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Arla Coleman Newkirk Little Victory (Formerly Arla Scott)

Arla Coleman Newkirk Little Victory (Mama Arla) is Founder and Director of Taratibu Youth Association.

Mama Arla began her dance training during college studying Horton and Graham modern dance techniques. After graduation from the University of California at Davis, she became the Director of the Black Repertoire Dance Troupe of U.C. Davis. After relocating to Washington, D.C. she began dancing with the University of the District of Columbia then joined the staff at the D.C. Youth Ensemble (DCYE) under the Direction of Carol Foster.

While working with DCYE Mama Arla studied Taratibu with Mama Afia Bonsu of the Nationhouse Positive Action Center, Watoto Shule. In 1990, she started the DCYE Taratibu Drill Team and has since performed Taratibu nationwide as well as internationally in the Virgin Islands, Scotland, Tanzania, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. After almost 20 years of teaching and performing Taratibu with DCYE, Mama Arla, along with Mama Naima, started the Taratibu Youth Association in August of 2007.

 

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Naima Hylton

Naima Hylton, Founder and Co-Director of Taratibu Youth Association (currently on hiatus). Naima began dancing at Suto Dance Studio, Hyattsville, MD. She subsequently joined the D.C. Youth Ensemble (DCYE), founded and directed by Carol Foster.

Naima learned and later worked as the Technical Director for DCYE, as well as with other arts organizations. She served as DCYE’s Studio Manager for several years managing the daily operations of the organization. She also served as the “Acting Director” of DCYE while Mrs. Foster was on hiatus; having complete oversight responsibility for the organization.

Naima, brings her wealth of talent, organizational and technical skills to the continued development of this organization and the mentoring and support of our youth.

Board of Directors

  • Arla C N L Victory

    President
    Management Analyst, CSOSA

  • Naima Hylton

    Vice President
    Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Garden Inn Washington, DC/US Capital

  • Adina Gittens-Smith

    Associate Broker, CBRE, Inc.

  • Doris White

    Financial Secretary &
    Project Specialist, Tribal Tech, LLC

  • Maya Jones-Little

    Registered Nurse, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

  • Jeffrey Little

    Owner, A&J Little Electrical Services

  • Dr. Cheryl Lee Butler

    Cheryl Y. Lee, D.D.S., P.C.

  • Melanie Middleton

    Senior Financial Institutions Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Board

  • Emesha James

    Supervisory Community Supervision Officer, CSOSA

  • Yanique Edmond, Ph.D., CTRP-C

    Associate Professor, University of Maryland - Global Campus; Lead Public Health Advisor, USDHHS

  • Dominique Charlot-Swilley, PhD

    Assistant Professor - Senior Policy Associate, Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development Georgetown, Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN)

Staff

  • Ylynne Brown

    Operations Manager, Choreographer

  • Janell Dixon

    Administrative Manager

  • Taeja Moffitt

    Administrative Manager

  • Terrance Payton

    Artistic Manager, Choreographer

  • Moriah Jordan

    Vocal Instructor

  • Sonia Dawkins

    Modern Dance Instructor & Choreographer

  • Elena Anderson, PhD

    Modern Dance Instructor and Choreographer

  • Lesina Martin

    African Dance Instructor and Choreographer

  • Mamady Victory

    Percussion

  • Nehemiah Dixon

    Art Department

  • Kai Bandy

    Fitness Instructor

  • Dominique Charlot-Swilley, PhD

    Health & Wellness

  • Yanique Edmond, Ph.D., CTRP-C

    Health & Wellness

  • Travis Spencer

    Mindfulness Instructor

  • Emesha James

    Leadership

  • Crystal Waters

    Parent Liaison

  • Charlene Wallace

    Wardrobe/Costumes

  • Darise Victory

    Wardrobe/Costumes

  • N'Kaiya Rawlings

    Admin Assistant, Maasai Company