Juneteenth: Continuing the fight for freedom
(l-r) Girl Be Heard participants, Megan F., Relwende K. and Leah F. photographed by Anthony Rojas
Dear friends,
We have a lot to celebrate in June. From Pride Month, to the return of Girl Be Heard's in-person events, such as 'Staging the Revolution 2022: Our Existence is Resistance', and our upcoming MainStage 2022 show, Voices Be Heard: The Musical. 🎉
Through Juneteenth, we're also commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Similar to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, the struggle for racial equality is far from over. Let's celebrate how far we have come while continue taking action for justice and change. Let's remain unstoppable no matter what!
In honor of Juneteenth, let's reflect:
How we can we celebrate Juneteenth without misappropriating it?
What is the role of allies when commemorating Juneteenth?
How do we go beyond social media to educate our friends, families, and loved ones about Juneteenth?
How we can make Juneteenth celebrations more accessible for disabled people?
MAINSTAGE 2022
Our biggest performance of the year, MainStage 2022, is almost here!
Come watch the premiere of VOICES BE HEARD: THE MUSICAL tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Girl Be Heard Company Members are returning live to the stage for the first time in over two years and presenting their very first full-length musical, Voices Be Heard: The Musical.
Our biggest performance of the year, MainStage 2022, is almost here!
Come watch the premiere of VOICES BE HEARD: THE MUSICAL tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Girl Be Heard Company Members are returning live to the stage for the first time in over two years and presenting their very first full-length musical, Voices Be Heard: The Musical.
Written and performed by an international cast of 11 professional young “artivists”, ages 17-24, Voices Be Heard: The Musical features original music and narratives about mental health, women’s rights, immigration, identity, justice, and issues facing our communities today.
Voices Be Heard follows the lives of six girls living separately in an old New York City apartment building, facing their own day-to-day struggles of survival in the bustling city. Caught up in their individual lives, they have become disconnected from others and even their dreams until one fateful night when a blackout strikes the building
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
STAGING THE REVOLUTION 2022:
OUR EXISTENCE IS RESISTANCE
Staging the Revolution 2022 photography by Adam Shaarani
Congratulations to GBH Programs and Education teams, including all GBH Teaching Artists and participants, and all staff for putting on an awe-inspiring and energetic show at 5 Angels Theater, Manhattan on Saturday, June 4th! If you missed it, watch the recording here.
SUMMER CAMP: GIRLS, OUTSIDE!
We are excited to announce Girl Be Heard's Summer Camp is taking place in New York City from July 18 to July 29, 2022!
Girls, Outside! Summer Camp will explore what it means to be an artivist (artist + activist) in the summer of 2022! This camp experience will consist of a series of educational site visits where students will have the opportunity to explore historical and sacred spaces in the New York area.
✅ Free admission to all sites
✅ Free lunch
✅ Free daily Metrocards
➡️ Share this opportunity with your youth networks and encourage them to sign up here: https://girlbeheard.org/summercamp
TEACHING ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
BRI NG SCHWARTZ (she/her/hers)
Bri is excited to be teaching at Girl Be Heard, as she credits the company for introducing her to feminist performance when she was an ensemble member in her teenage years.
Her work centers the inclusion and liberation of queer communities of color with accessibility at the forefront. She is committed to the dismantling of gatekeeping in arts and culture and uses her experience in education to develop meaningful partnerships.
RESOURCES FOR JUNETEENTH
Art by Anjini Maxwell via Sisters Letter
“The difference between Juneteenth and the 4th of July? Woo, girl! The fact is none of us are free till we're all free.” - Opal Lee
ACTIVIST SPOTLIGHT
Sage Dolan-Sandrino
founded TEAM Mag, a digital zine and young creative collective. Now, the Afro-Latinx activist sits on the National Black Justice Coalition's Trans Advisory Board. Sage is committed to creating community-based platforms that allow other young queer and BIPOC artists to authentically tell their stories. Read her article, “I'm a Trans Student, and the Trump Administration Memo Won't Erase Me.”
Follow Sage here.
Lillian Lennon
organized the first Pride celebration in Talkeetna, Alaska. Lillian is a conversion therapy survivor and transgender activist fighting for the LGBTQ+ community in her home state of Alaska. She was particularly influential in the campaign to defeat Proposition 1 and uphold Anchorage’s non-discrimination law for transgender people. Follow Lillian to stay up to date with her activism.
Yasmin Benoit
is a 26-year-old English model, activist, and writer. She discusses the intersectional experience of Blackness and asexuality. “Every single part of my experience being asexual has been impacted by my Blackness, from day one. As we mentioned before, if people sexualize you, then they can’t equate that with asexuality. Black people are probably the most hyper-sexualized demographic in the world.” Follow Yasmin and learn more about asexuality here.