upstandersnotbystanders-blog

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Lytasha Blackwell: Coming Soon

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Lucy McClure: Coming Soon

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Patrick Dunn, also known as “Kiki Lucia” is the first ever Executive Director of The New Haven Pride Center; a non-profit LGBTQ community center which has operated on volunteer efforts for the past 20 years. Patrick had been involved with the New Haven Pride Center well before becoming director, serving as not only a volunteer but a consultant as well. In his first 60 days as Director, in collaboration with other local organizations, he successfully organized the 2017 New Haven PRIDE Weekend - three full days in September of celebration and awareness of the joys, issues, strides and setbacks experienced by the Greater New Haven LGBTQ community. PRIDE weekend incorporated, among many other events, a high-energy block party open to all, drag performances, and a brunch at a favorite, neighborhood, Lesbian-owned bar and restaurant, Barracuda, which culminated in a “Tea Dance” (a dance party traditionally held by queer people to be “out” together before being “out” was legal) at York Street Cafe.  

As part of his services to the LGBTQ community, Patrick performs regularly in drag shows as his alter ego, Kiki Lucia (Kiki is a slang term meaning “party”). For the past two and a half years, Patrick as helped Kiki evolve into an independent character with her own personality (and amazing wigs) to raise money for local organizations such as the LGBT advocacy group know as GLSEN - The CT Gay and Lesbian Education Network - as well as The Imperial Sovereign Court of All of Connecticut - a non-profit network of drag performers who use their artistry to raise money for other non-profit organizations. 

Patrick says performing in drag not only benefits local organizations when done for charity but also effects the economic value of the community when, “...they bring people into the bars and restaurants where the shows take place who then in turn buy food and drinks. This economic support then gives these venues some financial stability”.  

Not only do drag shows positively effect organizations and businesses, they are also considered to be, “...artistic expressions of the LGBTQ+ community. Drag is one of the artistic offerings that our community creates. The work that queens put into their looks, their fashions and their performances is on par with so many fine arts. This is something that we don't talk about enough. They [drage shows] are also great statements and can have a huge impact on people that experience them. Some of these come in the form of the queens that make political statements during their performances like when Casey Fitzpatrick, Connecticut's premiere trans drag performer did a piece about trans in the military after President Trump announced his planned ban to when performers like Malaya Love Nations did her piece at PRIDE New Haven this year about cultural identity”. 

I personally attended the mini drag performance hosted by fellow artist and photographer, Daniel Eugene, in his studio space in Westville as part of the City Wide Open Studios Westville Weekend. What is not always entirely evident in a dark bar setting while watching a drag performance is the level of professional quality and seriousness that these queens put into not only their outfits but their characters as well. During this mini show in Daniel’s kitchen, Kiki performed a lip synched version of singer Ke$ha’s “Praying” that held the audience captive for the entire five minute song. By the end of the performance, there were several standing ovations and dollar bills littering the floor.        

Connect with Patrick at the New Haven Pride Center: P.James.Dunn@gmail.com 203-387-2252 https://www.facebook.com/NewHavenPrideCenter 84 Orange Street, New Haven  

Follow Kiki Lucia here: https://www.facebook.com/misskikilucia

These images will hang as part of the “Upstanders, Not Bystanders” portrait project in the New Haven City Wide Open Studios event on October 14th & 15th, 2017. Please considering helping support with printing and installation costs using the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/upstanders

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Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend time with Daisha Brabham. Daisha is a first year History teacher at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. Before leaving undergrad, Daisha produced, with the help of many of her dedicated friends, mentors, volunteers, family and community members, an intensely stunning, historically accurate and original choreo-stage-play called "Homegoing: A Herstory of a Black Woman". The original show focused on the historical time line of black women's place in society beginning with Yoruba tradition, following the characters into the days of Billie Holiday and straight through to today. All proceeds were donated to The Coalition of 100 Black Women: New Haven Chapter. 

She says she is updating the script to incorporate black European women's experiences as well and will show it once more when it is more inclusive of her added characters experiences. The cast was comprised of a variety of both college and high school students in the southern Connecticut area. If you can help support this project with a dollar or two for printing costs, it would be greatly appreciated. 

