We at the Hayti Heritage Center send our condolences to the people of Haiti.  This catastrophe is beyond comprehension to a people who have been struggling to recovery from natural disasters over the last year.  We urge you to support the recovery of this nation with a financial contribution; our neighbors in Haiti are racing to confront the enormous devastation. It is at times such as this that our help is need most.   The Hayti Heritage Center has set up a fund which will be sent to the Red Cross for relief efforts.  You may donate through our on line donation system and identify your contribution for Haitian Earthquake Relief, or drop by the Hayti Heritage Center.  Our prayers are with the Haitian community throughout the world.

Additional relief efforts and contact information is as follows:

Donate

• Financial Donations
  • Donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting “HAITI” to “90999.”
  • Contribute online to the Red Cross
• Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation is pleased to announce The Providence Effect a full length documentary film that traces the transformation of Providence St. Mel, an all-black inner city school on Chicago’s crime-ridden West Side, from a poor and struggling parochial school to a first rank college preparatory system has been selected at the Community Day Film for the opening of the 16th annual Hayti Heritage Film Festival February 18, 2010 at 7:15 pm. Seen through the eyes of its students, teachers, and alumni, The Providence Effect, tells the story of how one act of positive change can affect an entire community, this screening is free and open to the public. The Durham Human Relations Department and Chapel Hill Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. are coming on board as sponsors of this film day this year. A reception will precede the screening at 6pm and a panel discussion with Q & A will conclude the film.

At the helm of The Providence Effect is the school’s principal, Paul J. Adams III. After orchestrating a national and local fundraising campaign to keep Providence St. Mel open nearly 30 years ago, principal Adams’ sole purpose has been to make and to keep its African-American student body a force to be reckoned with. Under Adam’s administration, the school boasts a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate, with half of its graduates attending Ivy League colleges and universities. Providence St. Mel’s success continues to be prototype for a number of pre-K through-12 educational systems across the country.

The Providence Effect is an inspiring story of triumph, determination, faith, dedication, and of how hard work inside the classroom can add up to big rewards outside the classroom.

The film features interviews with Providence students and well-known community leaders who share the same commitment to academic and social excellence that they say Providence exhibits through its no-nonsense approach to teaching and learning.

The Hayti Heritage Film Festival runs February 18-21, 2010 at the Hayti Heritage Center and is presented by the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc.

RESCHEDULED DATE: Saturday, February 6, 2010

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc/ Hayti Heritage Center send our condolences to the people of Haiti. This catastrophe is beyond comprehension to a people who have been struggling to recovery from natural disasters over the last year. In an effort to act the Foundation along with 18 groups and over 100 artists from Durham and surrounding communities will come together to raise money at the DURHAM ARTISTS FOR HAITI RELIEF CONCERT, Saturday, January 30 in the St. Joseph’s Performance Hall at the Hayti Heritage Center beginning at 5:00 pm – 12 midnight. Suggested donation of $20 at the door and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief.

“I have been so saddened by the events in Haiti and after talking with others in the community just felt we need to do something to show our support as artists. So I begin to plan this concert last week and it has all come together with the support of so many people, businesses and volunteers. We (Hayti Heritage Center) have a unique connection to Haiti having been named after the first free and independence nation of the Diaspora. In addition to a link that many may not know that is seen daily on top of the steeple of the historic St. Joseph’s structure- a VeVe (the weathervane) which is the symbol of Erzulie, The Goddess of Love, which is a voodoo symbol worshiped in the Haitian culture”, states V. Dianne Pledger, President/CEO of St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation.

We are fortunate to have artists that are willing to give back to support worthy causes, and on Saturday night the public will have the opportunity to hear some jazz, gospel, R & B, comedy, spoken word, blues, a little bit of everything to raise money to support the efforts to restore the nation of Haiti.

Scheduled to appear: Prince Miah & The Girl ToyZ, The Marcus Anderson Group, Baron Tymas Trio, Jasme Kelly, The Rise Band, Bull City Slam Team, The William Darity Group, Jatovie McDuffie, Jennifer Evans Gospel, Brandi Q & PB Band, Darrell Stover, Cinnamon Davis, Dasun Ahanu, The Johnny White Band, The William McLaughlin Group, Ian Siler & True Prayze, Sacrificial Poets, Kurt Melges & Leslie Land and more.

We urge you to support the recovery of this nation with a financial contribution; our neighbors in Haiti are racing to confront the enormous devastation. It is at times such as this that our help is need most. If you are unable to attend the concert the Hayti Heritage Center has set up a fund which will be sent to the Red Cross for relief efforts. You may donate through our on line donation system and identify your contribution for Haitian Earthquake Relief, or drop by the Hayti Heritage Center. Our prayers are with the Haitian community throughout the world.

