .
202-667-2577; [email protected]; www.PositivEnergyWorks.com, www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org
Ayo Handy-Kendi, is ”The Breath Sekou”, a master teacher of 50+ years of breath study and training as a Certified Breathologist, Transformational Facilitator, Laughter Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Ra Sekhi, QiCong II, Diversity Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, Sound Healer, Loveologist and B.A. degreed Counselor/Community Organizer.
Renown also as Sekou Mama Ayo, she has connected the dots between culture, health and wellness, particularily for BiPoc's. Continued racism, oppression, economic and health disparities, have made it critical, that despite their gains, they still have far to go to be on equal footing with the larger society. Sekou Mama Ayo has created many opportunities for self-help, self-love and self-care using many healing tools, especially focused on breathology, and has created many programs and services, using holidays, celebrations and rituals for social change
She is reknown as the founder of Black Love Day, Feb. 13 and The Ritual of Reconciliation, co-created in 1993. Today, she further serves as the 2004, Founder/CEO of PositivEnergyWorks, a wellness service for Breathology stress/trauma management, connecting culture with health for People of Color (POC’s) and Founder of The African American Holiday Association (AAHA), since 1989, now, a private membership organization, that stewards, “Black Love Day (BLD) and perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations and rituals, providing education, social justice and healing services, globally.
BLD is the 4th commemorative African American holiday offering a day of celebration, atonement, forgiveness and reconciliation, in a 24 hour demonstration showing 5 specific tenets (loving acts): Love for the Creator, for Self, for the Black Family, the Community and so-called Black Race. So-called Whites show “love in action” through service, atonement and inspect their own racial behavior and attitudes. It is a day to end so-called Black self-hatred, so-called White supremacy/racism, as a day for pro-peace, racial and diversity healing, and to heal all and transform all relationships, serving as a more cultural, spiritual alternative to the commercial, often violent Valentine’s Day.
She personally credits transformative breath techniques for helping her overcome such adversities as the violent death of her son, homelessness, domestic violence, addictions, chronic depression along with healing the memory of childhood sexual abuse and emotional trauma frozen in her sub-conscious.
From these journeys, she has championed the belief that we heal only when we feel and that the key to healing the divides of race, inequality and cultural relationship disrespect and separation, is to breathe to feel to heal affecting the release of repressed stress, race-based/personal trauma and un-conscious biases, held in the cellular memory. Breathology unlocks limited beliefs, stuck emotions, pain, anger, fear and stress.
Sekou Ayo has evolved these experiences into certifying over 250 persons in Optimum Life Breathology (O.L.B.). her solution-based training system of applied, daily breath techniques and transformative practices, including her signature trainings, “Relearn How to Breathe”, “Transcendence Breathwork’, “Breath Circles to Heal the Divides”
She feels blessed to she have “breathed” with billions on radio, t.v, in print, via Internet; on stage, in private practice and with organizations, colleges and corporate opportunities. Notable media appearance include Steve Harvey’s Morning Show, Roland Martin’s News Hour, ABC, CBS, NBC and WJLA, Fox News; Washington, Post, and recently featured virtually on the International Breathwork Foundation (IBF) World Breathing Day, The Shift Networks’ 4th Breath Summits and the Breathing Festival.
Filled with love for her community and humanity, she still shares love with her big family. A grandmother of 20 and great-grandmother of 9 she is also supporting a Liberian adopted son ‘s vision for a trauma release, healing orphanage in his country. All while fostering a Black Love movement as a “Loveologist” along with a worldwide, “breath movement” as a “Breathologist” “to breathe better to live better, to love better” to change the world. tm .
202-667-2577; [email protected]; www.PositivEnergyWorks.com, www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org
MAMA AYO
STORYTELLING & CULTURAL PRESENTATION BIO
Ayo Handy-Kendi, as the oldest daughter of Doris A.M. Thomas, Actress
and Company Director of the Serenity Players, learned the art of
“storytelling” as a child, listening to her Mother’s stories. She then
created story dramas and skit re-enactments with paper dolls, doll
babies, stuffed animals, and friends. As an adult, Ayo professionally
started telling stories in her work, as a Community Organizer and Mental
Health Counselor, as early as 1970.
In 1981, Handy-Kendi founded a cultural event that grew and grew, developing as
the Founder/Director of the African American Holiday Association
(AAHA) in 1989. Here, she delighted young and old, lovingly called
"Mama Ayo - the Kwanzaa Griot." A “Griot” (pronounced Gree o in french)
offers storytelling in the oral tradition of Motherland Africa
that is culturally based, filled with life’s lessons, values, and
history.
