September at QANC
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month
This month we honor our Hispanic friends and neighbors! Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th - October 15th each year. September 15th marks the “Independence Day” for many Latin American countries including El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
Hispanic and Latino influences are tightly woven into the fabric of American culture through art, music, food, literature, and cinema. These contributions are invaluable to the community and embody the shared values that make Greater New Britain a better place for all.
Savannah and her father performing “Quiet Storm”
Watoto: Where are they now?
In line with Hispanic Heritage Month, today we highlight Watoto alum Savannah Freitas, who is pursuing a career closely connected to Latin interests.
If you appreciate the musical talents of Watoto, then you’ll likely remember Savannah. She performed a memorable version of the bossa nova classic “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)” with her father, who is Portuguese. The song is sung half in English and half in Portuguese; Their multilingual duet honored both their heritage and musical talent.
Savannah is not only an exceptional singer, but a fearless creator. We fondly recall Savannah writing her own song at 10 years old. Nzinga’s Daughters helped bring her tune to life with the full band, even featuring it in a live performance. Over the years her musical talents grew, and she even traveled to Spain to sing with Betty Harris!
Savannah recently told Dayna “The reason I travel is because of you”.
Her experience with QANC in Spain gave her the travel bug, and she’s been spreading her light around the world ever since. Her motivation to create a more equitable world for all has taken her from Texas where she worked as a paralegal for an immigration lawyer, to Peru and Costa Rica where she managed a volunteer network supporting service projects.
Now, Savannah is preparing to take her passion for social justice a step further. She was recently accepted into Law School and will be pursuing Public Interest Law to build a more just world. We are so proud of Savannah’s hard work, creative talent, cultural awareness and dedication to serving others!
Watoto Resumes
It’s back-to-school season, meaning we are gearing up for another year of Watoto. This program encourages young people to become their best selves through arts and humanities workshops. The program is FREE and open to all ages from 5-17.If you’re ready to sign your child up for Watoto, click this link to get started.
We meet on Thursdays at the Center of Excellence and Saturdays at the New Britain YWCA. Your child is welcome to attend either or both sessions as schedules allow. This Fall we will be welcoming mentors in live music, dance choreography, African mask-making, and more!
This year we are thrilled to welcome our new facilitators, Yateena and Trey. These two will be leading Watoto sessions each week, so we are sure they will quickly become familiar faces.
Yateena has an exceptional track record of raising up youth to become their best selves. She previously served as a youth leader with the Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, and most recently designed programs for the CT Science Center like You Code Girl for young girls learning applied robotics. Yateena brings her experience building strong relationships with youth to the team, building a supportive environment where participants are confident in discovering their talents.
Trey is a successful hip-hop artist driven by a passion for uplifting youth. His music brings positivity to the world by sharing his experiences overcoming hardship and finding success in the arts. He is intentional about using his message to bring people together through compelling storytelling, building a community where all people are seen, heard, and encouraged to succeed. His artistic excellence and ability to connect with young people make him an inspiring mentor for Watoto.
Open House
For those wanting a taste of the Watoto program, we invite you to our Open House. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will have Latin food and music, as well as games and crafts for the kids. We’ll also have staff on hand to answer any lingering questions and talk a bit about what Watoto will be up to this fall.
Open House Details:
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 1-4pm
Center of Excellence
57 Fern Street New Britain, CT, 06053
