April 7, 2021

Dear all,

We are pleased to share that Drama faculty and students have embarked on a multi-prong effort to examine the interactions of creative production, inclusive pedagogy, and self-reflection on issues of race and gender. They are proud to sponsor, with support of the President’s Working Group on Antiracism, a presentation of Queens Girl: Black in the Green Mountains by playwright Caleen Sinette Jennings '72. Commissioned by Everyman Theatre, the play tells the story of a young Black woman arriving at Bennington's campus to find a world of new (sometimes auspicious, many times not!) experiences and her navigation through this progressive institution. Caleen's story-telling is poignant and the challenges shared are ever so contemporaneous! Come see and hear for yourself.

As we shared on March 25, the community has been invited to view a recording of the play (available through April 10) and to participate in an open discussion following a panel presentation on April 10.

Queens Girl: Black in the Green Mountains: Essential Conversation
Saturday, April 10 2021, 7:00-8:30 pm, Virtual Event
Join Zoom Meeting | Meeting ID: 924 5396 8297 | Passcode: 064754

Student-centered by design, the program of activities features the efforts of Imara-rose Glymph, Florence Gill, Marley Rose Liburd, David Guzman, Annabel Hoffman on the student side, with participation by panelists Michael Wimberly, Maya Cantu, Dina Janis, and Delia Saenz. Special workshops have been scheduled, as well, for those interested in learning about facilitation skills. We are gratified to see these efforts focused on engaging discipline-based dialogue around diverse narratives, and enthusiastically encourage all our areas of study to advance synergies among their academic foci and student and faculty engagement on issues pertinent to inclusion. Brava to the Drama Community!

On behalf of the President’s Working Group on Antiracism,

Laura Walker
President