Vocalist and cultural ambassador Ami Gaston shares how music, art, and eco-justice can heal communities. She and Taryell Simmons discuss connecting across cultures with curiosity, using song to reach refugees, regaining her strength after a hate crime through music, and why rest is a revolutionary act for Black women.
Welcome to this inspiring episode of Rise Urban Nation hosted by Taryell Simmons featuring cultural ambassador and activist Ami Gaston. In this rich dialogue, the conversation explores the transformative power of art, music therapy, and eco-justice in healing marginalized communities. Readers and listeners will discover profound insights into building cross-cultural bridges, embracing restorative rest, and cultivating creative sovereignty.
Ami shares how performing a go-go tribute to Eva Cassidy and Chuck Brown brought audiences together in joyful dance.
A powerful story of bridging cultural misunderstanding with a young Palestinian singer through compassionate curiosity.
Singing traditional Yoruba songs to break emotional trauma and connect with an Iraqi refugee in UNHCR programs.
Reflecting on surviving a severe hate crime and using music as the foundational tool to regain physical and emotional strength.
Discussing how rest serves as an essential, revolutionary act of preservation for Black women.
Eco-Justice and Art: Connecting global environmental issues along major rivers with community advocacy through cultural storytelling.
Music as Medicine: Utilizing neuroscience and melodic frequency to facilitate deep emotional trauma recovery and physical healing.
Cross-Cultural Communication: Suspending personal judgment to build authentic diplomacy and understanding across diverse international communities.
Restorative Rest Practices: Prioritizing personal wellness and mental rejuvenation as vital acts of community resilience.
Career Path Navigation: Leveraging intuition and varied life experiences to successfully pivot toward purpose-driven creative work.
Approach unfamiliar cultural situations with genuine curiosity and humility rather than defensive assumptions.
Integrate music and creative expression into daily routines to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
Protect personal health by intentionally scheduling restorative rest before burnout occurs.
Evaluate major life and career decisions using practical written assessments combined with intuitive guidance.
Ami Gaston is an acclaimed vocalist, cultural ambassador, and co-executive director at both ICOSI and World Trust Educational Services. With a background in neuroscience and arts activism, she leads global initiatives that merge artistic expression with social and environmental justice. Connect with her work and explore upcoming projects at https://amikayla.com and https://world-trust.org.
Taryell Simmons: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I have a special guest in the building. When I say we are about to flow, we are about to flow literally. Ami Gaston is in the building. Before we get to the introduction, I am feeling inspired by the scenery. Take me through the headwrap, the background art, and the African statues.
Ami Gaston: We have the cowrie shells, turquoise, the headwrap with the African mask, a little bit of Nina Simone in the backdrop, and some greenery. We are just going to roll with it.
Taryell Simmons: If I ever get my studio set up, I will have you come design it. You are founder and co-executive director of the International Cultural Arts and Sciences (ICOSI), and executive director for World Trust Educational Services. Your key focus is promoting healing and wellness through art and activism.
Ami Gaston: Yes, exactly.
Taryell Simmons: For those who do not know who you are, who is Ami Gaston?
Ami Gaston: I go by Ami Gaston or Amikela Gaston, but it is all one vibration of love. I grew up in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.
Taryell Simmons: Me too, Northwest DC down the street from Calvin Coolidge High School.
Ami Gaston: My whole life I have tried to explain go-go music to people. We are definitely family. I grew up listening to EU, Rare Essence, and Chuck Brown. Right before Chuck Brown passed away, we were preparing a tribute concert to Eva Cassidy at Strathmore. When he passed, we performed a go-go tribute to both of them and everyone stood up dancing. I travel the world as a cultural ambassador for the arts. I recently returned from Thailand and London working on a project called A Tale of Two Rivers, connecting the Mississippi River to the Mekong River.
Taryell Simmons: That sounds beautiful.
Ami Gaston: We examined the deep South, Gullah culture, New Orleans, and Alabama along the Mississippi River, comparing life along the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos. We focus on eco-justice alongside social justice. Large corporations construct dams that cut off vital water access and disrupt fish migration. In the Caribbean, corporations purchase coastline so local Black and Brown residents cannot access the water without trespassing. Through World Trust Educational Services, we facilitate conversations with corporations like Disney, Pixar, and Google about bias, equity, and representation. We also lead a water initiative supporting young girls in Sub-Saharan Africa who walk miles carrying heavy water jugs.
