African American Arts & Cultural Festival 2020

On Monday, Gossips published a post which questioned some of the mass gathering permits that have been approved for recent public events. Among them was the mass gathering permit for the African American Arts and Cultural Festival, which takes place this weekend. The application had been submitted in February, but, according to the document itself, it had only been approved on July 22. The application indicated the expected attendance was 2,000, and that number had not been altered

The post drew an indignant response from Mayor Kamal Johnson, which appeared on one of the community boards on Facebook this morning and has since disappeared, and a much more helpful response from Elena Mosley, the organizer of the event. Although it was addressed to The Gossips of Rivertown, Mosley put her response on her personal Facebook page, where I might not have found it had Dorothy Heyl not directed my attention to it. Because it answers many questions about the event and provides assurances about safety protocols, the entire message is reproduced here.

To the Gossips of Rivertown
First and foremost, there are guidelines to function during this pandemic issued by the Governor Cuomo that are being honored by the Columbia County Comeback team and Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson. There are also protocols that must be followed to receive a permit.
For those of you who plan, you can relate to the fact that permits for annual Hudson Black Arts and Cultural Festival in the winter. Therefore, the permit and application that has been filed reflects conditions prior to the COVID pandemic. To proceed during the pandemic for an event, I had to file a required safety plan, which adheres to the current pandemic guidelines, complete with PPE and maximum attendance rules. Having said this, The Sankofa Day at the waterfront is a commemoration of a festival that we cannot have. All the activities that would normally involve community engagement will be a virtual experience during the rest of August.
Operation Unite New York is complying. We reserve the right to come down to the river and enjoy its scenery along with everyone else at the park. We reserve the right to comply and not have a parade with the bells and whistles, but to walk down Warren Street on the sidewalks or through the SHARED STREETS that we help to beautify by building the planters and filling them with dirt and flowers.
Here is the statement that I started circulating yesterday. One day before I saw the comment in this Gossips of Rivertown. When you are finished, I invite you to walk or ride down to the Hudson Riverfront Park and see who is there. Folks enjoying the river on kayaks and boats, people eating on picnic tables, fishing, renting equipment and gathering in general. There purposely are no activities that would draw a crowd at the Sankofa Day, no games, no big tents, no performances. There is an opportunity to see a mural being created, artists spaced out making their creations, purchase a food plate and mosey on your way.
For you convenience, I have included the statement that I have been sharing.
Sincerely,
Elena Mosley
Executive Director of Operation Unite New York, Inc.
Member of Columbia County Comeback
Mother, Wife, RN

Hudson Sankofa Black Arts and Cultural Festival
Sankofa Day, August 8, 2020

It is fair to day that we are living in a different world than just a few months ago. The pandemic has impacted everything that we do. The Black Arts and Cultural Festival celebrates culture and contributions by people of color who have shaped our world as we live it. After much consideration of do we go forward or do we cancel, the decision was made to go on.
Operation Unite has spent 4 weeks participating in Waterfront Wednesdays. We always wear masks and practice social distancing. We have witnessed how important the Hudson Riverfront Park plays a role in walking around in open space where social distancing can occur, and families can enjoy the river and its surroundings safely.
Our Sankofa Day by the Hudson River is a day of commemoration of our heritage and a day to reflect on our past to move forward progressively into our future. Our activities are leisurely and spread out throughout the day. School supplies for grades K-5 will be given out at 12 noon. Sign up for supplies at 11:30 a.m. One can visit our local artists Chiarra Hughes, Pamela Badila, Ifetayo Cobbins, Ntangou Badila, Lucy Welch, Nkoula Badila and observe their passion and process. Mural Artist Danielle Mastrion will create a community mural with inspiration from our Shared Street Project Youth from Operation Unite NY and Hudson Hall.
We invite everyone to participate in our Strolling Walking Parade down Warren Street after 2pm to recognize Sankofa and honor people of our past. Feel free to hold signs, posters, and wear red, black and green, the colors of the Bendera-African American Flag. Decorated cars are welcome all day through our Shared Streets at 5 miles per hour. Our annual Stilt Walkers from Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will be strolling along too. There is no parade lineup, as this is a slow-moving stroll down the sidewalks and Shared Streets of Warren Street to the Hudson Riverfront Park.
At 1:00 pm Community Chef Larry Walker will serve up mouthwatering food at his concession stand. Family members can sign up for a free 50-minute boat ride with the Hudson Sloop Club at 4, 5, and 6:00pm. At 4:00pm, we will announce the First Annual Sankofa Community Award Nominees with a possible surprise guest. At 5pm, enjoy the sounds of Ujima Community Collective class lead by John and Olympia Ward.
So, stroll across the lawn as you visit the artists and get something to eat. As the Hudson Riverfront Park is open to all river lovers, the gazebo section will be marked so that you can enter and be counted. Please help us observe social distancing, wear masks, use sanitizer provided and wear a mask.
The entire month of August will be dedicated to the Hudson Sankofa Virtual Festival. On Monday, August 10th, we will announce all forums and guest artists. On September 4, as part of the Hudson Eye event, we will celebrate our Sankofa Community Service Awardees and have our final panel discussion moderated by James Campbell.
The Hudson Sanfofa Black Arts and Cultural Festival is presented by Operation Unite New York, with support and funding from the City of Hudson, and the Hudson Tourism Board. For more information, contact us at: elena@operationuniteny.org.