Telling one’s Truth
On The Flip: I See Color is a project of EmbraceRace, Good Talk Media, Valley Voices Story Slam and Amherst Media celebrating storytelling about race and identity.
The creators are working towards building a culture of live storytelling that features those whose perspectives rarely appear in the public square, and supporting them to tell the stories they want to tell, rather than the stories we think we want to hear. Those may be stories of racism and oppression, bias and hardship; they may also be stories of joy, family, friendship and community, resistance, resilience and laugh-out-loud humor. Telling our own stories as we experience them gives us the freedom to share ourselves with the world and broaden understanding.
The theme for this year’s event is “I See Color,” and features approximately eight storytellers in a non-competitive, community-building environment, telling their own stories as they experience them. Admission is free, though a donation of $10 or $20 is appreciated and will help cover the cost of producing this nonprofit event; 50% of the amount donated will benefit the Franklin County People’s Fund. Space is limited and reservations are encouraged.
The event will be held at The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.
WinterFest for Family Fun
The 7th Annual Easthampton WinterFest will be held on Saturday in locations throughout the city. This family-friendly event includes an historical ice harvest, wagon rides, a vendor craft fair with more than 90 participants, dance and music parties, art-making, a family movie, chili cook-off, scavenger hunt, nature walks, cupcake decorating, magic shows, public mural making, and more – most definitely something for everyone.
Most activities are free or by a small donation – the event is the biggest fundraiser of the year to help support the Nashawannuck Pond, an historic resource in the city. A detailed list of activities is available at nashawannuckpond.org/winterfest.
People may park at the Municipal Lot at 50 Payson Ave. for easy access to the Nashawannuck Pond; at Cottage Street Studios; Easthampton High School parking lot, behind the building at Keystone Mill, in front of Eastworks; and there is free on street parking on Union and Cottage Streets.
Easthampton WinterFest is organized by the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee and is made possible by the support of local businesses, community members and volunteers who make the event a success.
— Brenda Nelson