Clarisa James is the Co-Founder/Executive Director of DIVAS
(Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice. For the
past seven years DIVAS has provided free or sliding scale technology
training to youth in underserved communities in Central Brooklyn and Southeast Queens.
Ms. James has been dedicated to youth development work for the past 15years in the roles of Teaching Artist, After School Director,
Curriculum Specialist and artist. Her life's work encompasses
empowering youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change and think critically about the issues that are affecting them most.
For the past seven years Ms. James has facilitated workshops
that help youth develop multimedia projects around environmental
justice, housing, leadership development and reproductive justice.
Ms. James holds an MFA in Integrated Media Arts
from Hunter College's Film & Media Department. In addition to DIVAS for Social Justice, Ms. James currently serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Cabinet, Office of the Deputy Mayor Strategic Policy Initiatives at City Hall.
Clarisa James is full of gratitude to her parents for providing such a wonderful upbringing and having the foresight to move into the community of Laurelton in the early 1970's. Clarisa is proud to be a daughter of Laurelton.
