ajani Zanaya

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Jun 2024 | "Creative Black Futures" by Black Transformative Arts Network, hosted at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Pittsburgh PA

( Showcasing Short Film )

Feb 2024 | “Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh”, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Honorable Mention Multi-Media Artist, Pittsburgh,PA

https://www.ajisfits.com/art-portfolio/down-to-the-root-of-unity

https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2024/04/07/a-representation-of-us-local-artists-answer-what-a-just-pittsburgh-looks-like-in-carnegie-museum-exhibit/

Sept 2022 | “The Future is Black” in collaboration with 1hood Media, Style Assist for Evangeline Mensah-Agyekum, Pittsburgh,PA

https://www.ajisfits.com/styledbyaji/the-future-is-black

PERFORMANCES

May 2024 | "Creative Mornings" hosted at Cafe Momentum, Pittsburgh, PA

October 24, 2023 | “Bard of The Banned” Poetry Performance, Pittsburgh,PA

June 22, 2023 | Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium Poetry Performance (online)

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

Dec 2023 | “Jordan Year”, Pittsburgh,PA (Online) Creative Director, Stylist, Model
Photographed by Vondre Clark

https://www.ajisfits.com/styledbyaji/just-do-it-jordan-year

Feb 2024 |“In Suit of Hearts” , Pittsburgh,PA (Online) Creative Director, Stylist, Model
Photographed by Nasir Watson

JAN 2023 - CURRENT | 1Hood Media Media Literacy Fellow

●  Conceptualizing and executing creative digital campaigns and events, aligning with organizational objectives and promoting media literacy initiatives within communities.

●  Analyzing campaign performance trends to optimize strategies that enhance audience engagement and campaign effectiveness.

●  Developing educational programs to promote media literacy and empower individuals to participate in advocacy efforts effectively.

●  Coordinating community voter registration drives, facilitating voter engagement and participation.

●  Organizing regional Pittsburgh Black Student Union programming, fostering community empowerment and advocacy initiatives.

NOV 2023 - APRIL 2024 | Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Advocacy & Communications Associate

●  Managing social media platforms and producing multimedia content to drive advocacy efforts using Content Management Systems and digital CRMs leading to a significant increase in community engagement, including a growth of over 1000 followers on Instagram.

●  Condensing policy research and developing advocacy materials to support initiatives in arts and culture policy, resulting in increased awareness and engagement among stakeholders.

●  Advocating with legislators and their staff for a $5.4 million increase to state arts funding, effectively educating about arts-friendly policies and greater arts funding at the state level.

●  Creating an online self-serve resource for artists seeking information related to their basic needs, empowering them to improve their quality of life and allocate more time and energy to creative practice.

●  Collaborating with cross-functional teams to execute advocacy campaigns and events, facilitating partnerships and amplifying organizational impact.

●  Representing and promoting the Arts Council at community events, enhancing visibility and engagement with the local community.

●  Building and maintaining relationships with artists and creative workers in Southwest Pennsylvania, fostering a strong network and supporting the Arts

Council's mission to serve the local arts community.
SUMMER 2022 | The Pittsburgh Foundation Social Impact & Capacity Intern

●  Identified opportunities to enhance performance indicators and social impact metric tracking across The Forbes Funds Ecosystem.

●  Developed and executed a comprehensive multi-channel social media campaign for Forbes learning cohorts, grantmaking, GPNP, catalytic community

cohorts, and additional programming.

●  Produced 50+ content deliverables showcasing capacity growth and impact programming, contributing to increased engagement and program success.

●  Analyze data to identify trends, propose new channels, and refine current strategies for optimal campaign performance.

SEPT 15, 2020 | Interview President Trump on ABC News

● Participated in an interview at the Philadelphia Town Hall, addressing concerns regarding the downplaying of COVID-19.

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/trump-town-hall-event-questions/

SUMMER 2023 | The University of Pittsburgh Africana Studies Department, Journal of Black Studies (JBS)

●  Conducted systematic review and analysis of Africana Studies journal issues chronologically.

●  Discerned primary subject areas of articles by examining titles and abstracts, ensuring data accuracy.

●  Developed a secondary subject coding strategy to enhance categorization accuracy.

●  Managed and maintained a comprehensive spreadsheet coding distribution of articles within 18 subject areas.

