Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey

We are so excited to announce that the Race, Place & Diversity Award honoree is Bryan Stevenson, Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. KCFAA will present our 2021 Award at the Partnership for Justice & Remembrance Online Lecture on April 27th at 6 PM. The event is co-hosted by KCFAA, the UMKC Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair, and The Community Remembrance Project-MO. To attend, register online at: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1236/16/index.aspx To learn more & support the RPD Awards, visit: KCFAA.ORG/RPD

Come on... STRIKE A POSE! Join us for an interactive virtual VOGUE dance class on 5/7/21 at 7PM on ZOOM & 7:30 PM on Facebook Live. The remarkable Cesar Valentino is our teaching artist for First Friday May. Register to attend on Zoom: https://zoom.us/.../tJAuce6tqTkoHtR99mi8Tru6e8AroKvQ5pDi Event is sponsored by the William T. Kemper Foundation.

Our partner, Allies for Racial Justice, is continuing the important conversation on race. Register now for their April 13th event. Churches in Black and White: Facing Truth Seeking Solutions Tuesday, April 13 | 6:30 8:00 pm | Webinar https://reg.learningstream.com//reg_registration_maintenan... Join us for an inward-look at how complicity with racism created and perpetuates the divide in our churches and communities. Representatives from several Christian denominations will discuss the historic role churches played in separating God’s people by race, the role culture and politics play in maintaining the separation, and how God’s great command to truly love our neighbors as ourselves could set things right. Panelists include Rev. Dr. Greg Ellison II (Emory Univ), Pastor Darron Edwards(United Believers Church), Rev. Yvi Martin (Plattewoods UMC), Rev. Jacque McCall (St. James UMC), Stewart Curtright (Church of the Resurrection) and Pastor Nick Kaufmann Mamisashvili(Church of the Resurrection), Pastor Mark Potter (Colonial Presbyterian). Moderated by Dr. Nicole Price. See more

Featuring local elected leaders moderated by David Warm

We still have spots open for tonight's Courageous Conversation. Join us on April 5, 2021 at 5 PM. The panelists include: William Baird (Mayor of Lee’s Summit), Harold Johnson (County Commissioner KCK and Wyandotte County), Mike McDonough (Mayor of Raytown), and Carson Ross (Mayor of Blue Springs). We can't wait to hear our panel share thoughts about how city and county leaders are working to address inequities that marginalize people of color and to discuss changes they are making to improve equity and fairness in their communities. This conversation will be moderated by David Warm of MARC and will be broadcast via ZOOM. Register Now: https://zoom.us//r/6816165365193/WN_NcGrAwTOTESyULI_47YZnw

First Friday Welcome to KCFAA First Friday HipHop!!! Teaching Artist: Akira Armstrong with Pretty BIG Movement... Be sure to check out our programs at www.KCFAA.org Join us next month Friday, May 7, 2021 with teaching artist Cesar Valentino. Sponsored By: Evergy and William T Kemper Foundation

2020 has been a year like no other, a year of challenges and change. In these times of uncertainty, your generosity ensures that Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey is able to provide unique and culturally relevant arts programming. Please consider a year-end charitable gift and/or membership to Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) that will support arts education programs for under-served youth in Kansas City. Give today: KCFAA.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

Racism in Kansas City: A Courageous Conversation Featuring author G.S. Griffin and Community Leader Alvin Brooks

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey wishes you & yours a wonderful Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!

For Kansas City too....please wear a mask!

Join us in supporting Ailey Forward, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Virtual Season. Tune in on MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 6:30pm CT (through December 21) for the premiere of : A JAM SESSION FOR TROUBLING TIMES. Visit AlvinAiley.org/VirtualSeason for more information. Acclaimed Ailey dancer and Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts’ presents A Jam Session for Troubling Times, inspired by and featuring the music of the revolutionary saxophonist and composer Charlie Bird Pa...rker as part of the Bird100 centennial celebration. Alvin Ailey is famous for having said that dance came from the people, and it should always be delivered back to the people. In this upbeat, quirky, and accessible work filmed by Emily Kikta and Peter Walker, Jamar Roberts holds fast to that mission. At a time in our world rife with chaos and uncertainty, A Jam Session for Troubling Times uses the energy, nuance, and virtuosity of the ‘bebop’ sound as a vehicle to lift our spirits and demonstrate that we are stronger than our circumstances. *Generous support for A Jam Session for Troubling Times is provided by the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey through the generosity of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.

