GCA arts community youth workshop
ends with cultural presentation
GCA Caribbean Summer Workshop students perform a cultural piece on state at St. Stephens Church Hall.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life, A BQ ug. 16-23, 2019 35
By Tangerine Clarke
On Aug. 9, the curtains came down on
the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA)
Caribbean Summer Heritage Workshop
Series 2019, at St. Stephens Church Hall
in Brooklyn, where students showcased
their talents and artistic expressions
learned over a six weeks.
One of the program’s biggest supporters,
Council Member Mathieu Eugene,
stopped by to look on as students, kicked
up their heels in spirited choreography,
drumming session, piano presentation,
saxophone medley, and drama, depicting
their cultural heritage.
The politician, in whose 40th District
in Brooklyn the workshops were held,
praised the organization, especially, board
members, Claire Goring, Claire Patterson-
Monah, Dr. Juliet Emanuel and Edgar
Henry, for their steadfast commitment
to providing programs to educate community
youth.
“Thanks for the wonderful job you
are doing in this organization to help to
preserve the Guyanese culture,” said the
politician, adding, that children are the
most precious gifts from God, who need
support in whatever they do.
Eugene, also complimented parents,
whom he said worked hard to see their
children succeed.
“I commend you for putting your children
in this summer workshop. I will
continue to support this great organization,
the Guyana Cultural Association,”
he said.
Patrons had a wonderful experience
viewing the arts and craft exhibition,
where the kids had on display beaded
necklaces, handbags, scrap mats, straw
hats, and tie dye tee shirts they designed
and wore on stage during their performances.
“We come to play and grow, we want
to be the best that we can be,” said the
children who received musical instruction
under the direction of volunteers, Edgar
Henry, Hilton Hemerding, Dennis Kadan,
Winston Jeggae Hoppie, Akoyaw Rudder,
and Ron Bruce.
The choreographed pieces learned in
Mr. Clive’s classes saw difference sequences
that showcased Guyanese’s multicultural
heritage in African, Indian and Chinese.
The performers were decked out in
costumes depicting each ethnic group.
Parents, friends, and sponsor representatives
from Con Edison and Metro
Plus, enjoyed an afternoon of lively entertainment
by the youngsters who showed
off what they had learned in various
workshops.
Director of the Summer Series of workshops,
Dr. Juliet Emanuel, hopes the program
expands, to include more instruction,
is specific areas.
Experts who volunteered their time
to guide the students conducted literacybased
drama sessions, STEM, cooking
demonstration, and the arts. Interns who
come in from Guyana, Dr. Emanuel said,
set the tone for a leadership strand that
ran through the workshops.
The director proudly recalled the many
campers who started the sessions, 11
years ago, and went on to attend prestigious
learning, and musical institutions.
Some of them who came to the series
from as young as 4 years old, still attend
the program. She is confident that much
more will be done, to inspire volunteers
to join, since the program runs entirely
on charity.
Patricia Jordan-Langford president of
the Guyana tri-state alliance and GCA
board member, said the programs are
geared towards increasing the children’s
thought process.
Sessions in math ematics and English,
etiquette training, and dance, give
the children a broader scope of learning.
Over the past 11 years, Tri-State Alliance
has donated books to encourage
the children to read.
“Our main thrust is if they don’t
return they would have already had some
growth in reading, writing, and robotics
training. The small ones have grown
over the years at the camp. We have seen
a lot of progress,” said Langford.
Cultural Director, Claire Goring, said
every year the Summer Workshop series
ensures that programs are in place for
the children to learn.
“We have a lot of volunteers who give
of their time. It’s a collaborative effort
and interns play a major role. They choreographed
some of the dances for the
program.”
She noted that it was also important
to teach children about their cultural
heritage. She thanked all persons who
supported the six-week workshop that
was attended by children of Haitian, Barbadian,
and Bahamian heritage.
Counselors in-training received citations
from city council members for
their contributions made throughout
the series.
GCA promised to continue its work to
educate youngsters about their culture
through programs such as this.
A music education workshop at CGA
Cultural Center in St. Stephens Church,
Newark Avenue and 28th Street, Brooklyn,
is a yearlong program offered free of
charge, and taught by musicians in the
community.
“I encourage parents to take advantage
of this program. It teaches, violin,
piano, drumming, flute, and saxophone,”
said Goring.
A Valarie Rodway Concert, Kwe Kwe
Night, Awards Ceremony, Symposium,
and Family Day, will celebrate Folk Festival
2019.
To learn more, go to www.guyfolkfest.
org or call 718-209-5207, to connect
with GCA’s upcoming Annual Folk Festival
events.
Councilmember Matheau Eugene,center, surrounded by kids from GCA
Caribbean Summer Workshop 2019. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
/www.guyfolkfest
/www.guyfolkfest