☀️#MUSEOFRI Summer is here!
Discover more from #MUSEofRI Digest
☀️#MUSEOFRI Summer is here!
Festivals! Poetry! Youth! Juneteenth RI! Black Philanthropy Month in August!
A Letter from Our Founder …
Greetings Supporters:
Summer is here! I am excited for Summer 2022 as I prepare for international travel for a wedding in Jamaica to a pilgrimage with my family in Cape Verde. Ironically today is Flag Day and today has me thinking about the acronym BIPOC. I am not a fan of labels, but I thought about how that acronym represents me. I am a mix of African American (?), Mashapaug Nahaganset (Browns), Cape Verdean (Gonsalves) & Bermudian (Wilsons). I tell folks I am half domestic and half import LOL, born and raised in Black Culture. This self-discovery process inspired me to continue my work in community and expand liberation through education so I no longer speak from ignorance. The ideas of forming The MUSE Foundation (MUSEOFRI), Youth Empowerment Society (YESpvd!) and my other initiatives Black Philanthropy Month RI. I wish to highlight the “B” in BIPOC. I will still represent all the others in the acronym as a person of color, but I understand the positive differences in cultures and they are too powerful to be grouped together for the sake of ease. I am proud of my mix and wish to spend the rest of my time on earth learning more about my roots and lineage. I say all this to encourage others to do the same.
I will end with this, let us as “community” celebrate our cultural differences and learn from one another to enrich, empower and equip ourselves for a better future!
Sincerely,
J’Juan
Coming of the heels of PVDFest ‘22 I am excited to see the events to come for the rest of the summer including Juneteenth this Sunday and in July Culture Fest RI in Pawtucket, RI.
In the wise words from a Verzuz Champion Jadakiss - “I’m outside!”
There is a lot going on just this week alone …
TONIGHT we have the season finale for OutSpokenPVD! Trinity Reps own Rudy Ru. Music by DJ Ladyruck and food by Chef Tarik + our signature vendors onsite! Doors at 7PM at Alchemy. Come down.
TOMORROW the Arts+Culture Community is hosting a Providence Mayoral Forum to see where this sector is going with new administration. We are co-hosting to provide a platform for the artist community as a whole to ask questions and be “proactive” to influence direction.
Also WEDNESDAY check out the Pre-Juneteenth Celebration at the Rhode Island State House at 3PM where J’Juan will speak on the push to make Juneteenth an official statewide paid holiday like Providence did for city employees in 2021 one of many efforts pushed by the AAAG.
You can help us make this a reality by signing our petition in partnership with the JuneteenthRI Committee
THURSDAY check out the Black Business Expo and the Fireside Chat segment where our founder Juan “J’Juan” Wilson Jr will be a panelist starting at 6:30PM.
NEXT UP … This Sunday is Juneteenth and there is a huge celebration in Providence. Click here for details
In July check out for the 4th of July Weekend Culture Fest RI ‘22. Click here for details
Also look out for our effort to bring Black Philanthropy Month (August) statewide as we design a campaign partnered with United Way of Rhode Island highlighting Black led orgs and demystifying “philanthropy” in our communities of color. Ask how you can support.
Youth events coming this summer YESpvd! is proud to sponsor are …
