Jessica Wyatt
Volunteer: Jessica Wyatt
Bio:
Jessica Wyatt is from Salina, Kansas and graduated from Beloit College in 2007 with a BA in Anthropology. While completing her undergraduate degree, she studied Archaeology at the University of Glasgow and Photography and Life Drawing at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland from 2005-06. Jessica returned home to Kansas to work as an installation assistant and SummerArt Manager at the Salina Art Center before she decided to join the Peace Corps. Ms. Wyatt served as an Agroforestry volunteer for the Kolda region of Senegal, West Africa in September 2008 - April 2010. She moved to Baltimore in June to begin her studies in MICA’s MA in Community Arts Program. She is currently an AmeriCorps member serving as the Arts facilitator with the Refugee Youth Project working with Youth from West Africa.
Contributions from Jessica Wyatt
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"White person, your hair is so pretty. But, your body is dirty."
For eighteen months, I lived in Senegal, West Africa. For eighteen months, I listened to strangers, acquaintances and, at times, my closest friends refer to me as “toubab.” Toubab is the name given to white foreigners. Sometimes it’s used as an identifier. I would hear my sister say over the phone, “You know, Bienta Toubab.” Which was important because I was living in a family that had four women named Bienta. But it was still hard. It was never, “Bienta Voluteer,” since I ...
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Bath Time
Baby sister, Ami (aka Jessica) enjoying the fact she is small enough to hang out in the bucket.
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Night Braids
My best friend, Dou braiding my hair in the dark one last time.
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Learning
My two little brothers reciting what they learned in class that day. The best way to get information across is to incorporate karate moves.
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Lunch
Anyone Hungry?
