WHO WE ARE

Ellen D. Hamilton

Co-Founding Director

A wife and mother to four young children, a Deep East Oakland native and natural community leader. Her background stems from being a singer and non-profit arts organization HR/Finance Manager. In 2018, along with two other Oakland native parents; fully pregnant with her 4th child, Ellen developed Afro-Play as a 9-week pilot-session program under Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center which serves Deep East Oakland’s Castlemont neighborhood at Room to Bloom Family Resource Center. The program was a success and since has thrived under Lotus Bloom’s fiscal sponsorship, serving families identifying under the African Diaspora. Ellen takes extreme pride in Oakland and loves connecting Black Oakland Families together. She loves planting seeds of creativity, hope, love and light into the lives of young growing Oaklanders. Her vision is to one day grow Afro-Play into its own Family Resource Center in the heartbeat of Oakland – East Oakland.

Ajhana DeRamous

Co-Founding Director

A wife and mother of two with roots in Oakland. She is passionate about her community and working together in culturally responsive ways to ensure equity for Black families and healing around maternal health. In 2018, along with two other Oakland native parents; Ajhana developed Afro-Play as a 9-week pilot-session program under Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center which services Deep East Oakland’s Castlemont neighborhood at Room to Bloom Family Resource Center. The program was gratefully received by the community and Ajhana was offered a teacher position for multicultural and developmental playgroups as well. Her vision is to continue to grow Afro-Play into its own Black Family Resource Center with a hub in East Oakland while offering its magic throughout the diaspora.

Jade Watkins

Administrative Assistant

A wife and mother of one. She is a native Detroiter. An Afro-Play parent turned administrative assistant, Jade has a background in marketing and customer service.