ajani Zanaya

AWARDS

• Dec 2024 | “Keeper of The Flame Award” – Legacy Arts Project, Pittsburgh, PA
  - Recognized as a cultural leader and artist for significant contributions to the arts in Pittsburgh and the broader region. Honored for work that reflects the beauty, diversity, and influence of the African Diaspora, and for inspiring community engagement, creative expression, and social transformation through artistic practice.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• Apr 2025 – Art In Bloom, Bridgeway Capital, Pittsburgh, PA

  Presented short film and poetry performance as part of The Future Is Black exhibition.

• Feb 2025 – Black History Month Art Crawl, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, PA Commissioned for live painting and exhibited a mixed media portrait.

• Nov–Dec 2024 – Oatmilk & HXNY, Brew House Arts, Pittsburgh, PA Screened short film as part of The Future Is Black exhibition.

• Nov 2024 – Honest Work 4 Exhibition, Bourbon Lounge at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Featured mixed media work with Honest Works of Art collective.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

• Sept 10, 2025| Write About Now, Houston, TX

• May 14, 2025| BusBoys and Poets, Washington, DC

• Feb 22, 2025 – Jazz and Verse, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA

  Featured poetry performance.

• Jan 18, 2025 – Century Cycle Poetry Slam, August Wilson Cultural Center, Pittsburgh, PA Performed original poetry at Poetry Unplugged event.

• Jan 15, 2025| BusBoys and Poets Washington, DC

• 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

2018 - Current | Freelance Consultant – Advocacy, Communications & Media

• Advised 25+ nonprofits, cultural organizations, and small businesses on strategic communications, media literacy, and audience engagement, resulting in increased reach and improved community impact.

• Designed and led 10+ workshops on digital storytelling, arts advocacy, and equity-centered creative practices for youth, educators, and community leaders.

• Supported grant applications through strategic writing, alignment of proposals with equity goals, and community-focused program development.

• Strengthened visibility and engagement for clients through integrated PR, social media, and outreach strategies.

• Evaluated fellowship applications; contributed to equitable selection processes and advancement of health justice initiatives.

JAN 2023 - JAN 2025 | 1Hood Media Media Literacy Fellow

• Led two youth-centered civic education cohorts, delivering 30+ culturally relevant workshops to over 70 youth, using multimedia storytelling, equity-based curricula, and hands-on engagement.

• Managed 15+ voter engagement activations at local and national events, registering new voters and increasing turnout in underserved communities.

• Cultivated 50+ partnerships with public officials, community organizers, and cultural workers to co-design educational campaigns that elevated civic power, democracy, and public safety.

• Oversaw and administered $10K+ program budgets, including vendor contracts, stipends, and event logistics.

• Designed 60+ original digital assets (infographics, social media templates, flyers) that boosted visibility of civic engagement initiatives

  and voter education.

• Produced modular curricula and digital toolkits that translated civic policy and local governance into digestible resources for youth and first-time voters.

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

• Developed and implemented a strategic content plan that tripled digital engagement and grew audience by 1,000+ followers on Instagram.

• Authored 15+ external communications materials (press releases, newsletters, talking points), directly contributing to 3x media visibility for arts advocacy campaigns.

• Represented the Council at 10+ public events and legislative briefings, building relationships with 25+ stakeholders, including artists, nonprofits, and government entities.

• Created an Artist Resource Guide linking 50+ services (grants, mental health, legal aid) to local creatives, supporting equitable access to resources.

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.