The Immigrant Arts Coalition, will hold its second annual summit titled the Francesca Cernia Slovin Immigrant Arts & Women’s Empowerment Summit from August 5th- 8th at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery Place in New York City.
The summit will feature Tony Award-nominated dancer and actress Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, A Bronx Tale, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who on June 26th won the Democratic primary in New York’s 14th congressional district over a long-serving incumbent. Leaders representing over 25 national backgrounds from across the globe will come together to participate in the summit.
Honoring diversity and empowerment through the arts, the program features panel discussions, talks, workshops, performances from distinguished artists and participants representing the tapestry of arts, community leaders and cultural organizations. The summit opens on Sunday, August 5th with a concert at Robert F. Wagner Junior Park featuring Cosmopolis Collective, an all-immigrant band with award winning artists from seven countries.
The concert will open with the public premiere of IAC’s anthem “Carry On,” performed by recording artist and television personality Kimberley Locke. Written by songwriter Celina Gray, and produced by Mark Ethan Toporek, “Carry On” speaks to the American Immigration experience, and reflects the importance of the diversity that comprises the cultural fabric of the country.
“We, as musicians, dancers and artists, come together to show that traditions of immigrants have bolstered and generated the true beauty of American culture,” said Sita Chay, Musical Director of Cosmopolis Collective and violinist of the Grammy-winning mariachi band Flor de Toloache.
Featured among the participants: NYS Attorney General, Barbara Underwood; Grammy winner Sita Chay; Bronx Council on the Arts Deputy Director, Charlie Vázquez; Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute Founder, Dr. Marta Moreno Vega; Kinky Boots Tour Music Director, Steven Cuevas; award-winning investigative journalist, Lindsay Beyerstein; CultureIntel CEO Lili Gil Valletta; NBC News Creative Director Val Nicholas; Former Manhattan Borough President, Ruth Messinger; Rebel Diaz Rapper, Rodrigo Starz; Singer Roxiny.
For a full schedule and to RSVP, visit www.immigrantarts.org. RSVP’s are managed via Eventbrite and you must reserve your seat in advance. There are only 100 seats available to the closing night event, “The United States of Comedy,” at the exclusive Friars Club.
