The Dominican Dream Project

SO I have be living in the Dominican Republic for some time now, volunteering at "The Dominican Dream Project" teaching art, assisting in the english class and working on a human rights project with Mariah a full time volunteer.  This school was built for children to  have opportunity, to learn and expand there minds.  Once I saw The Dream Site, and these statistics i chose to volunteer part time while finishing up graduate school.

 In a 2008 study of academic achievement for third and sixth grade students, the Dominican Republic came in dead last in the areas of Math, Reading and Science, significantly lower than the other 16 Latin American countries participating (UNESCO, SERCE 2008).
The Dominican Republic’s public investment in education is 2.3% of their Gross Domestic Product, which ranks 122nd out of 132 countries. (UNESCO).
85% of poor Dominican parents have never completed primary education.
In the Dominican Republic, “according to a cohort analysis, of 100 children entering formal education, only 75 complete grade 4; 63 complete grade 6 and only 52 complete the 8-year primary level. This situation is even worse in rural areas where most schools stop at grade 5.” [OECD 2008]
The High School Enrollment Rate is 61%. (UNESCO)
An estimated 40 percent of the population is under 15 years old.
The Dominican Republic was ranked 101 out of 177 countries in terms of literacy.
The HIV/AIDS rate among the adult population in the DR is 1.1%, although it is much higher in batey communities.
The primary school dropout rate in the Dominican Republic is 14%.
Only 12% of low-income students who start high school will complete their studies, compared to 62% of those from higher income brackets in the DR.
As of 2008, the Dominican Republic’s population of over 9 million included (unofficially) more than 800,000 Haitians. Bateys such as Caraballo are experiencing a great increase in Haitian residents since the January 2010 earthquake.

Data from UNICEF, World Bank, United Nations, OECD, Wikipedia, USAID Basic Education and Policy Support and American Association of Fundraising Counsel, UNESCO, Programa de Promoción de la Reforma Educativa de América Latina y el Caribe (PREAL), December 2006; United Nations (UN), 2005; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2004; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2008.

Anyway if you want to know more facts, Go to www.dominicandream.org you can also find out how to volunteer and donate funds to the school.

Pics soonnnnnn!!!!

Caye Caulker Belize City

Belize ( Caye Caulker) the place where there's a cool breeze, long days and short nights, clear blue oceans and where the heat is just right for most of the day, but watch out from 1-3pm, because that is when it is very hot.

Caye Caulker is about a 40 min water taxi ride, outside of Belize City, I had the opportunity to go there to take photos. It is a fun peaceful island, while there you are able to , para sail, fish, scuba dive, and you can even snorkle with the sting rays with the "Rhasta Man", Ross creek who is located near the dock, he will take you on a Rasta cruz right to the coral reef.

There are several little hotels, or Bed in Breakfast spots all over the little island, however if you are working on a budget there's a hostel called "Yuma's House" right near the beach, it is very inexpensive per day.  I stayed at Paridisio, its a 1 bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, and a pull out sofa bed, very adorable clean spot, with great management, and wonderful drinks.  Paridiso sits right near the Ocean, so you can feel the breeze flowing through your windows, and here the currants peaceful lullaby song.

Caye Caulker is just a peaceful, quite island, with sweet people that sale handcrafted trinkets, and delicious home made food.

What an Amazing place to relax!

Good Hair, What does it mean to you?

A few months ago, Chris Rock’s daughter came to him in tears and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?”

This struck a cord with the funnyman and he embarked on a journey to find out where the expression, “Good Hair” came from.

Chris visited beauty salons across America to uncover the truth behind the culture of African American hair and find out what members of the black community have to say about having “Good Hair.”

So myself and Randi were inspired to go around and see what was what with people and hair at the National association of Black journalist conference, just to see what they felt good hair was.

I am going to post more about it so stay tuned and watch out for the documentary its great, and check out the link so you can here the term " Creamy Crack" lol

here is the link to Chris Rocks Film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A68UVn0nMvo&feature=player_embedded

more to come.

Fruits of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit is a photographic and narrative project, I worked on with Dr. Gloria Nixon Pone, and her husband Dr. Darrell Pone, the project first started out interviewing seasoned individuals who had a story to tell, and who believed in Faithfulness, Patience, Peace, Love, Joy and Kindness, all the Fruits of the spirit that are portrayed in the biblical verse Galatians 5.

Then it turned into trans-generational testimonies that stimulate readers to contemplate a closer relationship with God and their families. The stories are meant to heighten individuals beliefs and inspire.

It was very exciting exploring the lives of the individuals in the book, they were chosen because they inspired many individuals around them. It was an extreme pleasure  having the opportunity to interview as well as photograph them in their natural enviornment.

The stories were engaging especially because they were everyday people who served in the army, bankers, professors, business owners, and a few couples who were just madly in love.  To hear the wisdom they had to offer was like sweet melodies to my ear, it was a tune that will stick with me for a lifetime, it helped me to realize that no two peoples journey are the same.
Robert and Gertrude Ford met in the sixth grade, I adored interviewing and photographing them, they were like kindred spirits, they have been married going on fifty two years now. They said their love for God and one another kept them going through him serving in the Korean war, and through the civil rights movement, they both endured many things, good and bad. Their love keeps them spunky and youthful as if they were still tweenty years old.

Willam Wheeler whom was a Howard University Graduate, and after graduation a Tuskegee airman pilot, pulled my heart strings with his love for life and his undying passion for his late wife, her legend lives for ever, as you can see in the photo below, a framed photograph with the two of them in their younger years.

James Broach with his Bible in hand, served the New York community as a transit worker for the New York Police Department. He says," that real power is standing up for what you believe in; being strong enough to take whatever comes, and not showing resentment; focusing on the positive; and helping others is the only way to live life".


to purchase the book or to get more information, go to www.poneinspirations.com

me teaching photography

I taught photography during a summer program, my students and I have a blast, we do different assignments each day, and I just wanted to share the pics with you, to share with you the photos, I took of them as they were busy working.

Where the heck have I been?

Ok, so I am going to do better with posting now hopefully, I just graduated with my Bachelors degree in communications and things have slowed down for me quite a bit. I was in the midst of school, and photoshoots and little odd and end jobs to keep things a float and purchase new equipment. Yes, please ask the question, "Karise, why did you have to purchase new equipment?" Well Someone stole my car, and all of my photography equipment was in the car, I know crazy of me right, well, I have learned my lesson and never again will I go without Insurance or a 10min with my photography equipment in the car with out me..:). I am still happy and excited about life. I was unsure if I was going to continue with my photography, but I really feel like the universe keeps calling me back to photography. It is my love and I enjoy it dearly, I just had an unexpected event... :) Life is great

Purchase your book today!!!

Ethiopia: Love.Beauty.Joy


Karise Allen as a Photographer is putting a new face on Ethiopia with bold colors and smiling faces. "There is more to Africa than war, famine and buldging bellies, I want to show the love that people hold in their hearts," said Karise.

Proceeds from the book will go directly to address the needs the advancement of the Jelduh community in Ethiopia for their irrigation system and farming, the students at biftu academy, and teacher training.

Please help me help Ethiopia by purchasing the 72 page full color photo book with quotes.

Click the paypal button below to purchase book now for $35.00 USD plus shipping and handeling.