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By Reza Corinne Clifton

(This article appeared in the Providence American Newspaper)

PROVIDENCE, RI- As June 19 approaches, various activities and multiple groups are being finalized to participate in the annual commemoration called Juneteenth. June 19 or Juneteenth is internationally recognized as the day of emancipation from slavery in the U.S. Each year it is recognized and celebrated all over the world, including here in Providence, and this year is no different.

On Saturday June 18, a number of organizations will host events to observe what is the 140th anniversary of emancipation, including The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, IndiGenius Works, and Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. Another group signed up is the fresh, multicultural, sketch comedy troupe called In House Freestyle (IHF).

IHF is a collective of socially conscious artists that are committed to community awareness and social change through public performance. Ranging in age from 16-27 members consist of Trina Korlie (TK), Yakim Parker (Lyrical One), Jon Mahone (Jbro), Ghislaine Jean (Tiger Lily) and Johnny Brathwaite (Lion). In performing, IHF showcases sketch comedy, improvisation, dance, music, poetry and direct social commentary with the goal of educating audiences regardless of background and age.

Their past venues suggest that they have been successful at reaching a broad audience, for they have performed at The People’s School in South Providence, Johnson and Whales University, Brown University and Bryant University. Additionally, this past January they opened for the Rhode Island Black Storytellers’ annual Funda Fest, while I caught their May 16 show at the Providence Black Repertory Company.

Impressed, with the laughter they evoked from myself and the other audience members, with their ability to maintain humor alternating between movement-based and dialogue-based sketches, and with the professionalism and confidence exuded by each ensemble member, I pursued an opportunity to chat with one of the members, Ghislaine Jean, to uncover more details about IHF.

RCC: At the performance I caught, you addressed Armageddon, exploiting Black culture, and the 13th amendment, and more plus you had some just plain silly skits with Hood Morning America and the funny breakdancing contest. What other themes or topics have you dealt with?

GJ: That’s hard, because each show is different, and because we don’t necessarily have a “theme.” Monday’s show was definitely an exception [all of the skits were very different], but we usually have some kind of idea that is reiterated through out the sketches. I guess during election season, one theme that emerged in our performances was that of the disenfranchisement of Black citizens. And at our next performance, we may deal some with Juneteenth to mark the occasion. Overall, though, every show is socially conscious and informative especially about the inner city.

RCC: How often do you all rehearse normally, and how often do you rehearse prior to a performance?

GJ: We regularly meet twice a week, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a week before a show, we may add an extra rehearsal or two. Most of it is improv though.

RCC: How was In House Freestyle formed?

GJ: The group was initially formed 2 summers ago for our [Mahone and Jean’s] friends, while the second wave was brought back because of the interest of 16 year old Met High School student TK. Before the creation of each group, we held rehearsals, even for our friends. The reality is that some people are funny, and some people are socially conscious. The deciding factor was can you be both? The other aspect of it was can you click with us? Because some of us were friends and we already had chemistry, it was a question of can you click with these other people.

RCC: I find it amazing that you have someone as young as 16 and someone as old as 27 working together so successfully. Performance-wise, you could not distinguish TK from the others. How is it that even with the age differences, and even though a 16 year old is going through completely different things than a 27 year old, how does the ensemble work so well together?

GJ: Well, there is no downplay of anyone’s intelligence, and we each appreciate what everyone brings to the table. Plus TK [the youngest] is really talented and sophisticated. Lastly, everyone has respect for the work and in the end realizes that nothing is more important than the work.

RCC: Do you plan to invite others to join the group?

GJ: Definitely! We’re actually losing a cast member right now, and that’s the just the way it works. We understand when you have other responsibilities like work and stuff, and we’ve lost and replaced members before. We always have an eye out for people who click really well with the group. We’re like a family, so people also need to get along outside of rehearsal. We’re also looking for management crew, and just others who want to help out. That said, the cast has to remain small. I mean, we’re open, but also precautious about who’s coming aboard. This is related to the size of the venues we’ve done, but it’s also related to creative control. Fewer minds mean that we’re all staying in line, and means that the work and the message can be consistent. It also means that we can keep closer control over spontaneity, which can get overbearing with many people.

RCC: Do you feel that your work falls in line with other Providence Renaissance artistic/cultural elements? That is, has the larger Providence art community embraced In House Freestyle?

GJ: No, they haven’t. Primarily that’s because they’re unaware. There are few sketch comedy improve groups here, and none do what In House Freestyle does. Plus, other comedy groups are doing it just for the laughter, while we are equally targeting providing information, especially to People of Color and people that are more economically challenged.

RCC: Do you guys have, or can you easily identify any influences?

GJ: Definitely: people like Richard Pryor, Eddy Murphy, and even contemporarily, Dave Chapelle, plus the show In Living Color. We all grew up watching and taking in these great Black comedians, and there is nothing in RI that speaks to this legacy. In House is trying to revitalize that legacy of ours.

