Current in Community: Local Updates - Thursday, May 30, 2024
Current in Community: Local Updates - Thursday, May 30, 2024
The latest on Stamford Day, Juneteenth Freedom Day, and Future 5
STAMFORD — With so much going on in the city, the Current has some news to share about several local community organizations. From celebrating Stamford’s diversity and planning this year’s Juneteenth activities to a poetry contest held at a popular downtown venue and a pickleball competition that supported an important cause, here’s what you need to know.
Stamford Day
This Sunday, June 2, residents are invited to attend the 2024 Stamford Day event at Mill River Park for an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the city’s rich history and diversity. The outdoor event will be hosted by the Mayor’s Multicultural Council (MMC) and Mill River Park Collaborative, and located near the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Display Fountain.
The festivities will include art displays, music, dance presentations, and other family friendly activities from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Among other offerings, there will be a coloring project to create a paper history quilt, a history hunt in the park, and raffles.
According to the city’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion office, 75 different languages are spoken in Stamford. Additionally, more than half of residents are people of color, and more than a third of residents were born outside of the United States.
Food trucks will be available to purchase food. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to watch the performances. The UConn Stamford Parking Lot will be accessible for free parking.
First settled by local Native Americans, the land of present-day Stamford was bought from them and settled in 1641 as a town by Puritan families from Wethersfield, according to the Ferguson Library. It was more than two centuries later that a city charter was adopted in 1893.
For additional updates about the MMC and community events, follow the Councii on Facebook and Instagram. Any questions can be directed to the MMC by emailing mayorsmcc@stamfordct.gov or calling 203 219-0817.
Juneteenth Freedom Day
This year’s Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15. To start the community event, a flag raising ceremony will be held at Stamford Government Center at 11:30 am. A parade through Mill River Park with a marching band, majorettes, and special guests will begin at 11:50 am and is expected to last around half an hour.
From 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the popular downtown green space will be the scene for a variety of experiences such as a children’s tent, special performances, local church choirs, marching bands, a step show, a Black art show, and more. Organized by the City of Stamford, The Cultured Pearl Foundation, and CORNERS Community, the celebration will include former New York Knicks shooting guard and NBA All-Star John Starks as the 2024 Grand Marshal and 2024 Headliner DJ Clue, a legendary music producer and Power 105.1 FM radio host.
At 2:00 pm, a Double Dutch tournament will be held for individuals aged 21 years old and above. Six teams will be accepted to take part.
There will also be food trucks and a vendor village. Any Black-owned businesses, restaurants, or caterers interested in participating are asked to fill out an application soon so they can be contacted regarding the process and logistics.
In 2022, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law a measure that officially made June 19 a legal state holiday formally known as Juneteenth Independence Day following the nearly unanimous passage of the legislation in both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly in Hartford. However the law did not go into effect until October of that year, so the first actual Juneteenth recognition was in 2023.
“Juneteenth is a significant date in American history and the African American experience. The name is a play on the date of June 19th, 1865,” Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, explained on the museum’s website. “On that day, the Union Army made its way into Galveston, TX under the leadership of General Gordon Granger, and he announced to the people of Texas that all enslaved African Americans were free.”
There is official merchandise for sale, including short- and long-sleeved shirts as well as hoodies, with proceeds going toward support for costs related to the Juneteenth Freedom Day event. Anyone with questions or inquiries about the upcoming celebration can contact organizers at stamfordjuneteenth1865@gmail.com.
Future 5
On Friday, May 10, Future 5, a local nonprofit organization helping under-resourced students reach their full potential, hosted its sixth annual poetry slam at Hibernian Hall. More than 20 participants vied for monetary awards as they performed either an original poem or one of their favorite poems before a panel of judges.
Keion Kopper emceed the event and served as an opening poet with Brian Zaffino. Judges for the contest were Future 5 founder Clif McFeely as well as two Future 5 volunteers, Ellen Peterson and Gwen North Reiss. There were three prize levels with Kei Aguirre winning $100 for first place, Eddy Alvarado getting $50 for second place, and Ashley Lopez receiving $25 for third place.
The organization’s annual Poetry Slam event was launched by Dr. Sondra Melzer, a Stamford resident, educator, author, and former Future 5 volunteer, to encourage an appreciation for poetry among the organization’s membership.
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Future 5’s mission is to connect “motivated, under-resourced students in Stamford to the people and resources they need to achieve their educational, career and life goals.” The organization also hosted a pickleball tournament on Saturday, May 18, to support its ongoing efforts with local students.
Titled “Pickle for a Purpose,” the competition was organized as a Round Robin Tournament and held at Pickleball America in Stamford Town Center. Participants of all experience levels were invited to select between a formal tournament or a 90-minute beginner boot camp, a press release shared with the Current stated.
The event included an exhibition match, a showcase for students, lunch, and an after-party featuring awards and a silent auction. Attendees each went home with a swag bag. The following individuals were recognized for their performances during the tournament.
Low Intermediate: Robert Klugman, a long time Future 5 coach, and Kevin Carroll – Gold; Rick Swift and Deidre Smith – Silver; and Sarah Santasero and Michele Tyson – Bronze
High Intermediate: Linda Vonderlietch and CJ Shank – Gold; Jeanette Chen and Toni Hernandez – Silver; and Helen Johnson and Michelle Wilkes – Bronze
Advanced: Marc Depalo and Gino Riggio – Gold; Michell Fuchs and Janie Rashad – Silver; and Sri Krishnan and Helena Svedin – Bronze
Students: Marissa Mullins and Leon Bueno – Gold; Allison Lopez and Omar Sandoval – Silver; and Johnny Perez and Alex Ramirez – Bronze
Pickleball America, The Ashforth Company, Fresh & Co., and Fairfield North Financial Network sponsored the charity fundraiser.
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A few days later, Future 5 announced the return of a Stamford native to lead the organization’s programming focused on collegiate and post-secondary excellence.
On Wednesday, May 22, Mildred “Milly” Triana was named the new Director of College Success for Future 5. The College Success program offers Future 5 graduates a multi-layered system of “academic encouragement and tutoring, assistance in transfer from two- to four-year colleges, financial aid and scholarship support, campus specific peer leaders, and workforce development,” according to a press release.
"We are excited to have Milly Triana as part of our staff," Future 5 Executive Director Amanda Dubois-Mwake said in the announcement. "Her multifaceted expertise and commitment to fostering collegiate academic success, as well as her dedication to student academic and personal development,will help us take the College Success program to the next level."
Triana previously served as Senior Assistant Director of Academic Success at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), overseeing football academics from recruitment through graduation. Additionally, she worked in different roles at the University of Miami as a senior academic advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences, and student athlete advisor for the football (juniors and seniors) and basketball (freshmen) programs.
Prior to that experience, Triana was a high school recruiter and admissions counselor at Albizu University in Doral, Florida. She obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus and Master’s degree in Science from Albizu University.
"I am deeply honored and thrilled to step into this role. I have a profound personal connection to Stamford, my birthplace, which is forever synonymous with home. And my enthusiasm is fueled by sincere empathy born of my own experiences as a first-generation, low-income student,” Triana said. “I understand the challenges that accompany the transition from high school to college, especially for individuals from a similar background."
"My goal is to establish rapport and trust with our members, serving as a mentor and guide as they navigate their academic journeys," continued Triana.
Learn more about the College Success program on Future 5’s website here.
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