If you get a chance to speak with Daisha, you will soon realize she is an overflowing fountain of knowledge, a literal spring of intelligence. Her depth of knowledge on historical and contemporary social justice issues is astounding and her passion for bringing black women and black women’s struggles to the front of the conversation leaves anyone questioning what they themselves can begin to do at that very moment to become an accomplice in the dismantling of the very real and very damaging networks of oppression she studies and speaks about. I personally appreciate her ability to educate her audience in such a warm, thoughtful, and caring way that her words empower her listeners to learn more on their own.  Connect with Daisha Brabham:  BrabhamD1@gmail.com Connect with the New Haven Coalition of 100 Black Women: https://www.ncbwct.org/about-us Read an entire interview with Daisha about her show written by the SCSU Women’s Studies Program: http://www.southernct.edu/academics/schools/arts/departments/womensstudies/daishabrabham.html

These images will hang as part of the “Upstanders, Not Bystanders” portrait project in the New Haven City Wide Open Studios event on October 14th & 15th, 2017. Please considering helping support with printing and installation costs using the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/upstanders

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Justin Farmer has been a resident of Hamden, CT for 20 years and currently attends Southern Connecticut State University as a second year Political Science Major. He is very active in his Newhallville / New Haven communities and has spent the last several months campaigning for a spot on the upcoming  Hamden Legislative Council primary election ballot - of which he defeated the Democratic Town Committee’s endorsed candidate. Justin will be an official Hamden Legislative Council person this November representing Hamden’s 5th District.   

Justin was nominated as an Upstander by several people - I personally first met him at Southern Connecticut State University two years ago in the Women’s Studies office. Upon first meeting him, while you wonder why he wears noise canceling headphones, you get a feeling of warmth and attentive caring. It isn’t until he speaks about his interest in local politics and his own experiences being entangled in the political framework of the education system do you really get a sense of his compassion and interest in being a voice for those who typically do not have one. The headphones he wears are a tool he uses to help manage noise sensitivity issues due to Tourettes. 

I feel lucky to have been able to and continue to work closely with Justin throughout graduate school and through this project. His reach within the community was extremely evident as within the thirty minutes I spent photographing him on Audobon street in New Haven, he was approached by more than several people who informed him about issues they were facing or asked him about his political interests and then he was greeted by more than several acquaintances as they either walked or drove by. I personally endorse him as an Upstander and not a Bystander. 

Connect with him through his “FarmerforFifth” facebook campaign group that is still actively being used: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1304106523020871/ Contact Justin Farmer:  Justin.Farmer28@gmail.com 203-200-0517

These images will hang as part of the “Upstanders, Not Bystanders” portrait project in the New Haven City Wide Open Studios event on October 14th & 15th, 2017. Please considering helping support with printing and installation costs using the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/upstanders

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The first Upstander in this series is Adam Christoferson of Musical Intervention based out of New Haven, CT. Adam has been working closely with clinical and community based social service organizations for years using music as a medium to encourage and empower people to “Explore the Song” in themselves. The goal of Musical Intervention he says is to “help people write, record and perform original music while promoting empathy and transforming lives”. 

The headquarters, located on Temple street, serves as not only a drug and alcohol free safe space for all community members to congregate and exchange ideas and learn from each other but also as a fully functional recording studio, performance space and educational learning environment. After receiving a grant though the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and the National Endowment of the Arts in 2015, Adam began working with Liberty Community Services in the homeless population and provide songwriting, recording and a performing platform that typically underserved and disenfranchised peoples wouldn't have access to in order to “be creative, productive and connect with the broader community”. 

I spent an afternoon with him and his base of “regulars” at the headquarters and within those few hours, it was clear that something special is happening on that small stretch of Temple Street where historically, only empty space, chewed up gum and flipped restaurant after restaurant have existed. The flow of people in and out of the building, the interaction of so many different people all sharing, learning, and inspiring each other made me think that I was then and there witnessing how culture begins. When people are allowed to come together and exist in spaces of creativity and understanding, it is clear that one can only step back and watch what happens. 

The best part of the entire experience was watching everyone in the room coming together for a “family jam” session on stage with whatever instrument was in arm’s length that lasted a good 15 minutes. I absolutely sang along. Musical Intervention is a recipient of one of the New Haven Arts Council 37th Annual “Arts awards” for 2017. 

Learn more about his organization and what he does here: https://musicalintervention.com/ Contact Adam Christoferson for collaboration: Info@MusicalIntervention.com Connect with Musical Intervention on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicalintervention/

These images will hang as part of the "Upstanders, Not Bystanders" portrait project in the New Haven City Wide Open Studios event on October 14th & 15th, 2017. Please considering helping support with printing and installation costs using the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/upstanders