MCLA Expo to Celebrate the Culture of Haiti
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will celebrate the Haitian culture on Sunday, March 7, beginning at 3 p.m. in the MCLA Church Street Center.The public is invited to join members of the campus community for the Haiti Expo, a free event that will feature presentations of Haitian art, food, musical performances and speakers who will talk about Haitian art and culture, and Haiti's impact on black American culture.
Since the earthquake in January, students at the college have been involved in a number of efforts to raise money for Haiti, including those by the Department of Athletics, MassPIRG, MCLA Presents!, the Student Advisory Committee and individual students. In addition, MCLA students collaborated recently with others from Williams College to create sanitation kits for Haiti.
About a dozen Haitian students attend MCLA. According to Haitian student Nadyne Damas, a senior, the Haiti Expo will be a special event.
"Students have responded to the earthquake in Haiti to support the many people who are in need. Now, in an effort to let people into my culture and history, MCLA will hold the Haiti Expo," Damas said.
Speakers at the Expo will include Robert M. Henriquez, an art director and multimedia artist born in Haiti. He will speak on Haitian art and culture. Henriquez has worked as a field producer and director on documentaries and television commercials and serves as the creative consultant and art director for digital and print media for PB and J Partners Inc., a New York advertising, marketing and production company.
Also speaking will be Don Quinn Kelley, a professor in the school of professional studies at the City University of New York, who will discuss Haiti's impact on black Americans.
Music will be provided by BUYU — a Haitian band from Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition, MCLA student Justin Vanderpoole, a senior, will be the disc jockey, playing Haitian music selected by MCLA students. A Haitian dinner provided by Sunrise Caribbean Cuisine of Somerville will be available at 5 p.m.
