Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company

Thursday, April 27, 2006
Carol L. Kim
443-8568

The Department of African American Studies (AAS) in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University will host a baraza, an open public meeting, with SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor to discuss her vision of the arts component of the Connective Corridor on Saturday, May 6, from 2-4 p.m.

The meeting will be held at 805 E. Genesee St., the new home of SU’s Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) and the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company (PRPAC). Both organizations are associated with the Department of African American Studies.

The Connective Corridor is a community-wide project initiated by SU to create a physical link between downtown Syracuse and the campus in the hope of building relationships and increasing the availability of local arts and cultural opportunities to both SU and community audiences.

Baraza is the Kiswahili word for an open, public meeting at which members of a community gather to air their views and hold dialogue on issues of concern to the collective group. The Department of African American Studies has asked the Chancellor to address the roles of the department and of the CFAC and the PRPAC within her overall vision.

The other side of the conversation is equally critical: How does the community see itself as a subject of, participant in and partner in this entire project? “Conversation” and “dialogue” will characterize this baraza.

The event is free and open to the public.