07/27/2020
Congratulations, Mayona Presley!
Please take the time to read Mayona’s testimony:
“My time spent with the Griots has truly had a significant impact on my character and the person that I have become. My name is Mayona Rose Presley and I am 22 years old. I graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma, where I am now employed, with my bachelors in professional media and public relations. Because of my experiences at the Griots cultural arts camp, I am a better leader then I would have been without my participation in activities with the Griots.
When I first began attending the camp at 6 years old, I was a shy young girl eager to explore my talents, which the camp gave me the opportunity to do so. Through the cultural arts camp I was able to discover my passion for painting and public speaking. While prepping for the productions, I realized that art and story telling were the subjects that I excelled at and really enjoyed doing. Summer camp gave me the resources to work on my newly discovered crafts and helped me develop ways to improve. Since then, I have accumulated an abundance of art supplies and lead many organizations in my community, for instance, being president of my church youth group at North Heights Christian Church to becoming the president of the NAACP’s Youth and College Division for the state of Oklahoma. The Griots not only nurtured my creativity, but they affected my morals. The morals and values that I learned by attending camp are things that have always stuck with me.”
