Giavanni Malia Powell

OBITUARY FOR GIAVANNI MALIA POWELL Giavanni Malia Powell ~~ a movement artist, choreographer, muse, poet, speaker, advocate and activist ~~ a young woman with a voice and vision to honor those that came before her and elevate those who will come after. Love and light was manifested in Giavanni on the day of her birth, July 15, 1997. That radiant light dimmed on earth and ascended to the heavenly realm on December 20, 2021. Giavanni was born in Washington, DC to her proud and adoring parents, Albert D. Powell, Jr. and Tonia Jones Powell. Giavanni, affectionately known as “Gia”, spent her early childhood in Mitchellville, Maryland. Reared and nurtured both at home and through the watchful, caring eyes of the community, Gia was truly raised by our Village. She had a firm foundation and relationship with the Lord. As a young child, she attended Shabach Christian Academy where she excelled academically and artistically. Outside of school, she attended Dance Expressions in Bowie where her lifelong passion for dance and artistic expression began. She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, and she recently graduated from the Queen Esther 18-month Ministry Program in July 2021. She assisted with Sunday School and served in the Card Ministry over the years. Gia attended schools in Anne Arundel County – Central Elementary, Central Middle and South River High School (SRHS), where she was involved in Black Saga African American History Competition, Math Club, community basketball teams, and of course dance. Gia participated in the Tremaine Dance Convention, Cechetti Ballet Conferences, Jamel Gaines Creative Dance Outlet in NY, Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in NY, and the Anne Arundel County Dance Ensemble. As a scholar athlete in high school, Gia was a member of the SRHS National Honor Society, National Dance Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Orchestra (played violin), SRHS Fashion Club, Global Ambassadors, and the SRHS Dance Team, serving as its Co-Captain in her senior year. She traveled abroad with her high school to Germany, Switzerland, and France and visited places like Auschwitz which deepened her understanding of oppression, bigotry and social injustice. Gia’s community service included volunteer work through North Arundel County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. mentoring programs and through the Arundel Bay Area Chapter, Jack & Jill of America, Inc. (served as Teen Group President and Vice President). Her public service activities included voter registration and education, book drives, can food drives, and providing shelters and nursing homes with food, clothing, and gifts when needs were identified. A Linehan Artist Scholar, Gia graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a BA in Dance and an Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor in 2019. Gia was a member of the UMBC Black Student Union (served as Secretary), in the Achievement and Inspiration through Mentorship Program (served as Social Media Coordinator), and in the UMBC Visual and Performing Arts Living Learning Community (served as Council Representative). She also served as a Student Ambassador for UMBC and worked in the Office of Alumni Affairs. In Fall 2017, Gia became a member of the Lambda Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (served as 2nd Vice President) along with 13 other dynamic young women whose bonds have been strengthened through shared experiences and working together in service to the community on numerous projects. During her college years, Gia trained in dance at Hubbard Street Chicago, Broadway Dance Center and MODULE with Sidra Bell Dance in NY. She also performed at Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in NY and with the Baltimore Dance Project. Giavanni has also performed internationally with Culture Shock DC, at the Kennedy Center, the Fillmore, The Lyric Theatre, Sax DC, and other venues. Gia took dance class whenever opportunity presented including on excursions to London, Paris, Barcelona, and in Italy. Giavanni shared her love of dance by teaching ballet, jazz, modern/contemporary, and tap at Dance Expressions, Inc. and Greater Annapolis Ballet. She also taught dance and had experience in arts administration through her work with Joe’s Movement Emporium, the Dance Institute of Washington, and Momiestlc. She further sharpened her skills as an assistant to college dance professors on the collegiate level at UMBC. In 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic, Gia collaborated with others and founded the Black Onyx Movement, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the social injustice that plagues Black and Brown America as highlighted by the horrific death of George Floyd and too many others. Gia helped organize and execute multiple protests in Washington, DC, attended protests in Baltimore, and used her voice to help correct the ills of injustice. She met with representatives from the Department of Justice and collaborated with other grass roots organizations. Inspired by the tumultuous events of 2020 and by artists / activists such as Nina Simone and Nikki Giovanni, the first iteration of Gia's short movement film entitled Facade was created and features her original choreography, poetry and production. Facade was released in December 2020 under her project, Murano Woman. Giavanni used dance and other art mediums as a communicative and reflective tool in evaluating the current socio-political climate. Gia was blessed with numerous accolades and awards, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) award for her Black History Month Performance (2020), 37th Annual Choreographers Showcase Award, (performed hEATed My Place-choreographer – Shaness D. Kemp) (2020); UMBC Dance Summer Research Award (2016), Excellence in the Arts Award from Baltimore County Alumnae Chapter (Delta) (2016); Colonel Charles Young Memorial Continuing Education Scholarship (2015 – 2019); the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Award (2012), among others. In September 2021, Gia accepted a dance apprenticeship with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in Chicago. She performed in the 25th Anniversary Showcase, danced on Good Morning America with the company to the music of Gospel singer Donald Lawrence, and danced at Purdue University in the span of 2 and a half months. While living in Chicago, Gia also worked in a program assisting those with Alzheimer’s and dementia with home care and therapy. Her passion for assisting elderly in this regard grew out of her personal observation of family members with dementia. Giavanni was a natural leader, communicator, and organizer with an irrefutable appetite to help people. Gia gave her time and talent supporting many organizations and she always found the good in all situations and uplifted those around her. A kind and compassionate young woman, she gave the best of herself to others. Giavanni leaves to mourn her parents Albert and Tonia (Jones) Powell, her brother Bakari Ahmad Powell, grandmother Rita Hines Brooks, grandmother Josefa Borba Powell, great grandmother Evelyn Smith, uncle Tony Powell; aunt Cheryl Brooks Hayes (Glenn), uncle Melvin Brooks, Jr., uncle Brock A. Brooks (Diane), uncle Alvin Jones, Jr., devoted sister-cousin, Octavia Gould, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, family and friends.

Tributes

Giavanni Malia Powell

July 15, 1997 - December 20, 2021