The show must go on. Support KCFAA by shopping at AmazonSmile. Select Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey in "Your AmazonSmile" and a portion of the proceeds will go to KCFAA. Thanks for the support!!

Exciting News!!! Courageous Conversations will now broadcast on Facebook Live! Join us tonight at 5:30 PM for an insightful discussion between Community Leader Alvin Brooks and G.S. Griffin, author of "Racism in Kansas City". This event is sponsored by HOK and is free to the public. You can watch right here on Facebook Live or pre-register to attend on Zoom. Register for Zoom: https://zoom.us//r/9316065284709/WN_dAMDxShgRTq3XXaa2p0gvg Check out an excerpt from the book, selected by KCFAA: https://www.kcfaa.org/kcfaa-racism-in-kansas-city_20-pages/

Join us tonight!!!!

Attention aspiring dancers: we still have a few spots open in our studio classes for the 2020 - 2021 school year. Classes are currently virtual. Enroll Now!! Learn more at kcfaa.org/studio.

First Friday Hip Hop Class featuring Elaina Paige Thomas Join us today, December 4, 7:00 pm for #KCFAAFIRSTFRIDAY Learn more about Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. https://www.kcfaa.org/about-kcfaa/ DONATIONS APPRECIATED https://www.kcfaa.org/donate/... ***WE DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS MUSIC*** See more

IT'S FIRST FRIDAY!! Join us Tonight at 7 PM on Facebook Live for a fun virtual hip-hop class led by Whitney. #KCFAAFIRSTFRIDAYS #HIPHOP

Get ready to dance! Join us tonight on Facebook Live at 7 PM for the final First Friday of 2020. Elaina Paige Thomas will lead an interactive virtual hip-hop dance class. #KCFAAFIRSTFRIDAYS

Take a quick coffee break and check out this interview our CEO, Melanie Miller did with Nonprofit Connect.

We are so excited to have Whitney as instructor for KCFAA's First Friday. A proud AileyCamp alum, Whitney has made a career of dance, joining several professional teams including the OKC Thundergirls, Texas Legends and Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders. Join us on 11/6/2020 at 7 PM for a fun and interactive hip-hop class premiering live on Facebook.

Get in on the discussion! Join us for Courageous Conversations, 12/7/2020 at 5:30 PM. Community Leader Alvin Brooks and Author G.S. Griffin will discuss Griffin's book, "Racism in Kansas City" and the harsh reality of race relations in KC. This event is sponsored by HOK. It is free to the public and will be held on zoom, you must pre-register to attend. Register Now: https://zoom.us//r/9316065284709/WN_dAMDxShgRTq3XXaa2p0gvg Check out an excerpt from the book, selected by KCFAA: https://www.kcfaa.org/kcfaa-racism-in-kansas-city_20-pages/

If you needed a reminder, this is it! Today is election day. Let your voice be heard!! #VOTE

Join us at 5:30 PM for Courageous Conversations. Tonight our conversation will focus on "Why People Don't Vote?". We hope to increase your understanding of those reasons and help you determine what you could do to affect change. Register Now: https://zoom.us//regi/tJYrceCpqTgqEtUeLy1K9ciV1sRa5RM4OCLd

Excellent workshop with 'The Group' today on 'Why People Vote?' What did our students learn from the session? "I learned how important it is to vote" "...every vote counts, even the votes for congress every two years" "That voting matters more than I thought"... "I learned that your employer is required to give you time off for voting" Please Vote!!

Mark your calendars!! November's First Friday will be led by former AileyCamper and Ailey Camp Instructor, Whitney! Join us on Facebook Live, 11/6/2020 at 7 PM for a virtual hip-hop dance class.

KCFAA presents COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS. Our new program challenges all to take a deep dive into understanding issues of race while tackling tough topics. Join us on 11/2/2020 from 5:30 PM - 7 PM via Zoom for an in-depth discussion on voting. We will gather for a brief introduction, then transition to a conversation in small groups. Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/.../tJYrceCpqTgqEtUeLy1K9ciV1sRa5RM4OCLd After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

First Friday Hip Hop Class led by Laureen Join us for the next First Friday on November 6th with @Whitney Ricketts #KCFAAFIRSTFRIDAY! Learn more about Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. https://www.kcfaa.org/about-kcfaa/... DONATIONS APPRECIATED https://www.kcfaa.org/donate/ ***WE DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS MUSIC***

It's FIRST FRIDAY!! Join us Tonight at 7 PM on Facebook Live for a free virtual Afrobeat dance class led by Laureen. #KCFAAFIRSTFRIDAYS #AFROBEAT