Beds for Elders

The money raised on this site will be used for the care of an icon. Queen Mother Suma Diarra is a paragon in the preservation and holder of African/African-American culture.

Queen Mother Suma Diarra is a native New Orleanian and has traveled and lived and performed throughout the Middle East, Europe and Africa as an actress, dancer, writer/poet, storyteller and model. With a Masters in Early Childhood Education and a B.A in Fine Art, she has forged paths in activism for the past 55 years around education, African culture, homelessness and African-American women's health.

"Queen Mother Suma Diarra, realizes and lives her African Culture and history. It's of great value and a source of great strength and pride to her. She finds it easier to reach her students and audience as they become engulfed in the sounds of the drums and the movements of her feet, as the story told comes to life. She takes you on a journey to Africa, the Caribbeans and the Americas without leaving home. Her stories and movement have a way of bringing the story to life. Her audience becomes the village and before you know it, you are very much involved."

Mama Suma has gone through much hardship since Hurricane Katrina. After living in Houston for a few years after the storm she moved back to New Orleans. Since then she has suffered severe health problems. She is in need of financial security so that her health needs are met and that she can live out the rest of her years in relative comfort. Funds would be used to secure home healthcare workers to keep round-the clock care of her, to provide meals and to necessary transportation.