Meet our hosts Ra and Aniya:

Ra and Aniya started in the 2024 Innovation Lab cohort, which is a youth music, art and entertainment development program that immerses youth into all forms of media and entertainment production at OMG Studios, under the mentorship of its Directors, Producers and nationally recognized talent that is devoted to passing on their knowledge to youth musicians and artists.

Joseph “Brother Ra” Cole is a community activist, organizer, and breath enthusiast. Ra is living to connect artists and activists across the diaspora. Brother Ra has been working with OMG for 3 years and stars in the 5th film “Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery”. He works with organizations across the Twin Cities and beyond, always centering Afrikan values, healing practices, and community empowerment. Ra has a gift for bringing people into spaces where they feel seen, heard, and capable of growth. Whether through a drum circle, a workshop, yoga class, or a one-on-one conversation, he uses his energy and creativity to help others step into their power.  Before becoming fully invested in civic engagement and community activism, Ra was a collegiate basketball player, and he continues to train youth and run basketball programs as a way of building discipline, confidence, and wellness. Ra has been recognized as a Young Adult Champion by the Black Legacy Leadership Enrichment Initiative for his commitment to leadership and cultural stewardship. His vision is to carry forward the legacies of his ancestors while planting seeds of healing, unity, and liberation for generations yet to come.

Aniya is a college student and passionate youth advocate, creative, co-author and TEDx speaker born & raised in St. Paul. She Grew up as a dancer, cheerleader, and leader destined to make an impact. As a child, a fire was ignited in her to champion the Black liberation movement now, she is committed to a lifelong journey of engaging in liberation and justice for herself, her family, and the Black community through intentional practices of healing, education, and creative expression. By following her passion she has accumulated experience in education reform & restorative justice, breath work & mindfulness, and organizing & facilitation. She also has a passion for documenting life through videography, journaling, and storytelling and is recently apart of producing and starring in 3 local documentaries. She values drumming, writing poetry, and learning, as well as humanity, systems change, and co-creating.