DEC 2022 - MAR 2023 | Black Financial Wellness Summit

●  Coordinated a diverse lineup of distinguished speakers, workshops, and interactive sessions, covering topics such as budgeting, investing, student loan management, and wealth-building strategies.

●  Plan, execute, and manage all logistical aspects of the Black Financial Wellness Summit, from pre-event preparation to post-event follow-up.

●  Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop the summit's content, agenda, and workshops that address key financial topics relevant to

the Black community.

SUMMER 2021 | CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars: Kennedy Krieger Institute MCHC

●  Conducted systematic literature reviews on social determinants of health, including disparities in mortality rates reflecting socioeconomic status (SES) and racial bias, and factors contributing to burn injury risk and corresponding disparities in patient outcomes.

●  Provided data-driven support for health outcomes research studies through rigorous retrospective data analysis, meta-analysis, and modeling techniques, informing evidence-based strategies to advance proactive reproductive health policies and address health disparities within diverse communities.

●  Analyzed disparities in mortality rates, identifying socioeconomic status (SES) and racial bias as factors contributing to differences in outcomes.

●  Explored correlations between social disparities in healthcare access and outpatient follow-up adherence, highlighting the importance of addressing systemic barriers to healthcare.

SUMMER 2020 | The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine

●  Conducted comprehensive literature searches across academic databases, research journals, and relevant publications to identify studies related to napping

patterns for night shift workers, assessing quality, methodology, and findings critically.

●  Synthesized information from diverse sources to create a well-structured and evidence-based literature review, analyzing key findings and trends to

highlight the impact of nap duration on night shift workers' well-being and performance.

● Contributed to addressing the negative health effects experienced by night shift workers, particularly in relation to sleep cycle misalignment with natural circadian rhythms, and identified the limited guidance on optimal nap duration during night shifts for EMS/healthcare workers, proposing the need for further research in this area, including systematic review studies comparing nap length and their benefits.

AUG 2020- DEC 2021 | Pantherwell Peer Health Educator

●  Delivered health education programs and workshops covering diverse topics such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, mental well-being, and substance abuse.

●  Conducted needs assessments to identify health-related challenges within target populations and tailored educational interventions effectively.

●  Developed health education curricula, materials, and evaluated intervention effectiveness through data analysis and feedback mechanisms.

●  Designed and implemented health promotion campaigns utilizing social media platforms and other communication channels to reach broader audiences.

NOV 2020- DEC 2021 | UPMC Shadyside & Montefiore Med-Surg Gastric Oncology Unit / Patient Care Technician

●  Monitor patients for symptoms, enforcing hand hygiene, wearing appropriate PPE, and ensuring proper disinfection of equipment and surfaces.

●  Communicate and document patient care including vital signs, medication administration, and any changes in the patients' condition.

●  Assisting with medical procedures, medications, and treatments such as blood draws, EKGs, oral medications, injections, and IV fluids.

AUG 2021- DEC 2022 | BRIDGES Mentor

●  Organize and facilitate weekly group meetings and one-on-one mentoring sessions to address individual student needs and challenges.

●  Collaborate with campus leaders and faculty to develop workshops and programs that address students' academic and social needs.

●  Coordinate community-building activities and events to promote lasting friendships among BRIDGES students.

●  Assist in connecting students with relevant campus resources, including academic support, counseling services, and career development opportunities.

AUG 2020- DEC 2021 | Provost Academy Leader

●  Achieved successful peer mentorship by providing guidance and support to new University of Pittsburgh students during their transition.

●  Measured by tangible academic accomplishments through close collaboration with distinguished faculty, contributing to impactful projects in global

affairs, STEM, business, and liberal arts.

●  Enhanced the learning experience by fostering inclusive group dynamics and facilitating knowledge exchange among a diverse cohort of 150+ peers from

across the nation.
SEPT 2019 - DEC 2019 | Emerging Leaders

●  Accomplished mastery of leadership principles, encompassing valuing others, integrity, self-knowledge, accountability, and adaptability.

●  Measured by the ability to adapt to diverse personality types and elevate communication and conflict resolution skills through in-depth analysis and

participation in workshops.

●  Attained proficiency in utilizing social media for professional purposes and implementing effective leadership marketing strategies.