Encore Presentation: FootPrint – Design & Creativity in Sneaker Culture

Chris Emdin is a tenured professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. He is the author of the award-winning book Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation and the New York Times Best Seller, For White Folks Who Teach In The Hood and The Rest of Ya’ll Too. Emdin has been named one of the The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans and one of the 27 people bridging divides across America by Times magazine. His newest book, Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Excellence is currently available for pre-order.

Tami Gamble is the Founder and CEO of Girly Shop Teacher, LLC and Girly Shop Teacher Foundation with the combined mission to “Ignite a spirit to BUILD in youth and reframe the need, value, and inclusion of Construction Education.”  This wayforger is an ambassador to the building trades, ushering in the next generation into the time honored industry of construction. Having served five years teaching Construction and Building Trades at Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, on Dallas’ southern border.  Tami now hosts creative  programs that introduce and inspire youth in the construction crafts. You can catch a glimpse of her representing Real Women that Do Real work for the Duluth Trading Company clothing brand or on Disney+’s Shop Class. No matter where you find the Girly Shop Teacher you will be captivated by her energetic, comedic spirit and never quit attitude. 

Her first heartthrob moment in construction came when she was helping her dad set and pour cement steps at the age of six. This zany mother of three sons is a Howard University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Certified Texas Education Agency Teacher, NCCER Certified Trades Instructor and OSHA certified. She appeared on the cover of Southwest Now Magazine January 2019, was named Power Up Inc. Woman in Construction May 2018, awarded Duncanville ISD “Made with Pride” Teacher of the Month May 2016, Duncanville High School Teacher of the Month in January 2018

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Jeffrey Alan Henderson founded And Them in 2014. With projects from Allbirds to Yeezy, his creative strategy is a comprehensive blend of his technical background, design style and creative leadership. The Ohio native keeps a balanced portfolio of Branding and Product projects for businesses large and small.

After earning his engineering degree from Purdue & Georgia Tech, he took on a diverse project load at Nike – Kids, Tokyo Design Studio, Running, Sportswear and Cole Haan. The sale of Cole Haan left him with a unique opportunity to develop the global creative agency, making a space in the industry for Black & Brown creatives based in Harlem.

Today, And Them continues to diversify the industry with product, content and people. Their projects blur the nonprofit and for-profit world because community and commerce have never been separate conversations.

Ashlee Muhammad was born blind in one eye. She spent much of her youth being bullied for being “different” and yearned to fit in… until she finally realized she was born to stand out.

Ashlee embraced her differences, especially through her clothing. She was comfortable in her own style even though it was radically different from everyone else in her Harlem neighborhood. Some made fun of her, but Ashlee had a sense there was a future for her in fashion. “I thought, maybe I could make this a thing,” she recalled. “In a world where nothing felt normal, those things felt normal. Maybe this is something I want to tap into as a career when I get older.”

That decision proved to suit her very well. Today, Ashlee is an emerging fashion designer fusing fashion with the social activism of self-love and empowerment for women through her signature brand, #BeEyeConic. “It started as an idea with me learning to love myself,” Ashlee explains. She came up with the “e-y-e” twist in the brand name because it spoke to the truth of her personal story. “I really want to spread the message that you are an individual and you are born to stand out and be your own unique, eye-conic, being.”

Ashlee is also the style curator for Harlem Haberdashery–a trendy boutique in NYC, and works closely with one of the partners there, Kells Barnett. He describes her style as funky and fun and loves how she mixes high and low pieces, such as wearing a lace dress with a sweatshirt over it.

Moderator

Natalie Hernandez (she/her) is a Real Time Editor at News 12 Brooklyn and the Bronx where she performs assignment desk, digital and field producing duties. Natalie is a graduate of the CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism’s class of 2021 where she studied urban reporting and video journalism. Her past experience includes internships at NBC, CNBC, CBS and New York 1. Natalie’s relationship with the Apollo Theater Education Program stems back to 2016 when she was given her first internship opportunity.  As an Apollo Young Producer, she has assisted in the planning and served as host and moderator of several Apollo Education events.