It was no surprise that BUSD’s second annual Black History Oratorical Fest on March 26 won warm and enthusiastic audience applause as well as heartfelt praise and appreciation at the next day’s School Board meeting.
The performances by elementary and secondary students in the Longfellow auditorium – many featuring original compositions – were powerful expressions of confronting injustice with strength and pride, vividly displaying the poise, talent and awareness of important issues possessed by BUSD youth.
School Board Vice President Beatriz Leyva-Cutler spoke movingly at the March 27 meeting of the extraordinary performances and the excitement in the audience.“It was just a great example of our students’ energy, creativity, their voice, the inspiration they carry with them. There was a light that shined brightly in all the students that performed.” Board member Ka’Dijah Brown, who served as a contest judge, called the Fest “one of the jewels of the District.”
Board members and Superintendent Evans expressed appreciation to the BUSD Office of Family Engagement and Equity (OFEE), particularly to OFEE Supervisor Ann Marie Callegari, for organizing the event, and to the many community partners who helped support it. Ms. Callegari singled out the generous financial support of the Berkeley Public Schools Fund, as well as support from the PTAs at Berkeley Arts Magnet and Rosa Parks.
Congratulations to all of the students who participated for their accomplishments. And special congratulations to the winners, a list of whom can be accessed online.
Here are few glimpses of the Fest:
Left – Elementary school contest judges (left to right): Elaine Saeturn, 1st United Services Credit Union: Erin Rhoades, Berkeley Public Schools Fund; Bishop Kelly Woods, Covenant Worship Center; Paula Phillips, Past President, BCCE; and Ka’Dijah Brown, School Board member. Right – secondary school judges (left to right): Al Dominguez, BUSD community member; Duffy Ross, Berkeley Public Schools Fund; Linda Halpern, NAACP Berkeley chapter; Karen Hemphill, former School Board member; and Michael Carpenter, The Way Christian Center. (Photos: Mark Coplan)