In 2010, Elaine Richardson began an after-school membership at a center college on Columbus’ East Aspect.
The Ohio State College literacy research professor centered this system towards Black women, with actions starting from singing alongside to Beyonce songs, creating varied forms of artwork, and analyzing the illustration of girls and women in fashionable tradition.
“The women actually stepped as much as the plate, regardless that they had been simply sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade women,” Richardson, 62, mentioned. “They actually bought into being invested in coming each week and writing poetry and doing dances. I might give them artistic ways in which they may categorical and be taught.”
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However after 5 years, the East Aspect resident was able to broaden her imaginative and prescient to a bigger viewers. That led to the creation of an arts nonprofit, Education Foundation For Freedom, which helps women and girls in undeserved areas of Columbus, in keeping with its web site.
Richardson then created the occasion Girls and Women’ Recognition Day in 2017, which has since modified its identify to the Columbus Girls and Women’ Fest.
When will the Girls and Women’ Fest occur?
This yr’s occasion will happen from midday to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Maroon Arts Group Box Park, 925 Mount Vernon Ave. The free competition will function meals vehicles, distributors from feminine companies, an artwork station and music from rapper Sa-Roc, who has shared the stage with hip-hop acts comparable to Common and De La Soul. Council president Shannon Hardin and council member Shayla Favor can even be in attendance.
As well as, free lunch might be offered for the primary 40 pre-registrants, and free books will given away whereas provides final.
Messages of empowerment are vital
The competition not solely options enjoyable actions comparable to dwell music and a kids’s play space, but in addition the chance to be taught one thing new.
In the course of the out of doors portion of this yr’s occasion, an interactive “lunch and be taught” might be held, titled “Educating Black Women.” Richardson mentioned the workshop might be hosted by Schooling Basis For Freedom’s schooling chair Alice Ragland and three panelists: Shemariah Arki, an assistant professor within the division of Africana Research at Kent State College; Eryn Hathaway, the chief director of Columbus-based group Eryn PiNK Ltd. and Treva Lindsey, a Professor of Girls’s, Gender, and Sexuality Research at Ohio State.
“They will be speaking concerning the data that they’ve about how greatest to show good Black women,” Richardson mentioned.
Night occasions to happen on the Lincoln Theatre
The celebration will then transfer indoors to the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Lengthy St., from 6 to eight:30 p.m., with poetry displays, a efficiency from Urban Strings, and a efficiency from Grammy-nominated singer Mumu Fresh, who has labored with artists comparable to The Roots and Bruno Mars.
“It is vital for our younger individuals to grasp the significance of (Black) girls and women in our neighborhood as a result of a number of instances, we’re not getting the fairness,” Richardson mentioned. “We do not essentially get the pay that we deserve, the entry that individuals want, the mentoring, the assist to empower themselves and their neighborhood. So, I might love individuals to be part of it.”
Pageant to carry a mixture of studying and enjoyable
On the Lincoln Theatre, attendees can anticipate to listen to poetry from the Black Women Rise Poetry Collective and see a scholarship presentation by Ragland, with three excessive college students receiving school scholarships. Richardson will then current an Unsung Hero award, which matches to a girl or lady of colour locally with a incapacity, she mentioned.
“My hopes are for individuals to come back, to share their love, their assist and simply share in a day of celebrating girls, women and gender-expansive individuals of colour,” Richardson mentioned.
Individuals can register for the event on Eventbrite.
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