SANKOFA YOUTH REACH
Summary of Activities 2008-2010
Sankofa Youth Reach serves Springfield youth, teaching dance in the Springfield Public School’s, creating performance opportunities and bringing students to UMass Amherst for events and activities to engage with artists, faculty and students. Sankofa Youth Reach also provided tuition and housing scholarships for the 2008 and 2009 Sankofa Dance Project Summer Dance Intensives on the UMass Amherst Campus. Sankofa Youth Reach sees arts as a vehicle for youth empowerment and a bridge to higher education.
MARCH – JUNE, 2010
Sankofa Youth Reach and Bamidele Dancers and Drummers collaborate with DeBerry Elementary School.
Students at DeBerry Elemementary School participated in a six week program on African Dance, working with Marilyn and Sekou Sylla from Bamidele Dancers and Drummers. Marilyn and Sekou also teach and perform within the Five Colleges.
FEBRUARY 5th, 2010
Sankofa Youth Reach and the Springfield Public School System presents free Stepping Event for over 500 elementary students from Springfield.
Students from Rebecca M. Johnson Visual and Performing Arts School, part of the Sankofa Youth Reach Stepping program perform in Springfield’s Old First Church.
Internationally acclaimed stepping group STEP AFRIKA! join as a guest artist in a lecture/demonstration for Springfield youth. Zanetti arts teacher, Elisabeth Olivera speaks with Springfield Mayor, Domenic Sarno.
MAY 7th, 2009
Sankofa Youth Reach and the Springfield Public School System presents free African Dance Event
In partnership with the SPSS, Sankofa Youth Reach presents Marilyn and Sekou Sylla from Bamidele Dancers and Drummers and Master African Dance choreographer and educator, Chuck Davis, in a lecture/demo event about the culture and form of African dance. Over 350 Springfield elementary school students, teachers and community attend, along with Springfield Mayor, Dominic Sarno.
students from Zanetti Montessori Magnet School:
“My name is Michael and I am 9 years old. Thank you for letting my class to go the old first church. I like that you and the drummer were hitting the drums fast. Mr. Fifield was dancing like you guy. I wish I can go to that church for a long time.”
“My name is Desiree. I am eight year old. I am in second grade. I am writing a letter to say thank you for the African American dance and inviting us. I enjoy the performance at the First Church. I like the part when the man said “lead with it rock with it.”
“Hello. My name is Mahawa. I am an African American. I am six years old and I am in first grade. I like everything performance and be sure to thank you. Thank you.”
MARCH & APRIL, 2009
Sankofa Youth Reach and Bamidele Dancers and Drummers collaborate with Central High.
Sankofa Youth Reach partners with SPSS bringing Marilyn and Sekou Sylla from Bamidele Dancers and Drummers to Central High School teaching four weeks of African dance and drumming classes. Total class attendance included 50 high school students.
MAY 2nd, 2008
A free performance of The Respect Project, in partnership with STCC
Sankofa Youth Reach partners with Springfield Technical Community College to bring The Respect Project, a youth empowerment theater group directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner George Faison to Springfield for a free performance. Over 500 students attended the performance. Darryl Moss from the Mayors office read a proclamation naming May 2, 2008, Respect Project day.
“They experienced cultural unity and saw that they are not alone in their issues of today” –Margie Rivera (case manager, Spanish American Union)
“The Respect Project uses high school students to talk to other students about the lifestyles they may have in common: living in neighborhoods where gang violence prevails, and being forced to live in a life of crime; of decayed buildings and drug-infested neighborhoods; of seeing their friends being shot and killed; of relationships that can result in unwanted pregnancy; and not understanding what solutions they have to survive these situations,” — Myra Smith (STCC, VP for human resources and multicultural affairs).
MARCH & APRIL 2008
Sankofa Youth Reach collaborates with the Springfield Public School System
Sankofa Youth Reach visits Putnam Vocational High School and the High School of Science and Technology in Springfield, MA with UMass Amherst dance instructors. Total class attendance included 75 high school students.
