Bio:
Claire Jones is Amaranthia’s Mom, assistant, ambivert and a practicing Buddhist of 30 years. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College as a Frances Perkins Scholar in 1999. The program assists non-traditional women whose educations stalled due to various difficulties. Claire's journey to scholarship began during the early days in Barbados when she sought relief from the chaos of living in a domestic violence household. As she went out into the world, she experienced sexual assault and other forms of abuse. A high school dropout traumatized from ongoing crises, she determined to, one day, receive a college degree to aid women whose dreams never actualized due to violence and oppression. Claire accomplished her long-held goal of graduating from Mount Holyoke College Frances Perkins Scholar in May 1999. She published articles at Goalcast, YOPP! A Social Justice Blog, Best Self, and on Thrive Global's community page, to name a few.
Claire's long-term goal is to help marginalized women build self-confidence by accessing hidden talents. She’s a recent member of The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV); she is currently working on her self-help/art book ClarityIsJustSoHip! and Memoir Sista Survivor: An Immigrant's Spiritual Journey to Legitimacy. In June 2021, Claire showcased her spoken word in collaboration with artists for LA Non-profit, The Painted Brain's show, "Discovering a Place for Us." Her mission is to spread love and light through writing, speaking opportunities, and art. Claire currently resides in NH with her family and kitty cat Meena-Serenity.
See her powerful spoken word performance, “Caribbean Black” which highlights her trip to the slave houses of Senegal. Featured by The Painted Brain in their virtual disability art show, “Discovering a Place for Us.”