Overview:
Deinfa Okoro, a Cincinnati-based singer-songwriter, received a fellowship for her work combining music and sustainability to create positive change in her community and beyond through the VERSIONS Youth Fellowship.
By Olivia Stibbe
Communications
Darkspark
Deinfa Okoro, Nigerian-born and Cincinnati-based singer-songwriter, was hand-picked out of nearly 1,000 global applications to receive a fellowship award because of her desire to create positive change in her community and abroad, passion for music, and her eagerness to find a way to combine these two things.
In addition to her music pursuits, Deinfa earned her Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Currently, she is actively involved in the sustainability and green building sector, holding accreditation as a WELL professional. Her passion lies in enhancing the quality of life for individuals through the promotion of healthy building practices and inspiring people with her music. This made Deinfa an ideal candidate for the VERSIONS Fellowship.
The VERSIONS Youth Fellowship, an initiative originating in Canada that empowers young leaders of color worldwide, recently concluded its one-year program, resulting in the graduation of 27 exceptionally talented individuals, including one of Cincinnati’s very own.
Powered by Darkspark, VERSIONS provides a platform for racialized youth, ages 16-24, around the world to share their voices through musical storytelling and be featured in their own short documentary. Equally important, it gives them the tools to explore and confront systemic racism, connect and collaborate with social justice-minded peers, and create individual social impact projects to affect social change.
Deinfa embarked on a journey to design and implement a social impact project to tackle pressing issues in her community and beyond. Deinfa purchased organic pantry staples and donated them to the People’s Pantry to help make organic pantry staples available to underserved communities.
Additionally, Deinfa worked to create her own anthem of resilience, change, and hope over a celebrity-produced beat.
Deinfa’s social impact project and the upcoming release of her powerful song and documentary provide a unique opportunity to connect with the youth voices of Cincinnati and celebrate a real changemaker.
The collection of music and documentaries is set to be released in the upcoming months.