Mission: Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. (PDAP) strengthens the well-being of communities in Tampa Bay by expanding access to arts, technology, media, and civic exchange. We create opportunities for people of all ages to participate in creative and educational experiences in effort to inspire personal growth, community connection, and lifelong learning.
What we do: PDAP organizes annual arts festivals, community technology events, and enrichment programs that bring new experiences to neighborhoods with limited resources. We support local artists through paid opportunities, promotional platforms, and community projects that enhance shared spaces.
Through workshops, classes, and public events, we encourage creativity, learning, and community engagement. Since 2021, our free programs—including art showcases, film nights, artist conversations, music performances, and literary events—have reached thousands of residents across Tampa Bay.
Our Team
2026 – 2028 Board Members
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Debbie Yati Garrett is the founder and the creator of ART FROM THE SOUL D.Y.G. She specializes in creating jewelry, garments, and home decor with Adinkra SYMBOLS as the core of the works.Garrett has worked as an art teacher in the Pinellas community for over 18 years. She has mentored and cultivated many artists within their respective fields. She is known as a great resource and is sought after for her creative concepts. Her current film project SIMI The Series has appeared at film festivals across America and Canada and is an award-winning project.
VICE PRESIDENT
Kalonji is a “community shutterbug” who enjoys weaving everyday stories through his lens into a narrative that highlights the uniqueness of this blue marble. With an intuitive eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the human experience, his photography captures fleeting moments and transforms them into lasting reflections of culture, connection, and place. His work has been featured in spaces ranging from the Frist Art Museum in Nashville to The Studio at 620, bridging formal gallery settings and community-centered venues. Regardless of the platform, Kalonji remains committed to elevating authentic voices and preserving the beauty found in ordinary life. Through his lens, Kalonji not only documents the world around him but also invites viewers to slow down, look closer, and find meaning in the everyday. His work continues to serve as both an artistic expression and a visual archive of the communities he encounters, celebrating their stories with honesty, warmth, and intention.
SECRETARY
Eunice is an artist and arts educator working in the nonprofit sector. With a background in teaching, she is committed to expanding access to creative experiences beyond the traditional classroom. She strives for communities to use the arts in order to celebrate diversity, build problem-solving skills, and provide inclusive spaces for expression. Her multidisciplinary practice- spanning textiles, painting, and embroidery- explores her Korean-American identity, shared experiences, and the beauty of nature. She is also a participating artist in the annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival, was exhibited in the Unseen Thread show at Studio@620, and supports the mission of PDAP through her board service. Her teaching portfolio, philosophy, and art practice can be found at https://eunicepark98.wixsite.com/eunice-park and keep up to date with her work on Instagram @epark.makesart
TREASURER
JA Morton/Jake-ann Jones also works under the names J.A. Jones and J.A. Morton, CAP® (she, her, hers), and is the 2022 Creative Pinellas Artist Laureate, and author of the Black Classic Press release Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries: Notes on Black Power, Politics, Depression, and the FBI. She works extensively with community organizations through the SOW Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation, is part of the team at Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, and is editor/contributor at the Power Broker Magazine and The Weekly Challenger Newspaper. She lives between Clearwater, FL, and Harlem, NYC. Visit jakeannjones.com, follow her on Insta at @jakeann4real.
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Advisory Committee
Jai Hinson
Erica Sutherlin
Leah Clendening
Remi Sammy
Elaine Chambliss
Want to join us as we create a space for to encourage, educate, and elevate artists and families in underrepresented communities throughout Tampa Bay? Fill out the contact form on the Get with Us page and we’ll touch base soon.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF PINELLAS DIASPORA ARTS PROJECT INC BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION # CH69875.