USM Multicultural Student Affairs and high school students from around Portland will come together in celebration of Black History Month to spread the message of non-violence. Each year the MSA develops a new theme to honor Black History Month. This year the celebration is all about bringing the community together. “The Beloved Community: Nurturing the Dream for Portland’s Communities” will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at USM’s Hannaford Lecture Hall in the Abromson Community Education Center in Portland.
The theme was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beloved Community” – a phrase he used to describe a diverse community that has been united by non-violent means. The theme is not the only change of celebration this year; this is the first time the Black History Month celebration is being put on by students. Several different high schools and groups from around Portland are coming to perform. USM Multicultural Student Affairs and high school students from the award-winning WMPG Blunt Youth Radio project will host.
Performers will use spoken word, dance, and musical performances to present what they believe is important in the community. “We wanted to empower the youth members of the community to [find out] how they see Portland,” says Reza Jalali, director of Multicultural Student Affairs. Jalali said USM needs to do a better job connecting with the community and that they wanted to show how diverse Portland has become.”As a community we are falling apart.”
Jalali said he often speaks to young people, but this event will give a chance for students to speak for themselves about what they really think. “Sometimes they’re not being heard,” he said. USM students reached out to area high schools and listened to what the high school students wanted to do for this event.
Many of the performances deal with what students are feeling every day. Bonny Eagle High School drama club will be performing excerpts from “City of Karima,” a play about identity and invisibility. Mustafa, a junior education major can relate. “It’s a big college and you can feel lost. It’s important to feel part of the community,” he said.
Jalali said they wanted to reach out to a diverse group of area high schools for the event. Casco Bay High School students who have been involved in the Boys to Men program will present a project aimed at reducing sexual violence. Other students from the Casco Bay High school, along with the Preble Street Resource Center will showcase the Gimme Shelter project, featuring interviews with homeless people. Youth Writing Project will share examples of stories written by school children in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. Other performers involved are, Falmouth High School, Maine Youth Interfaith Alliance, Center for African Heritage Organic Farming Youth Project, USM students, Bates College students, and participants from the NAACP Community Writing Project.
Blunt Youth Radio will stage a live radio “broadcast.” The members, called “blunters,” are from different area high schools. Blunt Youth Radio will interview performers to hear what their idea of a “Beloved Community” truly about.
This event is entirely youth-run and youth-focused, but organizers encouraged everyone in the local community to attend. Susan Evans, coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs said these acts will “entice a nice discussion on stage.”
——–
There will be a reception with light refreshments before the program from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.