RARE. GRITTY. BRILLIANT.
mission
World Arts Focus is a non-profit organization that brings artists and communities together to study the arts, experience performances, and encourage the preservation of cultural performance traditions. Joe's Movement Emporium is our studio facility. We serve over 30,000 adults and children annually through movement classes and arts education, workshops, rehearsal space, community activities, and special events.

photo by Jessica Byler

We accomplish our mission by:

  • maintaining a thriving and culturally diverse arts center dedicated to the study and preservation of performing arts traditions from around the world.
  • addressing the lack of children's recreations and education activities, family programming, and community revitalization through community based multicultural arts programming management.
  • supporting group and individual artists through shared resources, administration, management and creativity.
Joe's Movement Emporium serves residents of neighborhoods in Prince George's County, MD and sections of northeastern Washington, DC. Half of Joe's participants and audience members live in the Gateway communities of Mt. Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville, MD.  

photo by Jessica Byler
  • Median Income is $35,920 or 76% of the metro area average.
  • Population is 67% African American, 18% Latino, and 12% white.
  • 80% of Gaeway area residenrs are non-white, including immigrants.
  • Less than 30% of local residents own their own homes.
  • 85% of elementary school students participate in school lunch programs.
  • Mt. Rainier's population is 8500. 27% are children under age 18.




photo by Jessica Byler
Using the arts as a tool for building communities, Joe's works to provide socisal opportunities and teach life skills to local youth as well as promote family involvement in neighborhood restoration.
board of directors, bios
Deborah Mizeur - President
Miguel A. Gonzalez - Vice President
Drew Fields - Secretary
Russell Nuzum - Treasurer
Brooke Kidd, Executive Director & Founder
Ajax Joe Drayton
Tom Coffin
Latifah Alsegaf
Imani Drayton-Hall
Michael Friend - Governance Committee Chairman




photo taken by Charles Steck
artist, bios

-The American Composers Forum
-Graciela Aponte
-Arachne Aerial Arts
-Balafon West African Dance Ensemble
-Graciela Aponte
-Romnee M. Childs
-Junious "House" Brickhouse
-Zahra Christine
-Stephen Clapp
-Kadiatou Conte Forte
-Dancing by the Power Ministries
-Diva Works Dance
-Mahiri Edwards
-Farafina Kan
-Marcia Freeman, MA
-Gamelan Mitra Kusuma
-Laurel Victoria Gray
-Improv Arts, Inc.
-Lesina Martin
-The Mitchellville Community School of the Arts
-Suteera Nagavajara
-Noelle Powers
-Matinyee Pramawat
-Samba Trovao
-Laura Schandelmeier
-Angelique Shofar
-Soul in Motion Players
-Tam Tam Mandingue
-Rebecca Westcott
-Somapa Thai Dance Company
-Silk Road Dance Company

 

 

 

 


photo taken by Charles Steck

administrative staff, bios

Brooke Kidd, Executive Director
David Robinson-Slemp, Development Director
Malori Rhones, Marketing Coordinator
LaTanya Robinson, Arts Education Coordinator
Romnee M. Childs, Program Director & Director of Joe's Moving Co.
Ayo Ngozi, Community Productions Coordinator
Afi Zormelo-Rouge, Community Outreach Coordinator

 

 


photo taken by Marketa Ebert

club joe's staff

La Tanya Robinson, Tumbling & Hooping
Stephen Clapp, Leadership, Theatre & Improv
Afi Zormelo-Rougeau, Visual Arts
Tamara Wellons, Voice
Brooke Kidd, Tumbling
Malori Rhones, Step

photo taken by Marketa Ebert
thank yous

We greatly appreciate the support of the following businesses and community members. Without their commitment towards bringing arts to our community, we would not have been able to meet our goals.

photo taken by Marketa Ebert