The Team

The Video Griot Project had many collaborators but there was a core team responsible for the project from the original idea to video publications. This is that team.

Hannah M. Grossman, Ph.D. – Founder & Director

Hannah M. Grossman is a returned Peace Corps volunteer from The Gambia, West Africa (2000-2002). After her time in the Peace Corps, Hannah received her Masters in Education from Claremont Graduate University (2004). She worked as a classroom science teacher for 6 years in Los Angeles County before returning to study at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received a Masters in Education with an emphasis in Research Methodology (2015) and her PhD in Education with a dual emphasis on Cultural Perspectives and Comparative Education and Cognitive Science (2016). She is currently an project manager and instructional designer at the UCLA/Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

Mamadou Jallow – Videography & Production

Mamadou Jallow is the son of Hannah Grossman’s best friend, Fatamata Sonko. Hannah worked with Mamadou Jallow as her apprentice in her 6 months creating videos in the Gambia. Mamadou Jallow learned videography, educational science, interviewing skills, video editing, translation of interviews to English, transcription of interviews to text, voice over editing and voice over recording in English, Mandinka, and Fula. He is continuing to create educational videos in The Gambia.

Momodou Bah – Collaborative Partner & Agriculture Expert Consultant

Momodou Alieu Bah (Bah2) is an Agriculture Program Assistant for the Peace Corps in The Gambia, West Africa. He first met Hannah Grossman when she was a Peace Corps volunteer. They have been friends since that time. Video Griot would not have been possible without Bah2’s expert help. He made contacts for Video Griot with different organizations to teach skills for the videos. He starred in videos on subjects where he was the expert. He translated written scripts into Mandinka and Fula. He helped review scripts for accuracy and completion.

IMG_1214Momodou Jallow- Logistics Manager

Momodou Jallow was Hannah’s first counterpart in Dankunku and a close friend.  His role in Video Griot is as a problem solver, cultural facilitator, and trusted advisor.

Additional Acknowledgements:

There were a number of other people who helped make the Video Griot Project happen.

In no particular order, special thanks goes to: Serimang Baldeh, Adama Sey Baldeh, Omar P. Jallow, Sheriff Bah, Katy Bah, Jennifer Goette, Amat Cham, Seedy Bensouda, Poncelet Ileleji, Kebba Sanyang, Yamai Secka-Jack, Saikou Njai, Madi Ceesay, Gregg McCambley, Isatou Bojang, Binta Jallow, Bintou Mannteh, Burang Danjo, John Sonko, Gibril Jarju, Lang Swarneh, Sam Demba, Musa Baldeh, Saiko Omar Mballow, Jainaba Ceesay, Christina Demba, Isatou Ceesay, NeyNey Bojang, Tuti Fal, Adam Njie, Fatou Sowe, Fatamata Sonko, Seedy Jarju, Alagie Camara, and others we have no doubt forgotten.

Additionally, a number of wonderful organizations helped the Video Griot Project profiled on the partner organization page.

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