 We're white-doubling it, but we have no idea whether this audio is working or the video is working. It seems like it might be, but we do have CCTV in the house. Give it up for CCTV. CAX just rolled up, and y'all are with... Of course you are. Of course you are my favorite station. Of course you are. You know, so for those who are in the house, come on up here, stand by A, and we're going to make a little circle back here, a city circle back here. Come on, y'all, get up here. Come on, y'all, come on, come on. Get on up here. If you don't want to get up here, sit back down. Get up there. I never had a little right to bite you. You've been in front of a camera so many times. That way, you never can't. You get up. Then get up, and you can't. I'm going to break that down a little bit. Charlie! Charlie, Giannone's in the house. Hey, Charlie. Don't be afraid of life in Brazil. You can fly that way. You can fly this way. Okay. Look who's coming, look who's coming. And press. So, for those of you who are going to be standing with us, just go ahead and get a shirt, and we're going to... We're going to wait for you and I for you to put on a shirt. Here you go. So, I see... It is 1300. We have 12 boxes. And WFFFWB is wide. You want to get yourself in the room. You may not get it. We're still... Check. Check. WVNY. If you want to call, can you hear us? From the room? Yeah. So, I think we're... Let's see. We get to play with this just a little bit longer. We're coming up in a second. Come on. I want to know who's at the other room. WFFFWBNY. Can you hear us in the room? WFFFWBNY. Can you hear us in the room? How's my audio? That's good. Your momentary is started. I appreciate everybody holding it up. My tech guy dropped off the scene in the last minute. So, I'm doing double tuning today. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I've never seen them go shy since they started over in December. I think I scared them off. We still got a chance. We're almost ready. So, we can get all of y'all in the frame. Can we speak up a little bit? Can we get in a little bit? Can y'all appreciate that? What do you think this is? Can we just shut it up a little bit? Let's get this guy to support me. God, don't believe it. Okay. Can you imagine what it's like? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Look, guys. And if you don't watch this, that's fine. So... The good thing about having a press conference is that you can do whatever you want to do. Because it's your press conference. You know what I mean? We said we were going to start at one, but, you know, we are here. So, good afternoon, everyone. I am Reverend Mark Hughes. I am the executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance. And these folks here standing behind me stand with me to come out today and announce the fifth annual First African Landing Day here in Vermont. The fifth annual First African Landing Day here in Vermont. I want to, you know, just share with you a couple of things. On the onset, I'll come back and talk to you more later, but there's quite a few speakers that we want to get through so what I'm going to do is I'm going to just hold back a little bit, you know, on the front. There is an intersection of the 1619 Traveling Exhibit as well as the 400-year African American History Commission that I personally found in 2019. And this would emerge into what is now been proclaimed by our governor as Vermont's First African Landing Day. So this is very much about 1619. And what I would add to that is that one would be hard pressed to find a day in history that has more consequential and profound impact on this nation and indeed this planet. Then the 20th day of August in 1619, African Landing Day focuses on learning more about that day. It also focuses on its legacy which we experience every day. So it is with great honor and pride that I stand before you today to reintroduce you to First African Landing Day because we're not going anywhere. We'll be back next year with First African Landing Day. I think I would add to that that where First African Landing Day was born it is very important to understand is because it is that the impetus of First African Landing Day has everything to do with the legacy of slavery. And the work of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance has sought for the last several years to address just that otherwise referred to as systemic racism in all of our work across outreach and education, policy, community engagement and support, and cultural empowerment. What we stand together to do today is to bring our flagship event of cultural empowerment that seeks to address systemic racism to the forefront yet again. Now, here's what's really interesting about this event today is that we are hosting a press conference here from the Richard Kemp Center. Richard Kemp Center it serves as the cradle, if you will, of all cultural empowerment for black folks here by black folks, for black folks in the community of Burlington for the purpose of addressing systemic racism and that is what we know to be those disparate outcomes across all social determinants. Here we deliver programs and services that have been otherwise inefficient, ineffective or just non-existent. Here in the Richard Kemp Center this is what it's here for the first time in history that an organization has created an entity like this in the community of Burlington we are here, this is us, this is our house. Finally, before I introduce the director of the Richard Kemp Center my wife, Christine Hughes I would like to also add to you that of significant importance in triangulating on this event today is the presence of the traveling exhibit for 1619 which came right out of Old Point Comfort where the White Lion landed the 20th of August in 1619 that museum that is standing directly behind us this is the traveling exhibit for 1619 it is here in our house