Carlita Scarboro-Vazquez wants Fulton County residents to rethink what a library can be.
On Saturday, August 8, the Atlanta-based multidisciplinary artist will host the second installment of The Real Tea Series: GRIOT at the Fulton County Central Library, bringing wellness educator DeAna Danzy of Bella Veganista to lead a free session on plant-based nutrition, healing herbs, and mental clarity. The event begins at 2 p.m. at One Margaret Mitchell Square in Atlanta. No registration is required.
The series draws on the West African griot tradition, in which a community storyteller preserves memory, history, and wisdom across generations. Scarboro-Vazquez, who founded CVaz Designs and serves as the inaugural EmpowerHER Artist in Residence at Central Library, launched the year-long program after completing her residency there in May.
"As monuments disappear and stories are erased, it becomes our responsibility to document, honor, and share our truths," Scarboro-Vazquez wrote on Instagram on June 27, when she announced the series launch. "A griot is more than a storyteller — a griot is a keeper of memory, culture, wisdom, and legacy."
Danzy, founder of Bella Veganista, will demonstrate how intentional food choices and healing herbs can support long-term wellness, according to the library's event listing written by Nechelle Roberts, library associate, and Vikki Walters, librarian principal. The afternoon includes food demonstrations and open community conversation.
The first installment, held June 27 at the same location, featured designer Rochelle Porter and focused on designing for global audiences. The August 8 session shifts the lens to wellness and self-care.
Scarboro-Vazquez, born in Washington, D.C., and educated at Howard University, works across digital art, mixed media, installation, and projection mapping. Her pieces have shown at Art Basel Miami 2024 and ArtFields 2024. The Real Tea Series grew from her EmpowerHER residency, a partnership between Central Library and Fulton County Arts and Culture that ran from February 17 through May 18.
The Fulton County Library System serves Roswell-area residents. The event is free and open to all. No onsite parking is available at Central Library.
For more information, contact Vikki Walters at [email protected].
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, August 8, 2 p.m. — The Real Tea Series: GRIOT on Resetting through Vegan Living, Fulton County Central Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta. Free, no registration required.
