ryann (left); genesis (right)Ryann Holmes Born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring PG County, Maryland, Ryann Makenzi Holmes, is a black, masculine of center, self-identified boi. She's earns her keep as an entrepreneur, consultant, student, and community organizer. After completing her undergrad in Business and Marketing at George Mason University, she is now completing her final semester of graduate work in Baruch College’s MBA program. From her innovative event planning work with the Women’s Sports Foundation to her dedicated work with Public Interest Projects and The Audre Lorde Project, Ryann is committed to a life lived with integrity.
After the successful launch of their visionary 2010 calendar, Ryann has set her sights high, committing to the creative expansion of the collective through hosting opportunities for networking, substantial program development and using social innovation to empower individuals and community efforts on a local to global scale.
Recently, Ryann was featured as one of Go Magazine's 'Top 100 Women We Love: Class of 2011', has spoken on numerous panels including 'Queer My Blog' at NYU, the' Queerocracy Symposium' at the New School, and 'Queer Memoirs' at Bluestockings, and is a graduate of the Brown Boi Project Leadership Program in Oakland, California.
Photos by Charla Harlow (charlaharlow.com)
Genesis Tramaine Genesis Tramaine, born and bred in bed-stuy, lives the bustling life of a visual artist, high school math teacher, and co-founder of bklyn boihood. A graduate of Syracuse University, Genesis worked in the corporate sector for years before applying to be a NYC Teaching Fellow. She is currently in her third year of teaching math in a Brooklyn public high school.
Art, by Genesis' own admission, is "the only thing she's ever been really really good at." So between teaching and bklyn boihood, Genesis finds time to give herself to her truest and most precious passion, painting. Genesis is a fine artist who uses mixed media on raw canvas, creates work that is as arresting and provocative as it is tender and tenuous. Her work has been shown in galleries throughout New York City including The Shine in Harlem, the Midoma Fine Art Gallery, and The Salt Space in Chelsea.
Genesis and her partner in crime created bklyn boihood with the mission of creating the space and opportunity ability for it's ability to speak to and for the intricate and colorful array of masculine presenting women in Brooklyn and everywhere. Genesis, who (half in jest) speaks of herself as a "mature boi" is thrilled for the opportunity to create a space for women like her to shine.