on this day. Everybody, let me introduce you to one of my favorite people in the world it's not the best, Christine Hughes. Excited about all the work that they've been doing make sure you come out tomorrow to the Intervail Center Rain or Shine, come on down it's going to be a great day and we're so proud of what has happened with the Richard Kemp Center and as Mark said this is our house it's always saying that and we really mean it we're not just saying that because it sounds good this is our house if there isn't something here that we're already doing that meets your needs come on over, let's sit down and talk about it because we have the capacity to create new programs and activities so I just really want to invite the community out tomorrow for first African landing day and to come by the Richard Kemp Center and check out what we're doing thank you tonight is movie night bring the kids so one of the things that I thought would be awesome today is that we can introduce some of the folks who've been here who've been supporting these efforts and who do the work every day who are doing the work before who are doing the work now and I know they'll be here with us next year so I know some of the programs and services that we've been supporting and implemented throughout the community has had a lot to do with artist street art, because after all that's where American culture comes from with black folks so here's what I'm here to introduce you to one of my favorite folks who supports, upholds and represents the culture of black cultural art here in the city of Burlington that is my sister Omega Jade I'm Omega Jade and I am proud to be a part of this community the Richard Kemp Center racial justice alliance I've been a part of this for a little over a year and I am now proud to say I am a community partner with them with that being said I'm inviting you to join us tomorrow because my black artist market will be one of the festivities that will be a part of Vermont's first African land event tomorrow come show some support get some food I got candles and other stuff I might even perform so yes please come you're all invited you're welcome I'm just looking around to see who else is behind me you've got a little behind you sometimes in this work here's what we're going to do we want to hear a little bit from our partners community partners who supported us who just stood hand in hand with us in the work and continued to stand hand in hand with the work that we do particularly as it pertains to our youth and in our community it's a rough road inside of the school districts across the state we have a partner in the Burlington school district Sparks can you talk to us thank you I want to say thank you to Mark and Christine a center like this has been long overdue I've been in Vermont since 1992 and as we think about racism and dismantling the white supremacy culture we've never had a place like this for us for black people doing things for other black people especially our black youth as we think about community partnerships first and foremost we have to think about those agencies that are committed to the work committed to serving the needs of our youth as I think about the school district we have a long way to go as we think about dismantling white supremacy culture and anti-racism we have a superintendent that is now committed to that work Tom Flanagan who I would say has been one of the first superintendents that we have had and we have gone this deep and dismantling white supremacy culture and anti-racism because our schools is one of the places that it starts the school is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and anti-racism as I think about the first African-American landing day it is something that our students need to fully understand our white faculty and staff need to fully understand and they need to embrace and we need to embrace this in our teaching every day so speaking of the schools one of the things that I thought was important because we have had here in the Richard Kim Center over the last six weeks just a group of incredibly dynamic youth a couple white young men I think about five black young women who were I think previously actually leading over at the Racial Justice Academy and they joined us for the duration of the major part of the summer here as interns and just began some of the most incredible work that you might imagine from a perspective of wellness we've been doing a lot of work from a perspective of wellness and there's one individual who sat in with me on our television program just a position and he's also here with us today and I'd love to hear from him we have Aiden and Aiden are great with us this morning I'd just like to say that the reason I'm here and why I chose to work over the summer is because in the middle of school there was a lot of stuff that's happening like a lot of stuff like racism that leads to sexism and racism that just wasn't being based in the school district and wasn't being addressed and I decided to do something useful with my summer so I signed up for Summer Justice Academy and that led to the opportunity to work with the Summer Justice Alliance and that led to a pretty productive summer with more that I've accomplished than I've ever thought I could as a student so yeah I'm definitely excited about having all of the youth in this summer as Black folks we understand as Black folks we stand united we stand united in recognizing the profound impact of our struggles throughout history our journey has been marked by underlying determination unyielding determination courage and an unbreakable spirit that has propelled us forward we honor those who came before us who endured the horrors of slavery segregation and systemic racism they bore the weight of oppression on their shoulders yet they never succumbed to this failure that's why we're here our ancestors