The  stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story.                                                          

Michael Margolis

Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act.

Join us for an exploration of Afrofuturism.

Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science, and history that incorporates elements of science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and Afrocentrism.  It's often used to refer to literature, music, and visual art.  It examines the past, questions the present, and imagines an optimistic future.   It's meant to inspire a sense of pride in its audience and connect people from the Black diaspora with their forcibly suppressed African ancestry.

“Afrofuturists reimagine old gods and journey beyond colonial borders, space, and time. They choreograph new movements together and reexamine traditional narratives, excavating the past to observe the rhythms of our present. With an eye toward the future and an ear for the songs and lessons of the past, they are conspirators of hope. They collaborate to bring focus to the problems that challenge us, while being mindful and intentional about creating new pathways and solutions for growth and future journeying.”     Sheree Renée Thomas

"Afrofuturism is a way of looking at the future and alternate realities through a Black cultural lens. Black cultural lens means the people of the African continent in addition to the Diaspora, the Americas, Europe, etc. It is an artistic aesthetic, but also a kind of method of self-liberation or self-healing. It can be part of critical race theory and in other respects its an epistemology as well. It intersects the imagination, technology, Black culture, liberation, and mysticism. An an artistic aesthetic it bridges literature, music, visual arts, film, and dance. As a mode of self-healing and self-liberation, it's the use of imagination that is most significant because it helps people to transform their circumstances. Imagining oneself in the future creates agency and it's significant because historically people of African descent were not always incorporated into many of the storylines about the future." 

Ytasha Womack

All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.
 J.M. Barrie

Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships.

Stephen Covey

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Pledge campaign kick-off.

Dutchess Community College Faculty member Patricia Healey will explore manifestations of the femnine divine, including the Eleusinian Mysteries, a pre-Christian tradition.

New Middle Class is Barbara Borok (lead vocal) and songwriter Mike Borok (guitar/vocal).  Their award-winning music has been played on over 60 radio stations world-wide.  Intertwined musically and romantically for too many years, Barbara and Mike sing about relationships and current events gone awry, the origin of the universe, life, death, and dessert.

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.

Rabindranath Tagore

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I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Albert Einstein

Please join us for a multigenerational celebration of the world of imagination!

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For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

Nelson Mandela

Transgender elders coun't survive the box in which they wre born. Sterling Cruz-Herr will share insights from seven trans eleders who managed to not only surviv but to thrive. Topics include the freedom to be true selves, opportunities for intergenerational connection, the power and pitfalls of being role models, and commitment to on-going evolution. The stories of how they fought their way out are as individual as they are, but e power of their eldership is universal. 

Before launching Transclue (a trans-owned coaching, training, and consulting company), Sterling Cruz-Herr served as chief engagement officer of SAGE (a national nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ elders), was a grant-maker at the Chicago Community Trust, and taught nonprofit management at DePaul University. Sterling is also a budding woodworker.

A songwriter of great depth and passion, Reggie Harris writes from a personal sense of mission that merges a world wise point of view with a singularly hopeful stance that life, though often challenging, is filled with possibility and hope. His songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history.

June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27, August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25

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