HELLO! I’M MONET CHERISE DUNHAM
Come Explore
BIO
Monet Cherise Dunham
Born and raised in New York, with a BA in Theater/Psychology from Vassar College and an MS in Special Education from Adelphi University.
Monet is retired multiple award winning teacher of special needs students. Monet is also a musician, singer/songwriter, actress, film director and film casting director. Prior to retiring she often used her artistic training and talents to impliment programs for her students including those legally blind, non verbal, emotionally and or physically homebound by using music, technology and other creative means to help facilitate and make learning enjoyable.
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As an actress Monet has played key roles in several projects including "Just Another Girl from the IRT''(1992) now considered a cult classic , recent independent films "Love Don't Last Forever" (2019), multiple festival award winning "My King" (2021), the very popular 2018 web series 'Best Frenemies" we As a casting director, Monet casted "Hal King" (2021)now available on Amazon Prime .
As a musician, Monet released 2 full length projects and 1EP. Songs from these projects have been featured on following television shows "Criminal Minds (CBS now in syndication and on Hulu, The Mindy Project (FOX-Tv now on Hulu) , The Hill (Sundance Channel ) and the Weather Channel. Monet has flute on over 30 projects and performed on stage with many artists including Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, Tarrah Reynolds and the late GURU as has recorded with Angela Johnson, DJ Spinna, Ty Causey ,Tortured Soul and many more. Monet's most popular songs are "Spirit" "Vain" both instrumentals and "Hold Me Sweetly" which i co-wrote and features her vocals.
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"Finding My Voice- Emerald Garner" is Monets first book as a writer.
In addition Monet is the voice of Finding Voice - Emerald Garner - audiobook:
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Independently as a writer /director Monet created a documentary - WILL2survive - about one woman’s journey from childhood til present as a child stolen from her native land forced to survive in NYC . Currently Monet has a book in progress working title 'Love Interrupted'... along with a short film - working title DIAGNOSIS PTSD- she shares a snippet here . Diagnosis PTSD inspired by the life of her older brother; is an episodic series journaling experiences of men and women with emphasis on black , Latino and female issues. Traumas experienced before during and sometimes after service provide the scenarios brought to light in this series.
Trailer here:
Also... take a peek at this raw clip from Diagnosis PTSD https://youtu.be/5vLrsDWQ1I8.
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An avid documentarian. Monet keeps photographs and videos of life events. Film, music, animals social events. Some shots have been included here as well.
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Several samples of Monets music video./psa work can be seen on my youtube channel www.youtube.com/Monet7; which I also created, and directed independently. The video-HOLD ME SWEETLY (https://youtu.be/0AJMuIXwqM8)-allowed Monet to blend her passions , music, animals, family and love into a visual concoction of emotion.
YRSoMany (https://youtu.be/y8a1comBVww) is a music video /psa created to draw attention to homelessness of both animals and people.
As an actress , Monet has been part of several projects including creating the role of Denisha in the now Turner Movie classic movie Just Another Girl On the IRT.
Currently as an actor , She is part of the cast of an independent film entitled LOVE DONT LAST FOREVER, and teh celebrated series foudn on TUBI & Amazon Prime entitled BEST FRENEMIES (trailer here https://youtu.be/6vfuGZ3Ln_Q) as well as the multi award winning MY KING .. now on TUBI
As an independent artist/ musician Monet released two full length cds ESSENCE ( Essence by Monet
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/essence/282296350) and LIFESIZE MIRROR (Lifesize Mirror by Monét
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lifesize-mirror/469761154) and an VAIN (Vain - Single by Monet
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/vain-single/299153561) all available on iTunes. Several songs have been featured in projects such as Criminal Minds, The Mindy Project and The Hill. Monet is performing vocally and on flute and some acoustic guitar parts on many projects
Monet is excited about now being an official co-author FINDING MY VOICE EMERALD GARNER can be found here;
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1936-finding-my-voice
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In addition Monet is the voice of the audiobook co authored by her - FINDING MY VOICE EMERALD GARNER out now on Brookstone audio books

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MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
TEACHER OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
Sept 2010- June 2019
Design curricula and lessons to provide legally blind, non verbal, bed and wheelchair bound students with multi sensory educational experiences. This is done using technology, music, olfactory and tactile modalities. Students works are saved in visual portfolios of photos and videos of them working to monitor their progress over time.
TEACHER OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
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worked with emotionally  disturbed young people in school and home settings
September 1993 through 2010
TEACHER OF MALES 12-21 IN A TRANSITIONAL SETTING
September 1990- August 1993
Site coordinator, responsible for creating an intake program that provided immediate assessment of math and English skills of 20-for 25 young men in a a 30-90 day transitional live in facility. Once assessed lessons were scaffolded to meet the needs of the students who were then split in groups that allowed opportunities for peer intervention
EDUCATION
What I’ve Learned
BA VASSAR COLLEGE
BA -Theater /Psychology
Focused on Drama As Therapy as well as Stage Acting, Directing, Sound Design
Vocal and Flute Performance
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MS ADELPHI UNIVERSITY
MS- Special Education, with focus on Emotionally Disturbed Children
STILLS
urban garden crop NYC
Diagnosis PTSD -company salute
beautiful rescue girl
Marcus Machados performance at The Blue Note
still from Diagnosis PTSD
Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old shared a little of what he is good at doing.
Quincy Jones
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LET’S CONNECT
