The organizers created the project as one of twelve (12) site-specific workshops at Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life. The conference was held in Baltimore from September 30th through October 3rd and was planned and facilitated by dozens of community partnerships, including arts and theatre organizations, Baltimore institutions, museums, performance spaces, and the three hosting campuses UMBC, Morgan State University, and Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Approximately 400 people from universities, colleges, and communities around the country (with some international) were officially registered for the conference, and the site-specific workshops were open to the public.
Written by
Tahira Chloe Mahdi
Ninety-Nine (“99") is an established media personality and event host with 17 years of experience connecting to artists, musicians, and their patrons. She has worked in programming, promotions or as on-air talent for Washington, DC and Baltimore area radio and television stations WPGC FM 95.5, Heaven 1580AM, WIAV-TV Channel 58, and WXYV-FM (Baltimore’s former V103). As a freelance writer, she shares her talents through entertainment journalism and by writing public relations pieces for numerous organizations and artists. Take Me Out to the Go-Go Magazine has featured 99 as a staff writer, radio show co-host, and video host since 1998. Known beyond the DC entertainment scene as the author Tahira Chloe Mahdi, she has seen success with bestsellers God Laughs, Too: Incidents in the Life of a Black Chick (fiction, 2001 & 2003) and How to Be Queen of the Universe (self-help, 2005). Through her organization and publishing company Tuff Crowd Conglomerate, she has toured nationally as an inspirational speaker and workshop facilitator for women’s groups. Arts, media, community empowerment, and academics have always intersected in 99’s mission. From 2005-2007, she taught multimedia writing and production courses at the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. In 2007, she returned to university life to complete a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and in 2014, earned a Master of Arts in Human Services Psychology. She is now a Ph.D. candidate specializing in Community and Applied Social Psychology. Recently, 99 starred in the internationally acclaimed video for “Black Love Superstars”, an underground hip hop favorite by DC hip hop legend Head-Roc. She also had the honor of performing the intro on “DC Symphony 3 (A Pocket Full of Dymes)” by the Crank Brothers, a rap/go-go record featuring ladies of the go-go stage. Currently, 99 cohosts “99 & Kato“ with the legendary Godfather of Go-Go Media Kato Hammond, every Friday from 1-3pm on TMOTTRadio.com. Education: Morgan State University; the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland; University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) View all posts by Tahira Chloe Mahdi