We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Asjah Nero. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Asjah below.

Alright, Asjah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

As a non-profit art organization, the word “meaning” translates to a plethora of definitions all accumulated from the compilation of artists’ perspective to behind the eyes of every viewer and admirer. We strive for authenticity and maintain integrity by ensuring purpose being present in every form of art we collaborate with.
When we originally launched, we primarily executed visual arts projects. As we have developed and grown deeper roots into our community, we are grateful for the variety forms of artistry and expression exuding from our network.
Our most recent project is overflowing with meaning and purpose.
NOMMO is a youth arts program with two parts. We have a conglomerate of youth poets, artists, musicians, singers and more who are producing content. With content as a joining force, we have more youth conducting media production, journalism and more. All together, they are meaningfully telling their truth, with their voices through their art. We are ecstatic. We are proud. We are honored.
NOMMO is a Dogon term that means ‘to make one drink”. These youth are definitely providing generational nourishment.

Asjah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

CAYA Network stands for “Come As You Are”. We are a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization, founded in Orlando, Florida as of 2017. We provide business and lifestyle resources to support artists and art organizations’ missions, purpose and values. We have a series of programs for our communities. Simultaneously, we help artists find and acquire resources, funding, venues by providing free consultations, grant writing, contractual support, liaison support, NFT knowledge and activation. We also have social responsibilities in agriculture and sustainability. We would like to thank all of our supporters and collaborators. We especially want to thank CASA Culture, United Arts of Central Florida, Duke Energy, Alternate Roots, BSU at Dr. Philips, Blu Bailey/YELU Swap and many many more. We would not be us without you all.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Personally, there are infinite rewards. Enjoying freedom of expression, enjoying self-produced dopamine and serotonin, enjoying law of attraction/karma, knowing what is released from my pure authentic source comes back is all rewarding. What’s most rewarding is participating in the natural flow of change via art and amazing collaborators/supporters. Historically, the cycle of each civilization reaches a popular belief of this anonymous inquisitive quote, “Do you want to operate within a system and be successful? Or do you want to dream you can change it and be left behind?”
Artists, crafters and creatives have existed in each phase of the cycle of civilization. There is no greater reward than knowing, delivering and existing in the truth that change is constant. We experience change with each new art, creation, expression, social media post, art-inspired conversation, left and right brain exchanges, etc.
It is rewarding that being an artist/creative ensures we will never be left behind. Because we have created, are creating and will create, we are in the past, present and future.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Within CAYA Network, due to our elaborate network of artists, creatives and collaborators, our vastness encompasses a variety of possibilities that cannot simmer into anything particular. CAYA stands for “Come As You Are” and the energy this embodies is what drives its continued existence. We blaze trails being fueled with integrity and authenticity. It’s our core foundation and I foresee it continuing to be our driving force. We are appreciative of all our participants, collaborators and supporters. We are all on this journey together.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cayanetwork.org
• Instagram: @cayanetwork
• Facebook: CAYA Network

Image Credits
Babatunde, Yve, Daniel DeMonta, Charlotte, CAYA Network collaborators.