When she evolved understanding the colonizing of continental people, she changed her moniker from the Kwanzaa Griot, to Mama Ayo, the Storyteller.
Mama Ayo continues to connect culture, health, and history
to delight young and old with story performances that make information
come alive!
Ayo Handy-Kendi has presented before millions over radio, TV, and
print as a Storyteller, Holiday Authority, Holiday Stress Manager, Founder of Black Love Day –
Feb. 13th, Workshop Facilitator, Rituals Officiator, Breathologist,
Inspirational Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur,
and Spokesperson for AAHA..
As "Mama Ayo – the Kwanzaa Storyteller", she has presented notable story
performances locally in Washington, D.C. at the National Theater, National Harbor,
the Smithsonian, Fort Dupont Summer Theater, P.G. Mall, and is featured
at numerous Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and D.C. Emancipation Day events, and
schools, churches, hospitals, and community programs. Nationally, she has
performed with African American Women on Tour, N.Y’s Kwanzaa Expo, and
Atlanta’s Juneteenth Celebration, while internationally on Voice of
America broadcast to over 22 countries, and at the Roots & Gospel
Festival, Benin, West Africa.
SEE AYO HANDY-KENDI'S GENERAL BIO HERE (VIA DOWNLOAD LINK BELOW)
and Company Director of the Serenity Players, learned the art of
“storytelling” as a child, listening to her Mother’s stories. She then
created story dramas and skit re-enactments with paper dolls, doll
babies, stuffed animals, and friends. As an adult, Ayo professionally
started telling stories in her work, as a Community Organizer and Mental
Health Counselor, as early as 1970.
In 1981, Handy-Kendi founded a cultural event that grew and grew, developing as
the Founder/Director of the African American Holiday Association
(AAHA) in 1989. Here, she delighted young and old, lovingly called
"Mama Ayo - the Kwanzaa Griot." A “Griot” (pronounced Gree o in french)
offers storytelling in the oral tradition of Motherland Africa
that is culturally based, filled with life’s lessons, values, and
history.
When she evolved understanding the colonizing of continental people, she changed her moniker from the Kwanzaa Griot, to Mama Ayo, the Storyteller.
Mama Ayo continues to connect culture, health, and history
to delight young and old with story performances that make information
come alive!
Ayo Handy-Kendi has presented before millions over radio, TV, and
print as a Storyteller, Holiday Authority, Holiday Stress Manager, Founder of Black Love Day –
Feb. 13th, Workshop Facilitator, Rituals Officiator, Breathologist,
Inspirational Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur,
and Spokesperson for AAHA..
As "Mama Ayo – the Kwanzaa Storyteller", she has presented notable story
performances locally in Washington, D.C. at the National Theater, National Harbor,
the Smithsonian, Fort Dupont Summer Theater, P.G. Mall, and is featured
at numerous Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and D.C. Emancipation Day events, and
schools, churches, hospitals, and community programs. Nationally, she has
performed with African American Women on Tour, N.Y’s Kwanzaa Expo, and
Atlanta’s Juneteenth Celebration, while internationally on Voice of
America broadcast to over 22 countries, and at the Roots & Gospel
Festival, Benin, West Africa.
SEE AYO HANDY-KENDI'S GENERAL BIO HERE (VIA DOWNLOAD LINK BELOW)
| ayo_handy-kendi_bio_with_bld_flyer.pdf |
Schedule Mama Ayo for Holiday Presentations / Ceremonies
Black Love Day–Feb 13TH .:. MLK Birthday .:. Rituals of Reconciliation .:. Women’s History Month
D.C. Emancipation Day–April 16th .:. Maryland Emancipation Day ...Juneteenth-June 19th .:. International Breath Day .:. World Breathing Day ...Kwanzaa or any gathering where a story would enlighten
Most Popular Stories
It’s Kwanzaa Time .:. The Talking Drum .:. A Diversity Healing Story for Black Love .:.
Freedom Song (for Emancipation Days) .....Everything that has Life has Breath
Black Love Day–Feb 13TH .:. MLK Birthday .:. Rituals of Reconciliation .:. Women’s History Month
D.C. Emancipation Day–April 16th .:. Maryland Emancipation Day ...Juneteenth-June 19th .:. International Breath Day .:. World Breathing Day ...Kwanzaa or any gathering where a story would enlighten
Most Popular Stories
It’s Kwanzaa Time .:. The Talking Drum .:. A Diversity Healing Story for Black Love .:.
Freedom Song (for Emancipation Days) .....Everything that has Life has Breath