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Far Beyond Lemurs, Rhinebeck Students in Madagascar Get a Deep Immersion in East African Life, Customs and Issues
“Led by Bulkeley Middle School Social Studies teacher Henry Frischknecht and former Rhinebeck Board of Education member Deirdre Burns, both of whom are members of the board at CultureConnect, the Madagascar trip has grown over the past seven years into a robust program to teach students about language, cultural differences, the environment, the global economy, and more.”
Read the full article here (July 2024)
Skeleton Costumes, Sugar Skulls, Tortillas – and Love: Día de Los Muertos, A Traditional Mexican Celebration, Debuts in Red Hook
“Red Hook became a satellite sister of Mexico Saturday as a local version of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) unfolded for the first time at Four Corners Community Farm, at public schools, and at several other central locations in the community.
The celebration, commemorating Mexico’s traditional holiday, was the culmination of The Red Hook Ofrenda Project, which over the past four months created and installed ofrendas in all four of the Red Hook Central School District schools, and at Village Hall in Red Hook, the Red Hook Public Library, and the Red Hook Community Center, as well as at Four Corners Farm.”
Read the full article here (November 2022)
The Good Work Hour
On this episode of The Good Work Hour, co-hosts Terri and Aja are joined by Rosie Rosenthal and Jenni Ruiz, board members of Rhinebeck-based CultureConnect Learn how this organization supports the families of students in whose homes English is not the primary language, helps high schoolers become first-generation college students, offers unique art experiences, and engages students in immersive multi-cultural experiences.
CultureConnect Communications
June 18, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: info@cultureconnectrbk.org
Rhinebeck To Celebrate Juneteenth Over the June 19-20 Weekend
Rhinebeck and CultureConnect Team Up to Promote Awareness of Juneteenth Holiday;
Student Juneteenth Artwork to be Displayed at Town Hall.
RHINEBECK, NY—The Village and Town of Rhinebeck have joined with local nonprofit organization CultureConnect to celebrate Juneteenth, which is now an official New York State holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in America and is traditionally observed on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas by Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom from slavery. The local commemoration will take place over the weekend of June 19-20.
Billed as “a day for Rhinebeck to commemorate, celebrate, and educate,” the local Juneteenth observance will feature artistic displays and informational materials throughout the downtown. On display outside Town Hall is the centerpiece of this initiative: a Juneteenth banner created by the seventh graders of Rhinebeck’s Bulkeley Middle School. This original piece of art was commissioned by CultureConnect in collaboration with the Rhinebeck Central School District and is part of an effort to incorporate Juneteenth into the K-12 curriculum, familiarize students with its significance to the African-American community, and place the holiday within the larger context of American history.
The local community is also helping to promote awareness of Juneteenth. Businesses in the Village of Rhinebeck, as well as the Starr and Morton Public Libraries, will feature posters, informational brochures, postcards, flags, and additional artwork by local students. Stop by Bia, Breathe Studio, Hummingbird Jewelers, The Kroeg, Land of Oz Toys, Megabrain Comics, Merriweather’s, Oblong Books, Paper Trail, Pegasus Footwear, Rhinebeck Farmer’s Market, StarryBird Kids, Terrapin, and Winter Sun & Summer Moon to pick up your Juneteenth materials. Private homes throughout the Town and Village of Rhinebeck will also display Juneteenth lawn signs, which were provided free of charge by CultureConnect.
At its June 8 meeting, the Rhinebeck Village Board adopted a resolution in support of the local Juneteenth observance. According to Village Board member Vanessa Bertozzi, “Rhinebeck is a welcoming and inclusive community, and we are delighted to support this initiative. Rhinebeck has a rich and storied history associated with the African-American community, and Juneteenth gives us the opportunity to honor some of those stories, such as the talented Black artisans who flourished in the Oak Street neighborhood.”
Added Sarah “Rosie” Rosenthal, chair of the CultureConnect board, “It’s been a privilege to work with the Village and Town of Rhinebeck and members of the local African-American community to raise the visibility of this joyous American holiday celebrating freedom. CultureConnect’s plan is to make Juneteenth an annual event in Rhinebeck, and we have some exciting ideas about how to make it an even bigger celebration next year.”
About CultureConnect
CultureConnect, a Rhinebeck-based nonprofit organization, helps empower youth and families to create a future of social justice, global engagement, and cultural competence. Working with local school districts and with the support of college, high school, and community volunteers, CultureConnect runs after-school and summer programs for school-age youth. It also offers anti-racism programming in support of its goal of creating a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all. Additional information about Juneteenth and CultureConnect’s work in the community can be found at: https://www.cultureconnectrbk.org/
Where We Stand:
George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Eric Garner. Philando Castile. Alton Sterling. Sadly, the list of African Americans killed by police goes on and on. Add to that list Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot to death while out jogging, or Christian Cooper, who was falsely accused of threatening a woman’s life while birding in Central Park. We are pained and horrified by the relentless violence Black Americans experience. We abhor the racism that continues to plague our nation.
Over the last week, we’ve watched in distress as our country has been convulsed by violence and civil unrest. We’ve seen everything from peaceful protests to attacks on members of the press to looting. As disturbing as it is to see chaos in the streets, the repeated loss of life that sparked the protests in the first place is an outrage. We know that African American men are disproportionately affected by police brutality. While there are many factors at play in the complex issue of systemic inequality – poverty, unemployment, discriminatory public policies, and underfunded public schools to name a few – racial bias is at the heart of our nation’s present difficulties. ⠀⠀⠀
As a country, as a community, and as individuals, we know we must do better. Protests are an integral part of effecting change, as is voting at the local, state, and federal levels. As individuals, we must honestly reflect on issues of privilege, recognize that we don’t all experience the world in the same way, and see where we can engage in generative conversations. If we’re going to work together toward change, being able to discuss it together is a necessary first step. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In the words of James Baldwin, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” We must seize this opportunity, as a community and as a nation, to face the challenges of racism and inequality and work toward creating a more just society for all. We are heartened by the recent activism of young people in our community. We stand with them and others in the fight for racial justice. The world is watching. Our neighbors are watching. Our children are watching.