and their unwavering faith and resilience have paved the way for our progress they fought for their freedom risking everything to forge a path of liberation their sacrifices their blood their needs of change that continue to grow within us today their struggles were not in vain they fortified our feelings and ignited a fire within us that refuses to be extinguished that is why we are here this year we are saying through the fire as a theme New Alchemist Baptist Church is a partner and a friend of the work of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and I am a minister at New Alchemist Baptist Church it is the tradition of my faith to do justice love mercy and walk humbly in the presence of the Most High God I would be remiss if I did not invite my sister Adnan Robinson to say a few words I am very very humbled and very pleased to be a part of such an amazing journey I am truly grateful for having the first African landing celebration here in Vermont we are proud that this is the fifth annual celebration and us at New Alpha we are very very pleased and happy with the work and we will be apart so to the Intubale Center hear all about what New Alpha has to offer and who we are and still in this community we appreciate everyone here at the Richard Kent Center and all of the staff that's here especially my dear sister Christine Hughes who is also a part of New Alpha so we are just grateful and we thank you all for being a part of what we have to offer and celebrating with us and standing with us so continue to do the work do the work we carry the legacy with us knowing that our strengths they flow their strengths flow to our veins their resilience courses through our hearts reminding us that we too have the power to overcome any obstacle in our path from generation to generation the torch of hope has passed down lighting the way for us to march forward and are you the vibrant and resilient souls who carry the promise of a brighter future tomorrow they embody the strength and the potential of our community they bear witness to our history and their shoulders are touched by the struggles we have faced but they do not falter instead they stand tall fueled by the fire that burns within them they are the architects of our future the ones who will continue to fight for justice and equality I have a member of the board of directors here present with us today Deacon Roy Hill also a member of New Alpha Missionary Baptist Church Reverend Mark Executive Director Reverend Mark Rachel Justice Alliance thank you for the beginning thank you for your leadership thank you for this powerful impactful more today than yesterday but in fact the symbolism the literal reality Reverend Mark told first reminds me of scripture that speaks to the reality that without education people perish without education we are about to be aware of what has happened in terms of the history of this country and you can please ever micro and macro questions you deny that reality country rests on their shoulders rest on their shoulders of men and women who went before us rest on their shoulders of boys and girls of yesterday and today they stand and we see them here symbolizing truth and death in the empowered talent of gifts which have come down to history to sustain this country and then there was the Executive Director another visual configurative leader first a woman a mother a woman who speaks to me bringing into existence more members of this human family the African American human family in particular for the person who this abuse oppressed denied much as the bullies in the 1700s who gathered in Philadelphia pulled together a constitution speaking to justice democracy but denying to women denying to African Americans only with air distance as the denial of our presence in our rights continue to this very day we are in Vermont that model says freedom and unity whether we have freedom and unity how can you have it if you deny the people who look like those who are here who are part of a majority of the population think of that when someone looks at someone like me or the life our Executive Director and as I close and especially our children we're part of a mighty we're not a minority we will not deny we deny we forevermore to keep going on because our rights come through the right thing I just wanted to do that again so there are some housekeeping things I wanted to run by we're almost to the close of this for those of you who haven't, who thought this may not may have not gone so long we've been waiting for 400 years so we're going to take our time we need to go, we need to be understanding although we're going to keep the fight so definitely it is important to understand that we still have free tickets that are available that are out there last check I think we had like over 220 people signed up 15 squarely there's a lot of stuff going on I wanted to also mention that there's going to be food and music and dancing and speakers and exhibits and there's going to be a youth home base that's going to be in the barn so if you're watching this and you're a youth and you're not there, shame on you because they're going to talk about you the legendary Bobby Hadley is going to be there I said the legendary Bobby the keynote speaker I just got off the phone with her today our own Dr. Wanda Hedy Grant she's actually delivered the keynote before but you weren't watching then but it's okay we're going to continue to do this then also here in the Richard Kim Center I'm so excited to say this so here in the Richard Kim Center what we have going on is we have the African American history wall which is already erected and it's developing and to work in progress and that's amazing yeah and then there's also there's going to be some local African American cultural exhibits as well you see like some already starting to go up here in the center so there will be that