Applause & Kudo's !

Dear Ms. Lasana,

On behalf of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I would like to thank you for your wonderful storytelling,  It was a pleasure coordinating with you to make the evening such a success. Your professionalism and organization were very much appreciated. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that the audience feedback to "Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar" was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to working with you in the future." 

Sincerely,

Laura Henrich

Coordinator of Evening Programs

Philadelphia Museum of Art

"Oni is the voice of Dunbar."..

Dear Oni,      

What a triumph! We actually had to turn fifty people away.    

You were superb! The audience laughed and cried and laughed and got hungry and clapped and laughed some more. We all absolutely loved you 

and can't wait until you are able to schedule us again.    

Paul Laurence Dunbar would be extremely proud to see this daughter of the north, as he himself was a son of the north, taking up his voice to keep the hope, joy and dignity of a people now gone alive.   

You made us all so very proud, Oni, to be children of the sun.   

Your sister in poetry, 

Nikki Giovanni

Tenured Professor of English, Virginia Tech University

March 1999

"Oni, you have such a gift to present stories to the children, live or recorded AND you know just what to say which is like the language of children, interesting to them and fantastic.  

  You are such an important branch of the tree.  You do far more than most of us for the community and girl, you have been steadfast for many years.  

You never gave up when they 'kept you out', you are the most resilient person.  You deal with fair, good or wrong treatment the same way---it doesn't stop you from staying focused, no matter how you are treated.  You are a force to reckon with.  You have a spineless steel spine and you just keep going, doing more and more things of importance. And I will tell you, these podcasts are the best yet. 

Let's talk soon,  

You are one baaaadddd sistar" 

Ife Gail Young, Actress, Storyteller. 

Presents as Maggie Lena Walker 

Theme: Shero's & Heroes, Cincinnati, Ohio 2008

"Oni, Keep "Doin' Dunbar" in your own style. You are a gifted performer and a sweet person. You were flawless at NABS. Your Sunday presentation with the children was a masterpiece." 

Love & Peace, Janice Greene

Griot Circle of Maryland, President of NABS 2020

 "You Got Talent!" Interactive Karaoke program via Art-Reach, Inc. 

Sarah Lantz and Rebecca Greenhow 

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19102 

*!*

Dear Oni, 

We just wanted to say thank you for bringing your enthusiasm, energetic personality, and voice to our Community Aphasia Group at Magee Rehabilitation You offered our members the opportunity to rise above their communication challenges and tap into their musical expression for the afternoon. They enjoyed the entertainment. 

Thanks again! 

Best,  

Sarah Lantz & Rebeca Greenhow, Speech-Language Pathologists, Leader of the Community Aphasia Group, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA

Carolyn L. Holmes, Ph.D.

Former Supervisor Prof. @ Drexel University, PA. 

African and African-American Studies Department

Philadelphia Board of Education

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

September 9, 1999

Dear Oni,

This letter is long overdue, but I wanted to formally thank you for your artistic contributions to the African and African-American Studies Department's spring curriculum enrichment and staff development programs for District teachers and the broader Philadelphia community.

Specifically, I am referring to your participation in the teacher's workshop and seminar, held at the Johnson House on May 21, 1999 and your moving dramatization of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, "When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers." Also, our June 1, 1999, CULTURAL CONNECTION television program, presented in honor of the Juneteenth Coalition's 1999 city-wide celebration.

As you know, Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), once referred to as the "Poet Laureate of of the Negro race" by Frederic Douglas, was one of America's brightest lights. Unfortunately, his creative genius, reflected so cogently and humorously in his black dialect poetry, was curtailed far too soon due to his early death.

Your student, teacher workshops and dramatizations, which highlight several of Dunbar's most treasured poems, will help to reconnect children and adult students in the new millennium to the rich culture, pathos and humor of the African American past.

Thank you for using your own creative genius to make Dunbar's voice a living legacy. We hope that many more of Philadelphia's students and teachers will have an opportunity this school year to enjoy one of your dynamic presentations. The African American Studies Department looks forward to working with you in the near future. I am enclosing a picture of the participants in our Juneteenth television show. I hope it brings back pleasant memories.

Sincerely,

Carolyn L. Holmes, Ph.D.

Supervisor

African American Studies Department

School District of Philadelphia

Patchwork, A Storytelling Guild's Tellabration Celebration 

ON STAGE..spotlighting Troubadours & Raconteurs

Allens Lane Art Center, Philadelphia, PA

"Oni, I can't begin to express how EXCELLENT your program was. I had a phenomenal time. I didn't want it to end. Not only was the performance expertly crafted and beautifully presented, but your wide open generous heart is always right out there on stage too, whether you're in character or as yourself. You are truly a gifted performer. The way you involved the audience was also so engaging --first with Ray, and then with the finale. It was an honor to be of assistance."

All the best,

Tina Divine, Storyteller

Senior Residency

Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother"

Dear Oni,

The residents and I were delighted to have shared such an emotional, thought-provoking and entertaining performance.

These are just a few of the comments I heard after your program:

"Inspiring"

"Wonderful"

"Very Professional Talent"

"I was overwhelmed with joy"

"How did she memorize all of those lines?"

"Thumbs up"

Thank you for allowing us to experience life in the 1800's. The residents enjoyed taking part in the program. We are grateful to you for the joy you spread throughout the home."

Sincerely,

Kristin Curry, Activities Coordinator

Wow!!! You are awesome! Thanks for coming to Families Together picnic and making our picnic a unique experience! We all enjoyed it and the last story was mighty fun!

I do hope that I can get to work with you again.

Denise Ray, 

Families Together, Downingtown, PA 

Professor Lauren Churilla

History Dinner Theater Series

McCarl Coverlet Gallery

Latrobe, PA

~

Program Director 

@ Art-Reach, Inc 

267.515.6724

~

Mary E. Scallen

Company People's Light & Theatre CompanyMalvern, PA

610.647.1900

~

Andrienne Dellas

Debbie Allen Dance Academy

Los Angeles, California

310.280.9145

~

Patrick Reinhart

Walt Whitman Arts Center

Camden, NJ 

609.964.8300

~

Naomi Fiordimondo

White Dog Cafe 

Philadelphia

215.386.9224

~

Laura Henrich

Coordinator of Evening Programs

Philadelphia Museum of Art

215.763.8100

~

Kim Poast Leadership Coordinator Community College of Denver Woman of Color Conference

Denver, Colorado

303.556.2597