Hey everybody! Catching up on posting. Thinking about adding an appearance update page. I am working on several projects and scheduled in-person guest appearances. So, perhaps the update page will keep you more in the know about various upcoming or already occurred bookings and events.
San Diego State University has many award winning student organizations in a lot of majors! These student organizations are not only becoming more well known locally, regionally, and nationally in their specific fields for research and innovations, but also for their global humanitarian commitment to nurture positive change. SDSU's Black Student Sciences Organization is one of these groups, young scholars dedicated to increase knowledge as they link to humanity.
Thank you to Dr. Estralita Martin and previous BSSO presidents for inviting me to participate in their annual Hope For Haiti Benefits. And, a special thank you to BSSO president Miyu Oda-DesHotels for inviting me to be a part of the last two in-person events during these almost "POST COVID" years.
COVID interrupted live in-person benefits as it rampaged across the globe; however, the organization took to ZOOM and continued the PRE-COVID legacy of raising funds for the island of Haiti. BSSO students are well aware of the difficulties facing Haiti's people, internal and external. A few years ago they expanded the benefit to also raise money for the families of firefighters who lost their lives fighting the devastating Australian fires. The young scholars local, regional, and global philanthropy remains firm in 2023. Each year, BSSO members and alumni participate in, visit, or support the event.
In 2022, BSSO resumed live in-person benefit performances. It was a small gathering of supporters with a lot of enthusiasm for reaching the projected 2022 funding goal.
Highlights:
The eclectic local band Bamboula played several "world music" songs. Their vocalists were sizzling and at times seemed to float effortlessly over the tight instrumental rhythm section.
I want to personally thank Bamboula and their trumpeter for playing the "Lacrimosa" section from Mozart's Requiem in D Minor 626 as musical collaboration during the spoken word performance of my original poem "Elegy For Lani". He provided a passionate yet controlled sonic tapestry on which to create an emotional picture with the words from my poem.
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As a way to thank performers for their years of support and donated time to BSSO and their annual Hope For Haiti benefit, we each received a surprise honor:
2023
Dr. Estralita Martin continues to guide and celebrate the organization's scholarship, interaction with the scientific community, and neighborhood STEM outreach in San Diego. BSSO's alumni often return to campus to generously serve as mentors to incoming freshmen and undergraduates.
This year, Hope For Haiti 2023 was also supported by several alumni, including previous BSSO president president, Darly DaCosta who was this year's MC.
As most of you all know, the San Diego State University Black Student Science Organization's Hope For Haiti Benefit is held in February, Black History month in America.
This year one of the performers was a San Diego culture icon Dajahn Blevins. His performance of the Negro Spiritual "I Opened My Mouth To The Lord" was an emotionally stirring experience (that's me in the background giving traditional African American call and response comments).
His vocalization is a dynamic example of internal vibrancy and resilience embedded in the deeply emotional meaning of this well known Negro Spiritual.
Dajahn Blevins singing traditional spiritual "I Opened My Mouth To The Lord"
Dajahn and I have known each other and worked with each other in various venues here in San Diego for over at least three decades. It was exhilarating to hear him sing live again. His community support for positive cultural expression and exchange is well known throughout the LA. and San Diego area.
Richard Pritchett
This year, I performed one of my poems "Freedom Light: For Mandela" recently published in the poetry anthology: An Activists' Poetry Anthology Selected Poems For Good Trouble https://www.amazon.com/Activists-Poetry-Anthology-Selected-Trouble/dp/1735055689
It was an honor to participate in the 2023 Hope For Haiti benefit. It is BSSO's second almost "Post-COVID" in-person event. Congratulations young scholars, keep up the community minded spirit and legacy as global scholars.
The Black Student Science Organization at San Diego State University continues a powerful tradition of scholarship, philanthropy, and community service.
delores fisher
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