Still I Rise Freedom Festival
FREE Community Engagement at Glover School
Complimentary Pizza by Parker Pie and Cheese by Jasper Hill
Meet the Artists:
Koa Phoenix
Original singer / songwriter from the NEK
Didê Capoeira
With roots stretching from Africa to Brazil, Capoeira is a martial art form blending elements of music and dance with the strength, skill and defense techniques of a martial art.
Julio Desmont
Vermont based visual artist’s journey began in Haiti in his early childhood observing trogon birds and ridding on Taptaps. Later on inspired by Jean Michel Basquiat, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso whose inspirations went back to Africa. He will be leading community mural project.
Jolivette Anderson
aka ‘the poet warrior’ teaches History at St. Michael’s College, focusing on African American lived experiences in segregated neighborhoods. I am a Theater Artist and I am a Performance Poetry/Spoken Word Artist.
SOCA Chris
Growing up in Haiti, Chris has been spreading love, joy and togetherness with upbeat Soul of Calypso music in the greater Burlington area.
Toussaint St. Negritude
Afrofuturist / Oro-shamanic poet and bass clarinetist Toussaint St. Negritude dually conjures the lyric timbre of both his horn and verse, creating his own collaborative ceremony of empathic wonders.
Bonisiwe Luthuli
My dance has evolved into both Ancient (including ancestral South Africa) and modern day spiritual practices such as 5 Rhythms (earth, water, fire, air and spirit), Moon/Earth dances, embodiment and meditation. When I dance, I bring honor, ritual, flow and true joy.
Isaac Owusu
Director of Community Engagement and Support at Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
Saudia LaMont
Graduate of Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion program, Leadership Lamoille, Bright Leadership Institute, Recovery Coach Academy, and hold a host of other certifications and skills that I incorporate into my transformative justice work.
Jeh Kulu
Dance and Drum Theater invite you to join us in celebration through traditional West African music and dance. In the Bambara language of Mali, “Jeh Kulu” means “community” and this is exactly what we hope to build with our audiences!
Zoraya Hightower
Burlington Ward 1 City Councilor
A2VT
Representing Somalia, Congo, Tanzania and Burundi and currently living in Burlington, Vermont, A2VT synthesizes their native African musical and dance roots with Western pop and Hip Hop sensibilities. Their songs, performed in up to eight unique languages, reflect their journey from Africa to America, and celebrate the musical collision of two continents and the party that ensues!
Abizo
Congolese rapper, singer and songwriter with specialty in French Trap music.
SINNN
Edwin Owusu, better known by his stage name SINNN, has been a mainstay in Burlington, Vermont’s music scene since 2001. As a Hip-hop and Afrobeat artist, his music is composed of shareable moments from his journey disseminated to audiences through meticulous attention to detail.
KeruBo
Ssinger/song-writer and Afro-Jazz artist, born in Kendu Bay, Kenya who now lives in the Burlington, Vermont area. KeruBo is engaged in social work as a case manager at a local NGO, which is focused on helping refugees.
Omega Jade
Mom, Spoken Word Artist, Poet, EMCEE, Teaching Artist
King Mecca
Vermont’s RING OF COMEDY Presents The FUNNIEST URBAN COMEDIAN In The Region
Glover Equity and Exclusive Vermont Events Present
July 22nd, 2023 at Glover School
Starts at Noon – Full Schule:
| Early 12-2pm | Artist | Talent |
| 12 – 12:30 | Koa Phoenix | Singer / Songwriter |
| 12:30 – 1 | Didê Capoeira | Afro Brazilian Dance |
| 1 – 3 | Julio Desmont | Haiti Abstract Visual Art |
| 1 – 1:30 | Jolivette Anderson | Poetry / Spoken Word |
| 1:30 – 2 | SOCA Chris | Haiti Soul of Calypso Dance |
| Middle 2-4pm | Artist | Talent |
| 2 – 2:30 | Toussaint St. Negritude | Afrofuturist Poetry / Bass Clarinet |
| 2:30 – 3 | Bonisiwe | South African Elemental Dance |
| 3 – 3:45 | Saudia LaMont, Isaac Owusu, Toussaint St. Negritude, Zoraya Hightower | Panel Discussion on Freedom |
| 3:45- 4:15 | Jeh Kulu | Mali Drumming and Dance |
| Late 4:30-7pm | Artist | Talent |
| 4:30 – 5 | A2VT | Somalia / Tanzania / Burundi / Congo Afrobeat |
| 5 – 5:30 | Abizo | Congo French Trap |
| 5:30 – 6 | SINNN | Ghana Hip Hop |
| 6 – 6:45 | Kerubo | Kenya Jazz |
| Comedy Club | Artist | |
| 7 – 7:30 | Zoraya Hightower | |
| Omega Jade | ||
| King Mecca |