Additional relief efforts and contact information is as follows:
Donate

• Financial Donations
  • Donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting “HAITI” to “90999.”
  • Contribute online to the Red Cross
• Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. (SJHF) founded in 1975, is an African American cultural and educational institution deeply rooted in the historic Hayti community of Durham, North Carolina. SJHF is dedicated to advancing cultural understanding through diverse programs that examine the experiences of Americans of African descent – locally, nationally and globally. The Foundation is committed to preserving, restoring and developing the Hayti Heritage Center, the former St. Joseph’s AME Church, a National Historic Landmark, as a cultural and economic anchor to the greater Durham community. For more information call (919) 683-1709.

A celebration of one of America’s most significant abolitionists!

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc will host the Bright Star Children’s Theater production of Fredrick Douglass on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 10:30 AM at the Hayti Heritage Center. This presentation is one of the yearly Heritage Arts for Youth Program Series held for children K-12 as a supplemental cultural arts program. The program is open for public schools, private school, day school and charter school programs. Admission is $5.00 per child, teachers and chaperons admitted free with a group. Registration is suggested because space is limited. Call (919) 683-1709 ext. 21.

Join us in this empowering and accessible tribute to one of the most vocal supportes of
the Abolition Movement. Born a slave on a Maryland plantation, Mr. Douglass made a heroic and brave escape to the free North. Throughout his life Mr. Douglass made education a priority, teaching himself to read and write and always placing high value on where an education could take you. Mr. Douglass became a brilliant orator, writer, presidential advisor, famed abolitionist and even a vice-presidential candidate! He truly is one of America’s greatest heroes. Join our talented actors as they bring to life this great historic figure and bring into context the world in which he lived.

Heritage Arts For Youth
Geared for all ages (K-12), the residency program is offered as a resource to educate and inspire future artists and local youths. Carefully selected artists provide outreach in the community and “in-house” programming at the Hayti Heritage Center to children and adults with limited or no access to arts programming. The 45-60 minute mini presentations or concert are interactive, hands on, lively and full of dance, songs and music.

Bright Star Children’s Theatre is a nationally touring professional theatre company based in Asheville, NC. Bright Star will provide nearly 500 shows to audiences across America this year ranging in venues from the National Theatre in Washington DC to elementary schools in Hartsville SC.

This program is funded by the City of Durham, North Carolina Arts Council and Durham Arts Council United Art Fund. For mor information or tickts call (919) 683-1709 ext. 21.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. will host the Spirit of Hayti Award Gala & Silent Auction themed “COMING HOME”, on Thursday evening February 11, 2010 at the Hayti Heritage Center. The black tie event will begin at 6:00 pm with a wine reception and the awards program starts at 7pm in the historic St. Joseph’s Performance Hall. The Hayti Heritage Center will be transformed for the fundraising event with entertainment on all levels, valet parking, featuring food stations sponsored by 15 of the best restaurants in the Triangle community. Entertainment will be provided by jazz vocalist Lenora Z. Helm, musician Bob Tapp, and harpist Winifred Starks Garrett will perform selected spiritual hymns during the awards ceremony. The event tickets are $75 per person (a portion is tax deductible) are on sale now.

PURCHASE TICKETS NOW

The event was established in 1999 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and historic preservation, as well as those individuals and organizations that portray excellence in leadership and community service. The honorees have demonstrated a commitment to sharing and creating opportunities for others within their own communities and throughout the country. The Spirit of Hayti Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Foundation.

Honorees for 2010 are Trail Blazer Award, Mr. Ernie Barnes (posthumously); Hayti Legacy Keeper for Corporate Philanthropy, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company; Hayti Legacy in Arts & Education, Ms Nancy Pinckney, Choreographer and Professor, North Carolina Central University; Hayti Progressive Leadership Award, Mr. Trevor Schoonmaker, Curator of Contemporary Art at Nasher Museum of Art; and Special Recognition Awards to the late Mr. Chester L. Jenkins and late Mr. James (Uncle Bubba) Fields (posthumously).

In honor of the event the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery will host a special curated exhibition of the works of Mr. Ernie Barnes, originals and prints, which will open on February 11 and run through March 30; and works by C’Omega Barnes, the sister-in-law of Mr. Barnes in the upper gallery. For a limited time prints will be available for purchase of Mr. Barnes work with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation.

A silent auction will be held on the evening of the gala and will feature works from artists across the county including a piece donated by the late Mr. Ernie Barnes.

The Spirit of Hayti Awards Ceremony & Gala is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event. It was established to honor individuals and organizations with strong roots in the Durham community that have made significant contributions to the arts, historic preservation, education, and exemplify outstanding leadership qualities. Some of our past award recipients have included: the late Dr. John Hope Franklin, Honorable H. M. Michaux, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Benjamin Ruffin, GlaxoSmithKline, Wendell Tabb, Dr. Linda Kerr Norflett, Anheuser Busch/ Harris Incorporated, WTVD-ABC11, Dr. Charles D. Watts, M & F Bank, as well as Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis.

For tickets call (919) 683-1709 ext. 28. If you are interested in sponsorship or donating an item for the silent auction contact Janella Sellars, Development Director at jsellars@hayti.org.