Misson

What is our goal at Noir Neon Vibes?

Noir Neon Vibes is news media organization that will provide a platform for black and queer voices. I want to highlight black excellence by promoting black own businesses and celebrating leaders in our city. I want to give pop culture commentary and address social issues that is often ignored by main stream media. I want to deliver news that connects with community through storytelling.  

Flonora Merritt

Flonora Merritt is an advisor for Friendship News Network (FNN), the high school journalism program at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington DC. Graduating from Friendship Collegiate High School in 2008 as a salutatorian, she returned to her alma mater to run FNN at Collegiate and take it to new places. In high school, she was editor-in-chief of Rated-T magazine and slowly helped it progress to digital media.

Merritt is a self-taught photographer and video editor. When her students wanted to learn photography and broadcasting, she trained herself so they could have the full experience. She’s been teaching journalism, photography and video production for 9 years now. Since then, herstudents’ work has been featured in Collegiate’s high school yearbooks, the FNN websitecodefnn.com and in other publications like Afro.com.

Venturing into video production has led to a growing YouTube Channel with nearly 500 subscribers. During the COVID epidemic, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the DC Arts and Humanities Council, she produced a documentary on gentrification in DC with her students called Fading Color. The film premiered on October 2022 at the Reach Theater in the KennedyCenter. Fading Color can be seen on codefnn.com/documentaries.

Two years ago, Merritt started her own digital publication, Noir Neon Vibes, a platform to amplify black and queer voices with two podcasts, Neon Mic and Virtual Road Rage; a newsletter called NNV Catch Up; and a photo blog—all on her website, noirneonvibes.org.

Photo by Bernadette Dare.

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  • Braylon Wims (He/Him)

    COMMENTATOR/REPORTER

    Braylon Wims graduated from Friendship Collegiate Academy in 2023. He was born and raised in Washington, DC and specializes in reporting, interviewing, and video editing. He enjoys video production because it allows him to show off his personality, develop new skills, meet a lot of new people and travel places. Braylon’s career goals are to build a barber shop and franchise it around the world. He is currently attending The University of Alabama on a full-ride scholarship. If you want to collaborate on future projects, email him at braylonwims1@gmail.com.

  • Micheal Joyner (He/Him)

    COMMENTATOR/VIDEO EDITOR

    Micheal Joyner graduated from Friendship Collegiate Academy in 2023. He was born and raised in Washington, DC. I work for his high school news publication, codefnn.com. He was currently the editor-in-chief, as well as a videographer. I enjoy the arts because they allow me to turn my imagination into reality. Micheal’s career goal is to become a videographer/cinematographer. He currently attends SUNY Oswego. If you want to collaborate on future projects, or require a videographer, email him at michealjoyner19@gmail.com.

  • Aneara Burns (She/They)

    COMMENTATOR/ASSISTANT

  • SyQuan Clark (He/They)

    COMMENTATOR/PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Benji Mallory (He/They)

    PHOTOGRAPHER

    Benji Mallory is photojournalist. He graduated from Friendship Collegiate Academy in 2023. He was born and raised in Washington, DC. Benji loves photography and journalism because they are creative outlets for me to show and have a voice on topics that matter to him . His career goal is to continue using photography and stories to bring attention to issues that don’t always get the attention they deserve.

  • Alexander Santos (He/Him)

    PHOTOGRAPHER

    Alexander Santos, is a photojournalist He graduated from Friendship Collegiate Academy in 2023. He was born and raised in Washington, DC. He love photography because it allows me to see the world’s beauty. His career goal is to achieve my dream of becoming an all-around world mechanic/photographer. If you want to collaborate on future projects, email him at santosalexander0315@gmail.com.

  • Tylar Whitby (She/Her)

    PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

    Tylar Whitby is a photographer and videographer. She currently attends Friendship Collegiate Academy and will graduate this year. She was born and raised in Washington, DC. Tylar loves photography because it allows her to capture happy moments in life and beautiful locations. He career goals are to be a photographer and have my own photography business. If you want to collaborate on future projects, email me at whitbytylar18@gmail.com.