Teaching Reggae and the African Diaspora

About the Presenters

Imani Wilson is Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at TeachRock. Prior to joining the foundation, Imani taught music in the public schools of New York and New Orleans, was a museum educator in London, and led music departments in community art school and conservatory. Imani’s writing is anthologized in collections published in the UK and the United States. Her work at TeachRock lives at the intersection of her passion for teaching music with her love of research and writing, as seen in her favorite resources, the Lost Friends and Afrofuturism and Flying Africans Student Editions. A lifelong church musician, she is a member of the Greater Allen Cathedral Mass Choir.

Triza Cox is the Program Manager for TeachRock’s Harmony Student Wellness Program. In this capacity, she uses her passion for democratizing arts access as well as her commitment to wellness through the use of art to engage students in social and emotional learning. Triza holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Louisville and has worked for over a decade as an arts educator as well as a playwright, director, producer, and actor. Additionally, Triza has been a Certified Prevention Specialist and worked in drug and alcohol prevention. She is currently a National Leaders of Color Fellow in Arts Administration. In 2021, Triza was awarded a fellowship in screenwriting from the South Carolina Arts Commission. She is also currently the Artistic Director of The Drama Lady Theatre Group.

About the Moderator

Gina Machado is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at TeachRock, where she leads the development of an arts-integrated social and emotional learning program and designs and facilitates professional development initiatives nationwide. Drawing from her experience as a classroom educator in The Bronx, New York, and her master’s degrees in special education and educational leadership, Gina supports educators across the United States in implementing TeachRock’s curriculum and pedagogical approaches. An educator at heart with extensive experience working with students of various levels and abilities, Gina’s passion lies in developing creative ways to engage all learners while strengthening meaningful student-teacher relationships.