On Wednesday evening, August 12, over 100 Hartford youngsters
from the greater Hartford area participated in the summer youth
celebration "Dreams Need Not be Deferred; Dreams Come True."
Several hundred people attended the two and a half hour presentation,
which was held at Bulkeley High School. The evening was dedicated
to the memory of Alpha Omega Allen McLean, mother of legendary
jazz saxophonist and Hartford resident Jackie McLean.
"This evening you will experience some wonderful moments
when you listen to and watch our summer youth, who range in age
from 8 to 21. Some youngsters have appeared many times before,
and for others this is the first time they will appear on stage.
We are proud of the all those who participated in this, our 23rd
work-training summer program. My husband Jackie McLean initiated
The Artists Collective so that the this multi-arts and cultural
organization could showcase some great - and too often overlooked
- artists from the past and present. Our new home is at 1200
Albany Avenue and you are all always welcome there. It is place
of learning for everyone because everyone made this beautiful
artist facility possible. We are still fundraising for our new
facility. If there is anyone who would like to contribute $50
to have their name printed on a brick, please feel free to do
so," said Dollie McLean, Executive Director of The Artists
Collective.
The evening's selections included an "African Dance of Welcome"
and a poem, a Caravan B. Drum call of order, music and dance
to Harlem USA, the poem, "Sunday Prophecy" and a modern
jazz scene dance to "Rites of Passage."
The show opened with a performance from Kimati Dinizulu and The
Organic Jazz Orchestra of New York.
Among those funding the Collective's 1998 Summer Program are
the Workforce Development Board, the Hartford Foundation for
Public Giving, the State of Connecticut Department of Children
and Families and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest National Jazz
Network in cooperation with the New England Foundation for the
Arts.
The presentation of Kimati Dinizulu was made possible in part
by the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Fund and Jazz Network - Lila
Wallace-Readers.
