Meet Tamarah

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamarah. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tamarah, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My confidence and self-esteem is natural but continues to develope and grow because I work within my purpose everyday. Meeting trials and difficulties with persistence and positive energy, fostering perseverance, I know that whatever the the outcome of the situation, is one more step in the right direction.
With every failure I learn a lesson and with every success I add to my accomplishments. Working within a purpose of service, building teams, resources, helping others, and planting seeds, for the betterment of those around me, assures me I am on the right road.
Smiles during an experience, a mother or father that asks where can I go, can you help me find…., a student that happily shares a memory of a program, class, event, or opportunity provided by myself or the organizations I’m affiliated with, is concrete acknowledgement that, again, I am moving within my purpose, and have done good. Those moments of connection and purpose not only validate my work but also generate motivation and build confidence in myself, to continue with the work I do.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a local mixed media artist, living, creating and building in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley.
I not only create my own Art, but I share and teach art to area youth through my 1st company, Art in A Box Co. I lead creative opportunities through workshops. learning engagements, and curriculum building. I work with enrichment programs and community events. As my art is a personal reflection. I make my teaching opportunities a time to share diverse curriculum of technique highlighted by an ecclectic collection of Artists and Creatives, drawing on their stories and styles as inspiration. Workshops may include printmaking, collage, abstract painting, and watercolor projects seeped in education, providing a platform for exploration and creativity.
Highlighting Art, I have also spearheaded and facilitated STEAM programs for youth, pairing Art and Engineering themes, Forensics and Art, peaking adolescent interest in Science as well as Art. Art in Box Co. is a company focused on overarching themes of creative exposure and practices with critical thinking infusion.

On a larger scale of community service, through a co-founded Nonprofit, ENUBuilds, Inc., I work with my business partner, Jermain Smith, to fiill in the creative opportunities, educational experiences, and social as well as social justice gaps in and around our area. We partner with small and local organizations and established entities, including the likes of Arts10566, Peekskill creative enrichment program, the David Rockefeller Creative Center in Tarrytown, Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, ArtsWeschester, science research company Regeron, Westchester Ballet Company, Yonkers Arts, local school districts. initiatives such as My Brother’s Keeper, small community businesses, individuals and many more.
We strive to provide and support the Arts facilitating programming and engagements through Grant funding, Donation and Volunteers for participants of all ages.
We have been able to facilitate programs like our recent 2 year ENUBuildsArtsAccess, providing Art classes like Youth Quilting, Dance classes such as Tap and Line Dancing. High School Fashion Groups. Museum Field Trips, Youth Discussion circles, an Art &Sound exhibition, sharing selected artists and their work paired with archival music for a weekend exhibition.
We cultivate partnerships with like-minded organizations like RAPP, NECS, WPLS to open minds generate dialogue and create a web of resources and information for the community at large. And we have plenty of work yo do.
Our upcoming event BEEWell: ENUBuilds.Wellness Symposium will be held Saturday, May 10th, at the Center at Mariandale in Ossining. This event is FREE to attend, for all ages and highlights, Self-care and Wellness activities, with a variety of engagement including a drumming circle, yoga, Sonic Sound Bathing, a Campus Scavenger Hunt and much more!
We have an outlook for program expansion and consider a multitude of points of engagement, and look forward to continuing our community service and work.
We have forthcoming events and programs, please visit our IG & FB @enubuilds and view our website at ENUBUILDS.COM

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

During my journey I have narrowed it down to these 3 main practices:
>Stay true to your vision & purpose
>Work hard: with dedication and consistency
>Enjoy what you do, it will never feel like work.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Being a student of my experiences and community, I would say it’s been a ongoing learning process for me in that I have been fortunate to learn from several sources, be it, mentor,, partner or community member. Spending many years with Wilfredo Morel, Iwas able to hone the finer aspects of navigating community advocacy, and support approaches. With my nonprofit partner, Jermain Smith, I have learned to maintain my focus and dedication. And from many if the Youth I’ve been able to work with, I have learned that openness and a sense of exploration, can allow one to keep your work vibrant and current These are all are very important to my wor k and I strive to keep it at the forefront.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ENUBuilds.com
• Instagram: @artinabox.co and @enubuilds
• Facebook: ArtinaBoxCo.
• Linkedin: Tamarah Fernandez Bridgewater
• Youtube: ENUBuilds, Inc.

Image Credits

Selfie by T. Fernandez-Bridgewater