You can catch In House Freestyle performing next at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 18 at the Met School’s Black Box Theatre.

For more information about In House Freestyle, contact Ghislaine Jean at (401) 286-7675, by emailing ghislainejean@hotmail.com , or by visiting www.againstthestorm.com

For more information about the Juneteenth lineup, contact Natalie LewiSirgool at (401) 475-0945 or email lewisirgool@hotmail.com .

By Reza C. Clifton

(This article appeared in The Providence American)

PROVIDENCE, RI- It is 11:30 am, we are on Broad Street in Providence, and he was supposed to be in Woonsocket by 11:30. As anxious as he might be, I am flattered. When a man as busy as Bishop Robert E. Farrow knowingly or not alters his schedule for you, you take it as a compliment.

Bishop Farrow is the Pastor of Holy Cross Church of God in Christ United, at 1014 Broad Street. Established in 1966 by Farrow’s father, Reverend Clarence E. Farrow, the congregation has been at the Broad Street location since 1971. But with worshippers that Bishop Farrow describes as “in tune to the teachings of God, who understand the word of God”, leading the church is no small task.

Just last month, in April, Holy Cross unveiled a very significant and progressive addition to its identity: the establishment of a Latino congregation called Iglesia Santa Cruz, whose sign sits conspicuously facing the street. “Understanding how the demographics in South Providence have changed drastically, to now being a predominantly Latino neighborhood, I and Holy Cross Church have opened the doors to the church welcoming our Latino brothers and sisters, and addressing their need to have a place of worship.”

Skeptical at how seamless this transition really was, I pushed Bishop Farrow further. “No,” he insists, “the people of the [traditional] church are happy and joyous [about the addition]. Plus, the congregations have different timeslots.

“It was a necessity, but also love and brotherhood that drove its formation. The people here understand the word of God, which teaches us to embrace all peoples and bring the good news. The people of this city all need to come together on this notion that there is only one God. Different people may have different ways of arriving to God, but we all get there.”

In the meantime, Farrow and his congregation have not been at a loss for support, and certainly have not been bankrupted of outreach ideas. With Farrow as the founder, and Holy Cross as the headquarters, since 1999, the Hattie Idela Farrow Foundation and Children’s Center has embarked on a highly acclaimed literacy program in Providence Public Schools—the Holy Cross Literacy Outreach Program.

From whence derives all the acclaim? Letters, from parents and students; teachers and principals; even the superintendent. And for what accomplishments? An improvement at the academic level, a decrease in the absentee levels, and a decrease in the number of suspensions. One report released by the school system, beams Farrow, extols the program for having “changed the direction of many children,” and for having “turned the tide in a way that the Providence School System has tried to do.”

The praise and Farrow’s pride was easy enough to understand; add to this, though, the fact that, according to Farrow’s most recent assessment, the Holy Cross Church of God in Christ United is the only faith-based institution in the Providence Public School System right now.

Before you begin to worry about the temporary/seasonal nature of its programming: operations at Hattie Idela Farrow Foundation and Children’s Center—named after Farrow’s mother and led by Farrow and program facilitator, Ricky Champlin—will not cease functioning with the summer school break. On the contrary, the Foundation, and Holy Cross, is gearing up for a separate set of summer programming.

The first program is a summer community basketball league for which Farrow plans, he explains, “to work with inner-city teenage boys as young as 11 and 12. This is one of the sports that inner-city boys love. It is important to have an activity; important to have role models borne of the coaches; important to understand team work and the challenges of obstacles; important to achieve a common goal; important to learn self-control; and important to teach them to talk about their disagreements without harboring a disagreeable spirit.”

Farrow has planned for the kickoff to the league to begin in Olneyville. This location, and even the league was inspired and serves as a reminder and dedication to Barry Ferrell Jr., the talented, driven, bright, well-loved high school student whose life was unjustly taken by gunfire last month.

“When I had the press conference there [in Olneyville] April eighth, the community and the police were responsive to it. It drew about 300 people from the community, yet the police remained receptive. [Demonstrated there was] a good unity and a good relationship between the community and the police. All had a common feeling that we need each other.”

The basketball league may alleviate one need, especially since it will be funded by the church and private donations, but as Farrow explained, “we want to educate the children. Therefore, the church and congregation has created more than just a basketball league.”

Summer programming at Holy Cross and through the Foundation is set to include summer literacy programming teaching children how to read and how to understand the contents, which will happen in conjunction with a breakfast and lunch program. Also offered will be English as Second Language programming for adults and children, tutorial assistance opportunities teaching English to Spanish-speakers, and Spanish to English-speakers, and computer-education offerings. All programs will be open to the public, while breakfast and lunch will be distributed to any child 18 years of age and younger.

