Vestal Social Justice Night 2022
For Immediate Release: Vestal Social Justice Night 2022 Expands in Scope and Impact
As one of eleven recipients of Metro’s Community Placemaking grant this year, Montavilla’s Vestal Elementary expands their annual Social Justice Night in partnership with PSU’s Artist as Citizen Initiative and the arts nonprofit, Montavilla Jazz. The community-wide celebration will feature collaborative artistic works – by both students and professionals – focused on two of Vestal’s five pillars of social justice: community diversity and family identity. On this special evening Vestal will invite one of Portland’s most culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to come together in celebration of social justice, art, food, music, and community.
WHEN: Thursday, May 26, 2022, starting at 4:30pm with events through the evening
WHERE: Outside on the playground and in the gymnasium of Vestal Elementary (161 NE 82nd Ave). Dinner will take place across the street at The Yard prior to the festivities!
WHO: Open to the Vestal community, partners, and neighborhood residents
WHAT: Vestal Social Justice Night 2022 – Featuring Student-led Social Justice Projects and Art Exhibits, local arts and crafts vendors, and Three Jazz World Premieres!
2022 Featured Jazz Artists:
- Denzel Mendoza – GRAMMY winning trombonist, improviser (Haley Heynderickx, American DREAMers; Vestal featured artist 2021)
- Machado Mijiga – Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and educator (Djungol Jim, DoubleDash; Vestal guest artist 2020 & featured artist 2021)
- Mary-Sue Tobin – Saxophonist, bandleader, and educator, (Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Quadraphonnes; Vestal resident artist 2018 – 2021)
A welcoming dinner will take place before the performance at The Yard food carts, located directly across from the school, with complimentary meals (procured through grant funding) provided by participating food carts and coordinated with support from Samira Mohamed owner of Mira’s East African Cuisine. In this way Vestal and its partners will further support BIPOC-owned food carts directly through payments for food for the event and by raising awareness of and visibility for their unique businesses and their immigrant stories.
