Festival Stories

As the oldest of four siblings, I find it my responsibility to encourage myself and my younger siblings to go to college and create better lives for ourselves. My mother never made it out of her...

When I think of the word personal, the definition that comes to mind is the private side of a person’s life. Basically, things people don’t and can’t see judging by a person’s outward appearance. It...

As I walk down the streets of my neighborhood, I see a lot of crimes being committed. Living in a neighborhood where there’s nothing but violence makes you think about changing your life around. If I...

I used to sit in English classes to raise my hand and offer unique insights. I trusted that anything I had to say was soaked in wisdom, dressed in metaphor, or threaded with powerful analysis. I...

The minute, hour, day, and week before my interview, I felt a little nervous but excited to meet the person I had to interview because I wasn't really prepared, and I thought, “This is somebody with...

When we were told that we were going to be interviewing board members, at first I didn’t know how to feel because I knew it wasn’t going to be easy; at the same time, if I followed the directions I...

When I first started to interview Ruby, I was nervous. It felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. But I tried not to look at it as me doing it for me but for the people who I’m doing it for.
The...

I honestly felt extremely nervous before I interviewed one of the board members of the Festival. Usually, I do not like to talk in front of people because I sometimes stutter when I speak, especially...

Artist Statement – Diamond Davis
I describe myself as a freewill dancer because when I dance, it helps me express myself, and it helps me keep my mind in tact. I feel relaxed when I dance. I have...

On December 21, 2010 the Fall 2010 Festival Fellows graduated from the program with an official citation from the city of New Haven Board of Alderman. See the pictures below of the group of proud...

Artist Statement
Inez Bell
I continue to miss the target at describing what poetry means to me. I do not believe it is something that I can fully discuss in a two to three page essay, in an artist...

Artist Statement
Earl Ali-Randall
I am a dancer; and, I have been inspired to dance by all the graduates from my performing arts school, Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). When I am dancing, I...