Dates: Friday, April 5, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Saturday, April 6, 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Location: Bombyx Center, 130 Pine St, Florence, MA
Self-Evident Education presents the Third Annual Power of Truths Arts & Education Festival, taking place on
Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Bombyx Center in Florence. This year's theme, "Building Community in the Midst of Chaos," underscores our commitment to fostering critical conversations around social and racial justice issues.
Based in Florence, Self-Evident Education utilizes multimedia storytelling to engage school and community groups in discussions about the histories and legacies of race and racism in the United States. The festival will feature the premiere of Self-Evident's newest lm, "Freedom's Battle at Christiana," produced for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Additionally, attendees will experience an original theatrical production titled "Know the Ledge: Hip-hop History Live!" This performance features Dutch ReBelle, Marcia Gomes, Father Hotep, the Perceptionists and others. It will integrate music, storytelling, and dance to showcase powerful narratives from Self-Evident's film library.
Teacher Fellowship:
In conjunction with the festival, Self-Evident Education is proud to announce the inaugural Teacher Fellowship, funded in part by the Library of Congress/Teaching with Primary Sources Grant Program. Fifteen educators have been selected to participate in this fellowship, which aims to demonstrate the power of Self-Evident's library of resources and primary sources in deeply examining the histories and legacies of systemic racism. This approach provides educators with essential tools to engage students in meaningful dialogue about complex historical issues.
The fellowship cohort comprises seven local educators, including four from Northampton and one from Springfield, as well as eleven educators from across the United States and even the Bahamas. Hailing from Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and beyond, these teachers will engage in two days of intensive work with Self-Evident before attending the Power of Truths Arts & Education Festival.
Keynote Speakers:
• Tricia Rose, author of the groundbreaking book "Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives and How We Break Free," will deliver a keynote address exploring the themes of her work. (Saturday)
• Malia Lazu, leading DEI consultant and author of "From Intention to Impact," will share insights on organizational change and racial equity. (Friday)
Special Presentations:
Khalif Neville and Bayeté Ross Smith will discuss the use of Virtual Reality to tell important stories of our past, present, and future. A Virtual Reality exhibit featuring their work will accompany the presentation.
Youth and Local Presenters:
• Screenings of short documentary films by high school students.
• The Northampton High School wind ensemble will perform a set of music composed by contemporary and historical Black composers.
• Highlights from the work of "Blacks in the Valley" and the "Witness Stone" project will be showcased.
For more details about the festival program, please refer to this booklet or visit: https://thirdrow.live/power-of-truths/
Ticket Information:
GET TICKETS - https://bombyx.live/power-of-truths/
Both days of the festival are open to the public, with a special focus on Friday for high school and college students and educators. Ticket options include one-day or two-day passes, with separate tickets available for the Saturday night theatrical performance. Group discounts are available; please email kyla@selfevidenteducation.com for more information.
Sponsors:
The Third Annual Power of Truths Arts & Education Festival is sponsored by Self-Evident Education, in partnership with the Northampton Arts Council, with additional support from the Beveridge Family Foundation, the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Greenfield Savings Bank, the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Consortium, Mass Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services.
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact Michael Lawrence-Riddell at michael@selfevidenteducation.com or 617-869-9070.