Other programs being discussed include a tour for all inner-city youth to study Rhode Island’s three government branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—and classes teaching principles of Martin Luther King’s Nonviolence as taught by Doctor Bernard LaFayette of RI’s Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies.

Though his church-based outreach activities are plentiful, activities promoted and accomplished by Holy Cross and the Foundation are not the only reasons Bishop Farrow has recently been honored; last year he received the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America; earlier this year he received honors at a gospel concert organized by Top Shelf Record Productions; and last month he was appointed by Governor Carcieri to State Commissioner to Prejudice and Bias.

Holding membership within the RI chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) and Urban League, the RI Minister’s Alliance, and the Board of Directors for the Big Brothers of RI, Farrow’s accomplishments within and commitment to the community persist, and will call for more than just one article.

But as he swears his allegiance to and proclaims the importance of the Providence American Newspaper—“Our people need to be constantly reminded of what’s going on on the one hand, while politicians and suburban dwellers need to understand our community on the other”—we can all rest assured that Bishop Robert E. Farrow has the community and our paper on speed dial.

By Reza C. Clifton

(This article appeared in The Providence American Newspaper)

PROVIDENCE, RI- Just as the expression goes April showers bring May flowers, May also brings college graduations, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. Also recognized is May 31, the official World No Tobacco Day. However Providence’s Urban League has once again teamed up with the Rhode Island Department of Health, the American Lung Association and others to ensure that the entire month of May serve as highlighting the detriment of smoking and second-hand smoke especially.

Not in Mama’s House 2005 marks the second annual signature series of events organized by Urban League’s Tobacco Control under Urban Coordinator, Davida Cotman-El. Similar to last year’s events, within the RI Convention Center there will be a Mother’s Day Celebration May 8 to initiate the events, followed by a Health Conference Expo May 17, and a Theatrical Production May 22. One distinct difference from last year’s events, though, is the addition of an invitation-only Multicultural Business Luncheon on May 17 from 12-2. And unlike last year, where the events were all fit into one weekend, this year’s have spread through the entire month.

As Cotman-El explains, last year’s Mama’s House events succeeded very well. The idea for the Not in Mama’s House series was conceived after Cotman-El found herself inspired following a keynote address on ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) or second-hand smoke delivered by Brenda Bell Caffee of Caffee, Caffee & Associates PHF, Inc. Caffee originated the program Not in Mama’s Kitchen a voluntary pledge program, as a campaign to reduce ETS.

After hearing and meeting Caffee, Cotman-El envisioned expanding the program to include Caffee and the pledge still, and adding health and community aspects. Still feeling fresh to the Urban League around this time last year, Cotman-El reminisces fondly of Marianela Dougal, formerly employed at the Department of Health, who she says embraced and empowered her to move with the vision; she also credits a lot to community advocate Tina Clayton, who she says continues to help with every aspect.

Having last year’s experiences and lessons to guide her, Cotman-El has set off to replicate and improve last year’s events. Working closely with her on the Health Conference Expo are Jane Hudson, Prevention Program Manager at Capital Community Centers, Jill Thornton, Program Coordinator for the Mayor’s Task Force Against Substance Abuse, and Louisa Valencia, of the Health and Wellness Division at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Together they have enlisted the presence of the American Cancer
Society, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and others to arrange for glucose
screening, high blood pressure screening and cholesterol screening and more. There will be an unveiling of a new Tobacco cessation program combining faith-based methods as employed by Cotman-el (who is also a minister) and science-based with Steve Horovitiz. They have also planned activities for kids; therefore Cotman-El vigorously encourages schools to call her in consideration of possible field trips.

Debra Foley, Consultant for Worksite Wellness Council of RI, Cheryl Albright, Community Executive for American Cancer Society, and Jaime Spears, Tobacco Control Coordinator for the RI Indian Council have all joined with Cotman-El for the Multicultural Business Luncheon. The invitation-only event will be chaired by State Representative Grace Diaz, and target businesses that are minority-owned or primarily employed by minorities.

Cotman-El was less descriptive and more mysterious about the May 8 Mother’s Day Celebration and the May 22 Theatrical Presentation. May 8’s event will include rewards to various community members, like Mother Maria Seastrunk, State Supervisor of the Women’s Department of Church of God in Christ, and others who have served as matriarch’s of health or otherwise to the community. While the May 22 Theatrical Presentation will include a collaboration with playwright and minister Lawrence Nunes and entail music, dance, and drama.

Join the governor and the General Assembly who have, in the past and currently, continue to support the work of Caffee and the importance of a No-Tobacco message. Attend and fill out a pledge card—showing your support in eliminating indoor second-hand smoke and to the continued efforts to eliminate it. Honor the work of others, like Cotman-El and the Urban League. Lastly, honor your own health.