Burlington School District invites you to join us for “Legacy and Light: A Celebration of Black Heritage & Excellence.” This free community event will take place on Saturday, February 15th, from 1-3:30 at Hunt Middle School and will feature live music, arts, food, and student presentations.
The event is another way we are working to ensure students are seen, heard, and treated with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve. It is also a way to continue our work to ensure that our students feel a sense of belonging, well-being, and pride in our schools and the greater community, using the necessary resources to nurture excellence and develop the inter-beauty these students already possess. No registration is required… we hope to see you there!
Join us for performances by:
- Rajnii Eddins
- BSD Slam Poetry Cipher
- Jeh Kulu
- Congolese Dance (tentative)
- BSD Vocal & Instrumental Performances
- A2VT
- Green Mountain Gospel Choir
Following the live performances, attendees will enjoy a catered reception and have the chance to view student artwork centered around the theme.
This event is proudly presented by BSD’s Office of Equity, as part of their Sankofa Project. Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan people of Ghana that is used in Black History to represent the idea of learning from the past to create a better future. The mythical bird has its head turned backward while its feet point forward. The egg in the bird’s mouth represents the knowledge of the past that can be used to create wisdom. The word Sankofa translates to “go back and get it.” It’s based on the proverb, “It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.” For BSD’s Sankofa Project, we evoke this symbol and message to drive our goal of moving Black History & Excellence forward as a more prominent and consistent part of our school and community. Sometimes, we must return and bring those we left behind.
In addition to this event, Sankofa Project initiatives include:
Sankofa Black History Calendar – Looking for Black History Month inspiration? Bring Black History to your classroom with this amazing Sankofa Black History Calendar that includes daily songs, quotes and educational materials for easy use.
Reading to End Racism – A national program that promotes cultural respect, social awareness, and literacy by hosting guests who read stories that address Black History, racism, and discrimination. Guests read a story to a class and share from their own experiences connected to the themes raised in the book, such as racism, resilience, and community, to name a few.
Sharing our Story (March 26, 6-8PM, Edmunds Middle School) – Join us for a panel discussion highlighting women of the Global Majority as they share their stories. (More to come on this soon!)
