Title: African Diasporic Consultant, Founder, Project Coordinator, Visual Artist and Arts Educator
Company: Diasporic Images of Africa
Location: Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States
Charles G.H. Trott, African diasporic consultant, founder, project coordinator, visual artist and arts educator at Diasporic Images of Africa (DIA), has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in arts education.
Passionate about exploring and understanding human behavior from a young age, Mr. Trott also discovered early in life that he had a gift for helping his classmates who were struggling. He initially considered becoming a psychologist or sociologist but soon found himself pulled toward the arts, feeling a strong connection to music and visual art in particular. After committing to that path, Mr. Trott kicked off a career of over 25 years in art and arts education. Throughout that time, he has prioritized both learning and teaching about new cultures, with a focus on exploring the results of the African diaspora.
After starting his professional life teaching at a number of public school districts, Mr. Trott started a 15-year tenure as an art educator with Newark Public Schools in 1998. During this time, he made a special effort to incorporate cultural history into his art lessons. Mr. Trott would focus his lessons on Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month, Indigenous American artists during Native American History Month and so on. He also made it a point to keep a world map posted in his classroom at all times, reminding students of the geographical aspect of art and culture. Concurrently with his time at Newark Public Schools, Mr. Trott held the role of art teacher for the Upward Bound program from 2006 to 2015. Administered by Seton Hall University, this program provides high school students from lower-income families or who will be first-generation college students with opportunities to for college-level lessons in various subjects and the chance to earn an annual scholarship.
Finishing up his time as a high school teacher in 2015, Mr. Trott launched his own project, Diasporic Images of Africa (or DIA). Inspired by a trip to Egypt in 2014 and to Cuba in 2014, DIA allows him to explore how the African diaspora connects to other cultures and artwork around the world. To bring this message to more people, Mr. Trott collaborates with public libraries, museums and other organizations. He sets up displays and delivers presentations at events, utilizing visual art to demonstrate the shared connection between all humans.
Before venturing onto his vocational path, Mr. Trott established his credentials through his own education. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art education from the Pratt Institute in 1973. Subsequently, Mr. Trott was licensed in K-12 art education by the state of New Jersey in 1974. He considers it a great privilege and a highlight of his career that he has made a living in the arts for most of his life and has had the opportunity to explore various aspects of the field beyond just teaching.
Known for his contributions as a civic-minded citizen, Mr. Trott has devoted time and energy to multiple noteworthy efforts outside of his primary career. He currently offers his guidance as a researcher and adviser for the Asbury Park African-American Music Project. Mr. Trott supports this organization’s mission of providing performance opportunities for African American and Afro-Latino artists while giving historical context for their art. He has previously been affiliated with the Bermuda Society of Arts, the Monmouth Museum, the Monmouth County Park System and the Asbury Park Art Commission.
Alongside his passion for the arts, Mr. Trott is a dedicated partner and a loving father to three and grandfather to three. Looking ahead, he is eager to continue developing DIA, including finding new ways to teach others and to generate revenue. Mr. Trott’s primary goal is to encourage more people to take an interest in both history and the arts, as well as the way the two intersect.
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