Students, faculty and staff at Donnelly College and area artists are joining together to celebrate the contributions that black Americans make to the culture of the city and nation.
The community is invited to visit the Donnelly campus and attend or participate in three events.
Thursday, Feb. 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Donnelly College meeting room.
Hip Hop Workshop (featuring REACH)
Workshop - Reach, (born Stacy D. Smith), is a hip hop artist from Kansas City, Mo., who began writing and reciting rhymes at age 13. He utilizes what he calls “blue-collar rap,” a reality-based, personable brand of hip hop, to combat an industry saturated with negative imagery and stereotypes. Workshop participants will interact with a professional artist and have the opportunity to create original rhymes. Direct questions to Betsy Gran at bgran@donnelly.edu.
Feb. 11 – March 27, DC Community Arts Space
The Tradition Jams On: A Chronicle of Jazz with Kansas City’s Mutual Musicians Foundation
Gallery Exhibit - Kansas City is widely regarded as one of the original cradles of jazz and for nearly a century, the Mutual Musicians Foundation has served as an epicenter of musicians and entertainers who continue to keep Kansas City’s jazz legacy alive. Come hear their story. Direct questions to Andrew Julo at ajulo@donnelly.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 21 – from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Donnelly College Meeting Room
Young Jazz Masters Performance
Performance -The newest wave of jazz performers to hit Kansas City will perform. The Young Jazz Masters is an early jazz preparatory program aimed at serving youth in Kansas City who wish to further their music education and research in the fundamentals of jazz studies. The audience will hear some jazz favorites performed by talented young musicians. Performers will talk about the fundamentals of the genre. A 30-minute video highlighting the development of Kansas City-based jazz will be shown. Refreshments will be served. Direct questions to Andrew Julo at ajulo@donnelly.edu.