Shawnee Benton Gibon, LMSW / FDLC
Shawnee Benton Gibson, LMSW / FDLC, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spirit of A Woman (SOW) Leadership Development Institute; established in 2002 to educate, elevate and effect positive and sustainable transformation for individuals, groups, families, communities and leaders within institutions. Under Shawnee's leadership and vision, SOW offers innovative coaching, counseling and training experiences to those who are seeking to expand their power, purpose and impact in the world.
Ms. Benton Gibson is a licensed practitioner with over 31 years of professional experience. She is also the Co-Founder of the ARIAH Foundation (The Advancement of Reproductive Innovation Through Artistry & Healing) which was created in memory of her eldest daughter, Shamony Makeba Gibson who passed away on October 6, 2019 due to complications associated with giving birth. Shamony’s story and Shawnee’s reproductive activism are depicted in the award winning documentary “Aftershock” which addresses the black maternal health crisis in the United States and its origins.
Shawnee’s expertise ranges from substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, child welfare, youth development, individual, family and group counseling, trauma, grief, loss and bereavement, women’s health and leadership, birth equity, racial equity, social and restorative justice. Shawnee employs a holistic, cultural and spiritual approach to her work and applies a racial equity, social justice lens as the foundation for all of the programs and services that her company provides. Her principal teaching, training and healing tools consist of spiritual counseling, vision coaching, psychodrama, sociometry, sacred rituals, energy work, the performing arts and storytelling as mediums to ignite transformation and initiate catharsis. According to Shawnee, doing healing work is "a labor of love and liberation".
Ms. Benton Gibson is a licensed practitioner with over 31 years of professional experience. She is also the Co-Founder of the ARIAH Foundation (The Advancement of Reproductive Innovation Through Artistry & Healing) which was created in memory of her eldest daughter, Shamony Makeba Gibson who passed away on October 6, 2019 due to complications associated with giving birth. Shamony’s story and Shawnee’s reproductive activism are depicted in the award winning documentary “Aftershock” which addresses the black maternal health crisis in the United States and its origins.
Shawnee’s expertise ranges from substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, child welfare, youth development, individual, family and group counseling, trauma, grief, loss and bereavement, women’s health and leadership, birth equity, racial equity, social and restorative justice. Shawnee employs a holistic, cultural and spiritual approach to her work and applies a racial equity, social justice lens as the foundation for all of the programs and services that her company provides. Her principal teaching, training and healing tools consist of spiritual counseling, vision coaching, psychodrama, sociometry, sacred rituals, energy work, the performing arts and storytelling as mediums to ignite transformation and initiate catharsis. According to Shawnee, doing healing work is "a labor of love and liberation".
Omari "Muz" Maynard
Omari "Muz" Maynard is an educator by trade and an artist by craft. He has received his bachelor's degree in Marketing from Hampton University, an MBA and a Masters in Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida, and a Masters degree in Special Education from Long Island University. With these degrees, he has worked for the NBA, for sports marketing companies, not for profit organizations, and the Department of Education.
As a child, he watched his uncle, Leo Carty, a highly accomplished artist, and Fulton Art Fair alumni, create beautiful masterpieces. He dabbled in exploring his artistry at an early age but did not pursue his artistic talents until he graduated from college. In 2016, Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business. Art-fulliving is a lifestyle and event planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned in October 2019, due to complications after giving birth to their second child. Her untimely passing has provided Omari with a drive to live his life as creatively and purposefully as possible.
Today he draws his creative inspiration from his family, life experiences, cultural influences, and his environment. His use of color, dimension, and texture exhibits true, raw, and natural talent. The evolution of artistry is evident in his work. His pieces tell stories that are thought provoking, intellectually inspiring, and technically sound.
As a child, he watched his uncle, Leo Carty, a highly accomplished artist, and Fulton Art Fair alumni, create beautiful masterpieces. He dabbled in exploring his artistry at an early age but did not pursue his artistic talents until he graduated from college. In 2016, Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business. Art-fulliving is a lifestyle and event planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned in October 2019, due to complications after giving birth to their second child. Her untimely passing has provided Omari with a drive to live his life as creatively and purposefully as possible.
Today he draws his creative inspiration from his family, life experiences, cultural influences, and his environment. His use of color, dimension, and texture exhibits true, raw, and natural talent. The evolution of artistry is evident in his work. His pieces tell stories that are thought provoking, intellectually inspiring, and technically sound.
Jasmine Nicole Gibson
Jasmine Nicole Gibson is a visual and performance artist, activist, advocate and entrepreneur. She is the owner of JayNicole Productions; a content creation company that brings the visions and dreams of her clients to life through graphic design, photography and videography.
Her love for acting, writing, singing, and dancing has created opportunities for her to perform throughout New York City and use her gifts to heal others. In 2011, Jasmine co-wrote a production with her mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, entitled “Mother Wit: Echoes from the Womb”. The one act choreopoem allowed the taboo subject of Postpartum Depression (PPD) to be shared using poetry, prose, dance, music and song as conduits for “edu-tainment” and healing. Jasmine quickly recognized that creating “healing art” was her passion, so in 2014, she and her mother expanded their work by creating the Mother Wit Conference, an annual event designed to address reproductive injustice, loss and trauma.
The trajectory for Jasmine’s life and work shifted drastically when her older sister, Shamony Makeba Gibson, passed away on October 6, 2019, due to a birth related pulmonary embolism. Shamony died just two weeks after giving birth to her second child and this tragic loss drove Jasmine further towards visual storytelling.
Jasmine’s artistic gifts have placed her in the position to partner with many influential people, community organizations, academic institutions and businesses. Her work as a videographer and photographer is showcased in a documentary called “Aftershock” which chronicles her family’s story, and the stories of others, who have been impacted by Maternal Mortality. The film will be showcased during the Sundance Film Festival in 2022.
Her love for acting, writing, singing, and dancing has created opportunities for her to perform throughout New York City and use her gifts to heal others. In 2011, Jasmine co-wrote a production with her mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, entitled “Mother Wit: Echoes from the Womb”. The one act choreopoem allowed the taboo subject of Postpartum Depression (PPD) to be shared using poetry, prose, dance, music and song as conduits for “edu-tainment” and healing. Jasmine quickly recognized that creating “healing art” was her passion, so in 2014, she and her mother expanded their work by creating the Mother Wit Conference, an annual event designed to address reproductive injustice, loss and trauma.
The trajectory for Jasmine’s life and work shifted drastically when her older sister, Shamony Makeba Gibson, passed away on October 6, 2019, due to a birth related pulmonary embolism. Shamony died just two weeks after giving birth to her second child and this tragic loss drove Jasmine further towards visual storytelling.
Jasmine’s artistic gifts have placed her in the position to partner with many influential people, community organizations, academic institutions and businesses. Her work as a videographer and photographer is showcased in a documentary called “Aftershock” which chronicles her family’s story, and the stories of others, who have been impacted by Maternal Mortality. The film will be showcased during the Sundance Film Festival in 2022.
Kinyofu Mlimwengu
Kinyofu Mlimwengu opens the way for individuals, mostly women, to rebirth themselves. Since 1992, she has touched hundreds of families through their birth and beyond experiences with the intention of building healthy environments for babies to be born into. Kinyofu Mlimwengu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Community and Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Education. She is a mother of 2 children and Uma to 2 next generation beings and has been active in the community as a Birth and Breastfeeding Advocate, Red Tent Curator, Resilience Coach, Educator and Speaker.