Taryell Simmons: That work is essential because people often experience the world in silos. In mainstream Eurocentric media, narratives are narrow and commercialized, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. When we amplify diverse art and cultural perspectives, we broaden understanding.
Ami Gaston: Commercialized media pushes narrow representations for profit. When communities only see negative portrayals, people internalize those limiting beliefs. Art breaks those boundaries and shows people from every walk of life living fulfilling lives without needing to fit into standard commercial molds.
Taryell Simmons: When I led workforce development programs for inner-city youth in San Diego, I saw how limiting beliefs held people back. I wanted to show that success does not only mean being an athlete or entertainer, but pursuing unique talents and building viable careers.
Ami Gaston: Exactly. When youth only see narrow career paths, they lose hope if one option fails. Encouraging young people to explore various paths builds resilience and self-worth.
Taryell Simmons: Music has always been therapeutic for me, especially 1990s hip-hop before the industry overly commercialized the culture. How is music therapy in your work?
Ami Gaston: The commercial industry often curtails genuine artistic expression to sell products. Music carries the soul of a community. While supporting Ukrainian refugees in London, I learned how traditional folk artists were targeted because they preserve cultural identity. Music connects us to our lineage, like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Nina Simone during the civil rights movement.
Taryell Simmons: As a cultural ambassador, what are the best practices for building diplomacy across cultures?
Ami Gaston: Communication and an open heart are paramount. When entering another culture, respect local norms, remain humble, and stay open to learning. When people communicate authentically without fear, we bridge divides.
Taryell Simmons: In diversity, equity, and inclusion work, suspending judgment and maintaining genuine curiosity allows people to connect on a human level.
Ami Gaston: Curiosity transforms misunderstandings into connection. While serving as a vocal judge in Palestine, a young boy used offensive language because he associated it with American rap music. By asking curious questions rather than reacting defensively, I explained the historical context and discovered he simply wanted to learn how to rap. That curiosity created trust and mutual understanding.
Taryell Simmons: What led you down the path of healing others?
Ami Gaston: Both of my parents are healers; my mother served as Assistant Surgeon General. Our family motto was always to do good in the world and lift up the community. Healing others heals myself. Throughout my life, I served as a bridge between communities.
Taryell Simmons: Doing healing and equity work requires dedicated self-care to avoid burnout.
Ami Gaston: Rest is essential. Black women carry immense systemic stress, leading to severe health disparities. We must give ourselves permission to step away from work, rest, and rejuvenate.
Taryell Simmons: Rest is restorative and revolutionary. Prioritizing rest and wellness is a path toward sovereignty.
Ami Gaston: I embrace the philosophy of restorative rest. Taking time to recharge fuels meaningful work.
Taryell Simmons: When did you discover your voice?
Ami Gaston: Surviving a hate crime was pivotal. I was intentionally struck by a vehicle driven by five men and endured severe injuries. During two years of hospitalization and recovery, music kept me alive. With my background in neuroscience, I realized music activates the entire brain and promotes cellular healing. That experience solidified my commitment to integrating music into medicine and wellness.
Taryell Simmons: How did your varied early jobs shape your path?
Ami Gaston: From babysitting and working at Popeyes to research labs and youth arts camps, every role contributed skills to my journey. Exploring diverse experiences helps individuals develop comprehensive skills.
Taryell Simmons: What advice do you give to individuals considering a career pivot?
Ami Gaston: Trust your intuition and write down the concrete pros and cons of staying versus leaving. Recognize that life is precious, and build inner fortitude to pursue alignment.
Taryell Simmons: What projects are you working on, and where can listeners connect with you?
Ami Gaston: My major initiative is Women Carry Water, highlighting water equity and eco-justice inspired by young girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. You can learn more at https://world-trust.org and https://amikayla.com.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you for sharing your wisdom on Rise Urban Nation.
Ami Gaston: Be peace, be love, be gentle, and be true.
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