Christyal Rood

Photography – Baltimore

Christyal Rood has been creating since a young girl, she is a creator who loves people. Rood creates utilizing different mediums such as photography, writing, painting and filmmaking. Rood has recently self published her first book, “Found Identity. Found Identity is about a women who struggled with self-identity and self-worth all her life and found the road to freedom. Rood brings forth this story through poems and captivating images. Rood has created and exhibited art shows and has been the guest speaker at different events. Rood currently works for The Prince George's County Police Department, and has been an Officer for eight years. Rood see`s the need for encouragement, love, peace and hope in the communities in which she work and knows that her art can birth these needs. Rood is currently assigned the Community Service Division, and has ceased the opportunity to utilize her platform by creating the Innovative Outlets Art Mentoring Program. Innovative Outlets is a mentoring program for students that uses artistic media to teach youth about positive self-expression, communication, and teamwork. As a police officer and artist Rood has the opportunity to meet people in different capacities. Art is a way to bring forth vulnerability and transparency while ushering in hope, joy and peace to one's heart. Roods art is a gift that inspires others to express their thoughts, emotions and desires through different art forms. It gives power to those who feel or think they're powerless. It opens different avenues of self expression, a platform to be heard, pain to be recognized, and healing to take place. Rood strives to be the change she needed as a young woman, the voice of encouragement, the shoulder to lean on, and the backbone for others to stand up. Rood loves the fact that she can use her gifts in ways that will touch lives all around the world.