Jennifer Folayan, is a local Baltimore business owner of Aloha Sales & Marketing 101, LLC and founder of B'more Aloha! - a community day fund-raiser to benefit organizations that serve foster care youth and victims and survivors of rape and incest and domestic violence.
She grew up in Hampton, VA and moved to Baltimore in 2001. Jennifer has served as marketing manager for local businesses and non-profits including United Aid for Africa. Jennifer has a passion for the arts and has performed with 'Ohana Arts Studio, Hālau Nohona Hawai'i, HOT HULA fitness®, and Meki's Tamure Polynesian Dance Group. Jennifer studied Fine Arts and Psychology at Christopher Newport University and has taken Graphic Design classes at the Community College of Baltimore County. She loves to travel, learn, and have fun!
Jennifer believes each person has the potential to create a life that is filled with happiness and love. She serves her community through organizing events, graphic design and marketing services, and volunteer work. Jennifer is available for public speaking engagements and workshops.
Here are some quick facts & clarifications:
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I am not Hawaiian. My bloodline is mixed up like most Americans of our great melting pot. I am Cherokee, Aztec, Pueblo, Mexican, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Irish, etc. I grew up with the general identity of being Native American/Latina. My parents are from California and New Mexico. I was born and raised in Hampton, VA.
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Growing up my mom had an Hawaiian best friend. I danced hula briefly during that time.
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Many years later as an adult in 2013, I took hula lessons again and experienced acceptance and joy in the community by my kumu (Hawaiian teacher) and her ohana (family.) I found healing through dance, laughter, community, family and the "Spirit of Aloha." I have attended halau (Hawaiian school) and learned key principles, language, traditional and modern Polynesian dance. I have performed several times with native Polynesian groups.
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During a Landmark Worldwide Education course, Self Expression and Leadership Program, I created and launched B'more Aloha! A Day of Empowerment and Healing for Rape/Incest Survivors and Foster Care Youth. I have been an artist all my life and originally went to college to become an Art Therapist. I have found healing through visual art, poetry, dance, music, etc. I wanted to share that with my community in a day of celebration and allow others to share, learn, and be exposed to the arts from that standpoint. Please watch the promo video from last year on the home page of B'more Aloha! Explore the Project page and you will see my vision and mission.
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In launching B'more Aloha! I consulted several leaders in the Hawaiian/Polynesian community to make sure I was being pono (right) and not insulting the culture in any way. I continue to seek advice from cultural leaders and always aim to respect the culture and not exploit it.
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The meaning of Aloha can best be summed up in the attached graphic. This pledge is from Kumu Hina - KUMU HINA is a powerful film about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within the Westernized society of modern day Hawaiʻi. It is told through the lens of an extraordinary Native Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident māhū, or transgender woman, and an honored and respected kumu, or teacher, cultural practitioner, and community leader. More info here: http://kumuhina.com/
Mahalo! Love, Aloha Jen :-)
The spirit of Aloha was an important lesson taught to the children of the past because it was about the world of which they were a part. One early teaching goes like this:
Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. This is Hawaiian - this is Aloha!
