DARK DIVAS 3rd ANNUAL HOLIDAY SOIRÉE - Saturday December 1, 2012

Nu Black Arts West Theatre has been offering free academic and performing arts classes to members of our community for the past 17 years. The academic classes were added within the past two years due to the elimination of Seattle Public Summer School programs. We have seen success with our programs because of donations and fund raisiers. Our annual Dark Divas Holiday Soiree and our performances at the Triple Door have made it possible to raise the needed funds to make these events possible. Following is the announcement, please help us continue our efforts to help strengthen our communities.

NU BLACK ARTS WEST THEATRE
PRESENTS
DARK DIVAS 3rd ANNUAL HOLIDAY SOIRÉE
Saturday December 1, 2012

Happy Holidays "Dark Divas" are celebrating early and we invite you our friends and family to our Holiday Soirée. This will be an evening of holiday magic, good music and great company. We'll dance the night away with Catherina Brown and the Styles of Steppin Performers, Special guest appearance ... 
by Josie Howell, Adrain Sims, Afua Ndiaye, Danny Walsh and a host of other great talents. 

Special guests bring a host of musical selections that will warm the heart. Songs like: This Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas.... Please come and enjoy this evenings live performances. Let's parlay at the Hiawatha Arts Space 843 Hiawatha pl so. at 8:00p.m. Suggested donation is $20.00 at the door. 

Tickets also available at Brown Paper Tickets. Donations are for our intercity youth scholarships program. Please RSVP soon            206-329-3328      . 

BYOB the food will be, fantastic! Catering by Bridgette Washington Fun! Prizes! And a best dressed prize winning contest!!!!!!!

Sharon N. Williams Joins the CD Forum Family

Received Friday, November 16, 2012

Sharon N. Williams Joins the CD Forum Family

After a long search and many quality applicants, we are thrilled to announce Sharon N. Williams is joining CD Forum as the new managing director. Sharon will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as major components of grants management, development and community engagement. She begins her new position on January 7, 2013.

  

"Sharon brings substantial management skills from both the business and arts worlds," said board president, Mark Griffin. "When combined with her genuine passion for the arts, Sharon really embodies the values CD Forum embraces in presenting and producing dynamic performing arts and humanities programs."

Sharon is the founder of the Mahogany Project, a local theater and film production company, and holds both a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters of Fine Arts.

Join us in welcoming Sharon N. Williams to the CD Forum family and her new leadership role.

WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL

This is what we need to say:

Dear Council member ( Enter Name),

I am writing in regards to The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.
I am asking as a citizen and a voter of the City of Seattle that as you deliberate on the 2013 budget, you:

1.  Support full funding for The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (LHPAC) in the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs (OACA).


2.  Not support another study or support a stakeholder's group to advise on, review or oversee the operations of Langston Hughes.  The leadership at Langston Hughes is unparalleled in their qualifications to execute the mission of the LHPAC to the benefit of this TOTAL community. 


3.  The admissions tax funding is the correct funding source for LHPAC and should be continued.

Send each council member their own message.  Send to:

Council President Sally Clark             206-684-8802      

sally.clark@seattle.gov

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw             206-684-8801      

sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov

Councilmember Tim Burgess             206-684-8806      

tim.burgess@seattle.gov

Councilmember Richard Conlin             206-684-8805      

richard.conlin@seattle.gov

Councilmember Jean Godden             206-684-8807      

jean.godden@seattle.gov

Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell             206-684-8804      

bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

Councilmember Nick Licata             206-684-8803      

nick.licata@seattle.gov

Councilmember Mike O’Brien             206-684-8800      

mike.obrien@seattle.gov

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen             206-684-8808      

tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

When I am asked why, I say the following.  I am tired of my culture and my art not being included, respected or treated as an equal as any culture's art.  Further, I am highly incensed that the comments and actions from key staff, as reported by the Seattle Times, seemed to go out of their way to imply that my art is NOT AS GOOD AS THEIR ART! 

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (LHPAC) is more than just a physical facility. To a large number of us, it is a symbol that represents the spirituality and culture of a people that called the Central Area home for decades.

The Central Area became the center for art, commerce, education and religion for many of us who lived and still live here. The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center building is one of the last remaining structures in this community that represents the cultural aspirations of many people who were the heart and soul of Seattle itself. The building is also a symbol to those who deeply feel the need to fight for the preservation for that which is left of the physical presence of the history and art of the Central Area Community. It is hoped that the City Council also understands this and realizes the importance of this great facility and the significance the LHPAC vision and mission have to the Seattle community as a whole.