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By : Emma Burke
5 min read
Elevated Thought is an art and social justice 501(c)(3) based in Lawrence, Massachusetts working to develop spaces for BIPOC youth and communities to engage and understand art’s liberating power. This February, ET has curated a series of free offerings meant to honor Black creatives, educators, and cultural practitioners. The following events are not to be missed!
Colao En Lawrence Opening Reception + Artist Talk
2/3 from 6PM - 8:30PM
Local artist and educator Erick Maldonado introduces a visual influence of the Dominican diaspora in the City of Lawrence. In his contemporary works, Madlonado displays what he calls ‘COLAO EN LAWRENCE,’ which translates to ‘to sift in Lawrence.’Erick focuses on the cultural aspects of the area, popular pastimes, local folklore, and the unique dialect of his people.
Afro-Latinidad: Building Community Within a Racially Diverse City
2/11 from 6PM - 8PM
We will explore Afro-Latinidad and folks’ experiences and understandings of race and ethnicity. Some of the main ideas we will consider include: (1) identity and its impact on how we interact with each other, (2) anti-blackness in Latine culture and how it manifests and maintains itself, (3) steps we can take as a community to address this reality.
Teaching for Equity & Justice
2/28 from 6PM - 7:30PM
Lorena Escoto Germán will be facilitating a conversation about anti-bias and anti-racist instruction. She grounds both of these concepts in culturally sustaining pedagogies (Alim, Paris) and will offer thorough reflection questions for practitioners to apply as they plan and prepare for teaching.
These are just a few of the events ET will be hosting! Check out their Instagram (@elevated_thought) and/or website (elevatedthought.org) to find out more. If you have any accommodation needs or general questions, please contact our Social Justice Strategist, Emma Burke (emma@elevatedthought.org)
Originally published in-print in Boston Compass Newspaper #154 February 202
Check out all the art and columns of February's Boston Compass at www.issuu.com/bostoncccompass