going on and of course there will also be the 1619 Traveling Exhibit which is right behind me so this will be on display at the same time there will be transportation that's taking folks from here down there and down there up here so all of that will be going on at the same time again tickets are available and they are free I do have one community partner that's here with us and I know that Annette is very new to CHT but she's also one of our very own and maybe not necessarily eager to have a word with you all but with some coaching we can probably get her to say a few words for us Annette multiple hats in the community as a community member I am excited about First African Landing Day I hope you all will be able to join us and I look forward to helping make this change in our community which is well overdue I have one of my favorite Senators here with us and we did just so you know in addition to all of the Senators of the racism which includes every single one of the 30 that's here within this community to include the city the Chittin County Regional Planning the hospital community opportunities credit union the list goes on you all have those those of you under pressure you have those because we did this remember in 2020 we did this so all of those were invited and so were many many many others to include a fast array of elected officials including everybody from the leadership all the way on down so we are not absent people here for lack of our outward communicating but we are still standing and we're still doing the work so we don't want to shame them out but we do want to call them in because this is where it's happening this weekend so I am really proud to say that we did get a taker no less from the Senate of the Vermont General Assembly so let me just briefly introduce who has someone who's been an ally with the work that we're doing Senator I'm going to mess it up Julie. Thank you. Because white people often speak over folks of color so I'm going to keep it really short but I'm so honored to be here it means a lot to me to be invited and I'm so thrilled that I could make it I am also on the Burlington School Board some of you know as well as in the Senate and I'm so thankful to smarts for being here today and our students they do incredible work and superintendent Flanagan is here as well so you know Nicole Hannah-Jones is a hero of mine and her work is incredibly important and vital to our whole country and she also has a lot of work about public education so those of you who know her from her 1619 project I would urge you to try to listen up and read some of the work that she's done around public education it's really important it is in some ways in our country we are more segregated than we've ever been before in terms of our education and that is a big problem school vouchers, public money going to private schools these are things we all need to look at thank you so much for having me we are so pleased to have had the opportunity to spend the time today with you we certainly don't take this opportunity to get in front of you for granted we just wanted to make sure that you know those folks who are across the state that they're having an opportunity to see what it is that is happening there is a a tectonic shift that's happening not just across this nation but across this planet right now, what a time to be alive what a time to be alive there's a lot of things that are happening right now I think those of us especially those who are ascribed to the traditions of faith we're buckling down we're standing strong but I think in particular when we start to think about these things that are being unearthed these facts, these this information that's being made readily available to us we can no longer hide behind objectivity we can no longer make a decision to hide in cognitive dissonance because what we're experiencing is real so we are on the moon, we're going to continue to do this work 1619 project was mentioned yes, we are rooted in these facts this is the academy has already has already finalized its analysis on the research involved in this project the reluctance is not the academy the reluctance is the community and the reluctance is the palantization of what it is that we're talking about but the academy has already settled in the facts concerning who we are as a nation and where we've come from so the disconnect that you're experiencing if anything has more to do with the fact that you have academically engaged in what it is that we're talking about because the facts bear out what it is we're talking about with this first African land besides, Nicole Hannah Jones and I are from the same hometown so you can't go wrong with that so we thank you for coming out together we navigate through the fire guided by wisdom of those who have come before us and inspired by the potential of those who will follow us we're not alone in this journey we are a collective force bound together by the threads of our shared history and the people for a better future we emerge as warriors fighting for justice equality in a world where we can all thrive in our pursuit of a brighter tomorrow we stand unwavering and unturned we march forward with the conviction that the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice and it is our duty to shape that arc with our unwavering determination our struggles have and will continue to strengthen us fortifying our spirit and driving us towards a future where equality and opportunity abound through the fire we rise transcending the limitations imposed upon us we are a testament to the power of resilience the beauty of unity and the boundless strength that resides within each and every one of us our story is one of triumph over adversity and as we forge ahead we carry with us the knowledge that our journey is not just for us but for the liberation of all thank you and good afternoon