GARRELL WOODS
Founder & Executive Director
Garrell Woods has earned the right to call himself an artistic force of nature. With 10 years of performance and producing experience he has taken on every role there is to take in artistic production. Woods' arts education began at Center For Creative Arts under the tutalage of Allan Ledford in Musical Theatre, Neshawn Calloway in voice and music theory, and Lindsey Fussell and Jessica Laliberte in dance. Outside of school he frequented the Chattanooga Theatre Center as a member of Theatre Quest, a student-lead program that created, wrote, and mounted productions. Under the direction of Chuck Tuttle; Theatre Quest created children's theatre including the 'alphabet series' as well as the Elf program that was made available at the Choo-Choo Hotel. After high school, Woods was determined to continue his arts education and went to Chattanooga State and experienced both the Professional Actor's Training Program and the Media Technologies program. During which time he landed his first paid theatre role as Tom Collins in RENT: The Musical, landed a roles as a voice actor in three different cartoon projects, and directed his first show at the Theatre Center entitled "Pizza Man". Garrell produced, wrote and, directed his first self-funded show titled "Glee Club Rejects". Everything from costuming, venue, vocal arrangement, and direction fell to him.
The show was a success being cast with fellow actors and singers Woods had met from his networking. He knew that creating these opportunities for them was his calling. These actors were the 'chorus regulars', the 'outcasts', and the 'black-listed' who's talents were being supressed by things outside of their control. Woods decided then that he could not 'wait for permission' to create and for his creations to be exhibited. These artists he was working with should not have to 'wait for permission' to be great and to be seen. This began N2 The Woods Prodctions and the growth of a community of artists gathering themselves around Garrell Woods as he wrote and create original shows that showcased local talent that were not otherwise being seen.
This was not the end of Woods' education as he was cast in his second paid role as the male lead in "Lil' Red" produced by Destiny Theatre Company and directed by a woman whom he would later call his acting mother, Hope Alexander. With over 30 years of theatre and film experience Hope Alexander would teach him the business of the business and the subtleties of on-camera acting. This tough-love and no nonesense approach would take Woods to the next level as an actor and entertainment business man. This would lead him to create The Figurines Burlesque Troupe with an emphasis on bringing adults into the performing arts. Women and men who had "never done this before" or "hadn't done it in forever" would come and lend their talents to make shows come to life. With The Figurines having three years under their belt, and having mounted five shows and working on a sixth, Woods thought he had found his niche in the arts community of Chattanooga but would soon realize his work was not yet done.
One night while working an event a Barking Legs for Jazz Night, Dexter Bell (Bassist and band instructor at Howard School) was playing and brought along a couple of his students who sang a version of "Mary Did You Know" that they had arranged. Woods was blown away by their talent and decided to take them under his wing. The muse struck him and he decided to do a show with these young people called, "Young, Gifted, & Black". With a cast of 9 young people of color he mounted a show to an audience of 25 people (the worse audience attendance he had seen since he began producing shows). It was clear that the community did not care about these kids or the fact that they are doing something positive. Chattanooga is a city where the shooting count is over 60 in 6 months and most of these shooting involve the demographic that these kids are in. Chattanooga is a city where if you don't have the funds then you don't have an outlet for your creativity, frustration, or boredome. Chattanooga is also a city where people like Garrell Woods refuse to give up on the youth with which he works. The artists around him advised that this was good work that needed to continue and so he assembled a team of like-minded artists willing to give of themselves to make artistic opportunities for people less fortunate. Thus Young, Gifted and Black Lives on.
LATASHA BESTER
DANCE & DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
LaTasha Bester has been actively working with the youth in the city for years now. Her heart for people and charity is evident every day amongst the members of Young, Gifted, and Black. Bester is an NASM certified and working personal trainer, a licenced Zumba instructor, and has completed several Spartan races. Having studied at Certified Careers Institute (West Valley City, UT), Bester is offering professional level service of fitness classes and health advise to Young, Gifted, & Black for free. Tasha is no stranger to performing having been a member of the Inspiration Voices of Winston Salem State University. Bester is also a self-taught dancer with a focus in lyrical and contemporary dance. She has been seen performing in the PKS Peotry Experience and as a performer in RED: A Conceptual Dance Show concieved by Ann Law. LaTasha Bester is the daughter of author Laura Bester Brown the creator of S.W.A.T. (Serious Writers' Accountability and Training) and the desire to teach and give back to the community does not fall far from the tree.
BRANDON DAVIS
IMAGE CONSULTING & ADMINISTRATION
Brandon "Da Bran" Davis has over 15 years of experience in styling, fashion, hair, make-up, & has found that the term "Dress The Part" is not just a cliché. Da Bran Image Consultant offers Personal Styling/Shopping & Creative Designing Services for women & men who do not have the inspiration or the time for promoting themselves, their company, and/or products & services. Before Davis became the style and image entrepreneur we know today he was an educational facilitator at Brainerd High School for almost ten years while instructing/sponsoring the dance team. Before that he was a student at the same school marching proudly as the drum major for the marching Panthers. Davis knows first hand how arts education and/or the lack thereof can effect the youth. As the instructor of the dance team at Brainerd he used arts as a motivator to produce higher GPA's from his team, stronger self-esteem, and a desire towards excellence in everything they set out to do. Brandon Davis has worked with the Upward Bound Program at UTC mentoring youth and facilitating team building. Davis brings this same mentality to Young, Gifted, & Black as well as using his skills to make them performance ready.