International Festival of Arts & Ideas | Arts & Culture | Neighborhoods | Arts & Anti-racism | West Rock | West Hills
Jordan Cunningham and Alder Honda Smith, who he will forever call "Ms. Honda," a term of respect, no matter how old he gets. Lucy Gellman Photos.
Jordan Cunningham made his way up a steep hill to The Shack, soaking in the late spring sunshine as a cool breeze rolled across the grass. In a field across the street, snippets of poetry floated through the air, accompanied by the occasional Mmmm and Oh! Kids jumped, ran and slid on the playground, their laughter bubbling up in waves. Dancers stretched beneath a tent, ready to dazzle with hip-hop routines they’d been learning for weeks.
It felt like a family reunion, a spa day, and a reminder to eat your greens all in one—with a little extra neighborhood magic thrown in.
Saturday, that nourishing spirit of community defined the fourth annual West Rock/West Hills Neighborhood Festival, dedicated to “Mind, Body & Soul” and held in the park beside West Rock Author's Academy at 311 Valley St. A collaboration of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and a stalwart neighborhood planning committee, the celebration included live music, dancing, panels on mental and physical health, and plenty of home-cooked food to go around.
Shamain (Sha) McAllister, associate director of education and community impact at the Festival; Bench Haven's Typhanae Williams; and Solar Youth Green Jobs Youth Development Coordinator Alana Ceppetelli. "This part of New Haven can be isolated," McAllister said. "But it's good soil, you know?"
In addition to Arts & Ideas, organizers worked closely with The Shack, where Alder Honda Smith has transformed a long-vacant community center into a gathering space, safe haven for youth, community kitchen, spiritual oasis and hub for arts and culture. It is part of how neighborhood festivals, from Fair Haven to The Hill to Dixwell, each have their own specific feel and flair.
"Being raised in the West Hills/West Rock community has been a wonderful experience,” said Andrea Daniels-Singleton, a playwright and producer who grew up in West Hills, and now serves as the festival’s community chair. “I've met so many amazing unique talented people in this community. As a result I've built many lasting meaningful relationships and friendships. I always say, ‘We have the best community.”
“Serving as the community chair for Arts & Ideas has been a privilege that I don't take lightly,” she added. “It's hard work that I enjoy; I love working and being supported by Sha [McAllister] and Shannon [Miller]. It's an opportunity to serve, promote education, meet community members, network, listen to amazing music, and dance freely into the sunset."
20-year-old I'Mea Jackson (at the center) and her sister, Ciera, first-time vendors representing the New Haven salon Only One Touch. Pictured beside them to the right is client Nana Johnson.
And throughout the afternoon, it was—sometimes literally, as jubilant dance routines exploded on stage hoop houses and chicken coops made their presence known from across Valley Street. As wellness coach Robin Little-Bowman gave health advice from the stage, vendors set up across the grass, their tents ready with vivid designs, small-batch, handmade goods, and community groups like Elm City COMPASS, Solar Youth and Bench Haven.
Some, like a bench bound for the reopened West Rock Nature Center, drew messages of encouragement from the community, with an invitation to leave an inscription before the end of the day. Others, like first-time vendors I'Mea Jackson and her sister, Ciera, flexed their artist-entrepreneur muscles while watching giant games of Connect Four unfold on the sprawling grass in front of them.
Their mom, LaTonya Daniels-Jackson, is Daniels-Singleton's sister and a supporter of the neighborhood. "It feels so good to put myself out there," I'Mea said.
Keesha Davis: Rediscovering crochet at 45.
Beneath her sun-dappled tent, crochet artist Keesha Davis smiled at passers-by, striking up conversations about the community gardens and neighborhood relations all in the same afternoon. Born and raised in New York, Davis started crocheting when she was just 10, letting her imagination sprawl out as she spun yarn into pieces of art one slip stitch at a time.
But at some point, life got busy, and crochet fell by the wayside. Davis got an education. She worked several jobs. She eventually made the move from New York to Connecticut, where she settled in New Haven four years ago. Around that same time, she resumed crochet at 45 years old. It was, for her and so many she spoke to Saturday, proof positive that it's never too late to start something. Five years later, she can fill an entire tent with pieces of crocheted art, many in bright, dazzling colors.
"It's a wonderful day!" she said, marvelling at the sun as she buzzed amongst dozens of floppy hats, and Crocs with crocheted covers. "The community is out."
