MEMBER SIGN IN
Not a member? Become one today!
         iBerkshires     Southern Berkshire Chamber     Lee Chamber     Lenox Chamber     Berkshire Community College    
Search
Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival Celebrates Achievement of Youth
11:51AM / Friday, August 21, 2015
Print | Email  

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Lift Ev’ry Voice Festival celebrated the achievements of Berkshire County youth who completed the Festival’s inaugural program, Project eLEVate, this summer with a closing ceremony on Aug. 8

Project eLEVate featured workshops, lectures, films, tours, and other thought-provoking activities, designed to provide the youth, “Project eLEVate scholars,” with an opportunity to learn more about themselves, as well as the Berkshires’ rich African American history, culture and heritage. At the ceremony, the scholars received a certificate for successfully completing the 11-day program and also had an opportunity to share their experiences with those in attendance.  Participants included Lakeria Darkins; Erica Davis; Sonia Garcia-Rijos; Alexis Harrison; Dumars Harrison; Cristhian Herrara; Malyah Jackson; Byonte Jones; Alex Leonard; Dennys Ortiz; Gideon Osafo; Marisela Pachual; Jada Pridgen; Rossana Quispe; Ashanti Sampson; and Chynna Williams.

After a rich and engaging summer of lively events, the Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival, in conjunction with the Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) and Multicultural BRIDGE, will close out with “First to Freedom: Celebrate Elizabeth Freeman Day,” from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Ashley House, 117 Cooper Hill Road, Ashley Falls, the site of Freeman’s enslavement.

As this year’s Festival celebrated the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment that ended slavery, it was fitting to honor Elizabeth “MumBett” Freeman, an enslaved woman who sued and won her right to freedom on Aug. 21, 1781, helping to end slavery in Massachusetts. Events include guided tours of the Ashley House, presentations of new artwork incorporating Freeman’s image by youth from the Multicultural BRIDGE program, and a dramatic re-telling of Mum Bett’s story by actress Tammy Denease. There will also be readings from BRIDGE’s recently released anthology, “Berkshire Mosaic.”

Lift Ev'ry Voice, first held in 2011, celebrates the diverse traditions of African American community, arts and culture, history and heritage found within Berkshire County and across the nation. The rich history of the African American community in the Berkshires begins in the 1730s with the War of Independence, in which African Americans fought, to the present day, including the second African American female astronaut, Stephanie Wilson.

 

0Comments
More Featured Stories
SouthBerkshires.com is owned and operated by: Boxcar Media 102 Main Sreet, North Adams, MA 01247 -- T. 413-663-3384
© 2024 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved