aaduna 6th annual fundraiser, “Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance,” Thursday, Ocbober 27, 2022, Carriage House Theater, Auburn. NY (left to right) Vanessa Johnson, Howard Nelson, Lu Highsmith, Cyd Charisse Fulton, Luisa Aparisi-França, Chantel Frazier, Karen Faris, bill berry, jr. aka “Big Daddy Beaujolais.”
After an hiatus of three years due to the impact of the pandemic, aaduna returned to the Carriage House Theater with its fundraising gala that celebrated words, music and the unique relationship that should always be celebrated between creative artists and their audience. Harkening back to the ambiance, style, and nuances of the Harlem Renaissance, when and where creatives presented their work in various parlor rooms in Strivers’ Row brownstones, juke joints, clandestine speakeasies, after hour cubs as well as walk-up tenement rent parties. In all such situations, the artists had an interlocking relationship with their audience and supporters. Interestingly, Thursdays were the night-off for Black domestics who invariably framed their time to relax, party and become more then society’s disregarded citizens; citizens who could not see Black performers in Harlem clubs due to racial discrimination. aaduna has always been mindful of presenting ourstory; told our way; in our voices. Steeped in that spirit, the fundraiser has always been convened on a Thursday.
And if creatives are in fact “cultural workers” as defined by Amiri Baraka (aka LeRoi Jones,) their traceable legacy can easily be traced back to the ferocious, steadfast determination of Harriet Tubman and her freedom fortified spirit that still permeates 21st century society. There is a resiliency and fortitude that creatives and especially poets, writers and musicians bring to their work even if those characteristics are deeply held in the sub-consciousness.
An aaduna event recognizes and upholds generational, centuries-old legacies and such emboldening characteristics remain in the forefront of public events that embolden Tubman’s influence and ongoing transcendental commitment to the creative vitality of her “descendants,” the perennial elders of the Harlem Renaissance. The evening’s event was dedicated to the memories of two creative literary giants, Jackie Warren-Moore, poet, writer, activist and Charles Seabe Banks, poet, writer and visual artist.
With a multi-cultural racial and ethnic mix, intergenerational and gender diverse audience of approximately 75-80 participants, 2022 event supporters were from Rochester, Syracuse, Auburn, and various towns of Cayuga County supplemented by a small representation from Ithaca and other adjacent Tompkins County communities.
The gala was not a banquet with streamers from the ceiling, balloon centerpieces on tables, open bars, silent auctions, sparkling gowns and chic business menswear. {An aaduna gala celebrates the connectiveness that exists between creatives and their audience.}It was an event of camaraderie and listening; handclapping and finger snaps; eloquent words and rhythmic live music. It was a literary and music-driven event that is not easily replicated in the traditional way that poetry readings are presented. This gala presented creatives whose words are not normally heard or recognized in Auburn. The featured poets and writers, the creative wordsmiths were
Chantel Frazier
Cyd Charisse Fulton
Howard Nelson
Lu Highsmith
Karen Faris
Vanessa Johnson
Luisa Aparisi-França
The evening’s musical director was The Berny Williford and his six-piece Band
And making his return as MC was New Orleans styled
Big Daddy Beaujolais
All creatives feted the
aaduna 6th Annual Fundraiser
After the audience departed the cabaret style theater set-up, an ongoing aaduna tradition happened.
The creatives celebrated each other by riffing thru new pieces; stringing together poignant words against the backdrop of free-form musical pieces. Without notice and as a surprise, the band celebrated Cyd Charisse Fulton’s mention of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” by telling her the next song was for her. And then the musicians rendered an unexpected and powerful vocal styling of Cooke’s classic song. After that performance, and then with the urging of bandmates, drummer Jamar Lacey ripped into the vocals of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” as homage to Howard Nelson’s poem where Nelson explored the monumental significance of Otis Redding and that particular Redding hit song on Nelson’s development as a person. Jamar initially protested and declined the urging to perform the song because he could not sing.
Jamar can sing!!!
The 2022 Gala Poets and Writers
Luisa Aparisi-França is a queer, non-binary Latinx writer from Miami, FL currently living in Scottdale, GA. Georgia. Her pronouns are she/they. She comes from a family that is Spanish and Brazilian and being raised in the US was a huge culture shock to the collectivist values they were taught. As a third culture kid, and someone who, for the most part, Luisa slides in and out of confines, and seeks to use language as a way of bridging divides. Her poems explore transitions, transformations, community, deconstruction, family, love, obligation, and the spaces we constantly create with each decision and interaction.
Howard Nelson has lived in Cayuga County since 1970 when he moved to the Finger Lakes region to take a faculty position at Cayuga Community College, an institution he retired from with the rank of professor emeritus. His new collection of poems, “The Need Is Great,” is due out in 2023. Nelson has appeared at every aaduna fundraiser since the galas were conceived. His poems have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies and read on Garrison Keillor’s “Writer’s Almanac.” All the Earthly Lovers: Selected & New Poems was published in 2014.
Chantel Frazier is an emerging African American poet, born and raised in Syracuse, New York. After her high school graduation in 2013, she enrolled at Onondaga Community College, SUNY where she completed courses in English, public speaking, general psychology, and American sign language. In 2014, she left college to join the workforce as a certified nurse’s aide to support her family. Understanding the public’s negative attitudes towards her Syracuse community, she decided to “speak” from an unbiased point of view. Frazier’s poetry has found a home and her work will debut in the winter 2022-23 issue of aaduna.
Cyd Charisse Fulton is editorial assistant at Black Renaissance Noire, Institute of African American Affairs at NYU and founder of Emphat!c Press. A 2012 Pushcart Prize nominee, her work is featured in several publications, literary journals and she has published two chapbooks. Cyd was the speaker at the 2013 100th Anniversary Harriet Tubman recognition in Auburn. In 2018, her poetry manuscript “Equitable Rage” was read at “Fierce” co-sponsored by the National Park Service and aaduna and convened at the National Women’s Rights Historical Park in Seneca Falls, NY.
Lu Highsmith, designated slam Master for Rochester, NY’s first adult slam team, Roc Bottom Slam Poets, has published two books of poetry, "Vicissitudes: The Ups and Downs of Life" in 2008 and "Ascension into Love" in 2010. In 2012, Lu joined forces with her Grammy-nominated musician husband, Jimmie Highsmith Jr. on her first spoken word CD titled, “Ascension.” Performing in the 2018 Rochester Fringe Festival, 2019 Women’s Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, her poems have been published in several journals. Awarded the 2018 “Big Pencil” award from Rochester’s Writers & Books for inspiring literature among young people, Lu can be reached at www.lucreations.net for further information.
Karen Faris, poet, writer, visual/mixed media, and performing artist uses words as her primary medium of artistic expression. She has authored "Grumbles the Novel;" chapbooks “A Few Poems,” “The Strings of Motherhood, The Artist Book,” Before There Was Yonder” and “The Death of Compassion,” a 2020 chapbook, her work has appeared in several journals and literary sites. Her performance piece, “Aliens Like Us” was performed at ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse, NY in 2017; reformatted, and presented as a full theatrical production at the Fringe Festival in Rochester, NY in 2019. Karen has exhibited her artwork at the 2018 Albany Gallery Members and the Cayuga Museum in 2019.
Vanessa Johnson is a playwright, writer, poet, storyteller in the West African tradition, fiber artist, consultant, activist educator, and musician with her literary band, Matie Masie. Her play, “Doors,” was presented in 2014 by the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company of Syracuse. She is finalizing a new play, “Bar Codes,” which tackles human trafficking, a novel, and children’s book series. Teaching storytelling she uses her voice and art works to explore social justice movements and traditional stories of Africa. Ms. ,Johnson integrated and read her poems as part of her first solo quilt show, ‘Unwrapping Vanessa” at Syracuse’s ArtRage Gallery in 2017. Her 2019 visits to Ghana led to an official tribal leadership role.
The 2022 Gala Musicians:
Bernard Williford, a multi-instrumentalist keyboardist, plays bass, guitar, flute, trumpet and can lay down a mean set of vocals, was musical director for aaduna’s 2022 gala fundraiser where he played with members of his former group, Trumptight 315. Berny currently works for Syracuse University’s after school program; serves as minister of music for the Salvation Army Citadel, and also is the music producer for "Mate Masie" along with Vanessa Johnson. He has with major international groups such as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool & the Gang, Parliament Funkadelic, as well as the playing at the New York State Fair for 10 years. He can be reached at bernywilliford@gmail.com
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Jamar Lacey, drummer, has been playing out with his father James Lacey since the age of 19.
Jamar developed a passion for playing drums in the church and also from his participation in a 6th grade band. He has played with several bands in the Syracuse area including Rodney King's Nightlife and Sammy award winning Stevie Wolf and The Blues Express band. Jamar is one the founders of the Syracuse, NY top band, Trumptight 315.
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Don Clark born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania is the second of 10 boys and his oldest brother was the bass player for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes for 25 years before passing away in 2008. Don has played with some of the finest musicians and bands in the Philly area, Syracuse and is currently playing guitar and musical director for Trumptight 315. Don has also been and still is the front man and guitar player for the Bobby Green's band, A Cut Above.
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Belinda Jones started singing as a young child in church and from there she began singing in an all-ladies group called, Ladies of Soul. For the past 10 years, Belinda has been singing as the lead female singer alongside her husband, the male lead singer Eric Love Jones, in the band Trumptight 315. Ms. Jones states, “ I love singing and I will continue to share my gift by the grace of my mother to the world!”
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James Lacey better known as Pop has been the bass player for Trumptight 315 for the pass 7 - 8 years. James has resided in Syracuse for the past thirty years and has been playing bass probably for the same length of time. And in his humble and gracious manner and style states, I am also glad to be a part of this special occasion. Thank you.”
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Eric Jones was a special surprise vocalist for the gala.