Stefan Jenkins, who later shared some of her original poetry with attendees.
Nearby, poet and community health advocate Steffon Jenkins showed off dozens of bracelets that are part of her business EmPress Creations, which she's been growing since a chance realization in 2017. Arranged in neat rows, each told a story, from distinguished-looking birthday presents to pink beads and ribbon-shaped charms for breast cancer awareness. As one hand hovered over her selections, Jenkins told the story of beginning her beading work eight years ago, more or less by chance.
The founder and leader of Women Winning Over Fear (WWOF), which supports survivors of domestic violence, she started beading in 2017, after a three-layered, gold-and-cream colored necklace of hers grabbed the attention of other women she knew. She thought about how therapeutic the artmaking process had always been for her, and decided to turn it into a business.
What she hadn't banked on was bringing it to one of the neighborhoods that is closest to her heart. As she looked around, listening to Daniels-Singleton speak from the stage, she praised the festival for its focus on tight-knit community and arts and culture. The two are close, so when Jenkins heard that it was taking place, there was no question in her mind that she’d be there to support.
"I didn't even know that they did this!" she said, gesturing around to the stage and other tents that lined the greenspace. "For me it's a fulfilling emotion to get together. You have all these creatives and entrepreneurs, and to see the youth come out, it's so positive."
TVE Dance Studio students Makayla Jackson, Symphany Jones and Kylie Hardy.
Around her, attendees of all ages had begun to trickle in, soaking in the sun after a soggy end to the week. As they ran across the grass, TVE Dance Studio students Makayla Jackson, Kylie Hardy and Symphany Jones shook off their pre-performance jitters, bouncing between the grass and the playground nearby. All 13 years old, the three said that they were excited to dance at the festival for the first time—nerves and all.
"It feels good because, like, we can inspire people to do it too," Hardy said.
"Sometimes I get nervous, but it's also fun," Jones chimed in.
A few feet away, Cunningham joked around with Felix Rivas, who has been helping out in the community garden at The Shack. Born and raised in West Hills, Cunningham has "been in the community all my life," he said. The neighborhood raised him. So when he proposed a community garden as part of a high school project (he is a proud graduate of Engineering and Science University Magnet School), Honda Smith helped him get there.
“Ms. Honda brought it to life,” he remembered, heading up a steep, overgrown hill in her direction to say hello. It’s still flourishing behind The Shack, where Dishaum "Farmer D" Harris also nurtures a community plot. This time of year, it is filled with thick, lush green shoots and white and yellow flowers, a sign of the bounty that is yet to come.
"I think it's an amazing thing," Cunningham said of the festival. "It's much needed. Sometimes people don't even know their neighbors."
Cunningham and Felix Rivas.
He added that the day—and the neighborhood—wouldn't be complete without Smith, who is both a West Hills visionary and fairy godmother to hundreds of kids and families in the neighborhood. It was her guidance, alongside neighbors, that encouraged Cunningham to give back to the city that raised him, which he now does as a supervisor with the Connecticut Violence Intervention Program (CT VIP).
She has that effect on a lot of young people in the neighborhood. As Smith parked herself behind a kitchen counter and served up plates of still-warm chicken and ribs, mac and cheese, string beans and corn, she had a comment for everyone, often punctuated with knowing laughter. After arriving at The Shack at four that morning, she had cooked up a storm, some of the food still warm as it made the building fragrant.
"I do find it relaxing," she said warmly, as though it instantly made up for the hours of lost sleep. As she buzzed around, she greeted every person who walked in by name, often reminding them that she already had a plate or bag of food ready for them. Taking a moment to walk through the space, she added that the festival is just part of the work that the Shack does year round, from after-school mentorship to days spent tending to the chickens as a form of stress relief.
"We've turned a lot of kids around," she said, proudly pulling up a report card that belonged to one of her Shack regulars, a student who was failing out of school a year ago. Beaming, she showed off rows of As and Bs that he had received after working with her to get his grades up. That kind of community spirit and support is what The Shack is all about, she said.
"Having the festival here, it just brings life to the community," she said, adding that it feels like an extra celebration because it is on her birthday weekend. "Having it at the Shack is electric. It's what we stand for."
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas continues its celebration of New Haven neighborhoods this weekend with the annual Dixwell Neighborhood Festival, scheduled for the patio and field outside the Dixwell Community Q House as part of Freddy Fixer Weekend. More information is available at their website.