UTICA, NY—On Saturday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m., Kemble Park in Utica will host young singers, rappers, poets, musicians, dancers and more at Nomadic Voice’s latest pop-up placemaking event.
The event had to be postponed from early October due to inclement weather. The rain date for the event will be Sunday, Nov. 7 at the same time.
Supported by Utica College’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Student Transitions, the Cultural Showcase event will feature local talent in a positive environment and will also provide an opportunity for area students to have a diverse experience in the heart of the city. Participants can take in free entertainment, enjoy the park, and visit cultural food vendors.
Popular performers such as rapper Leeky XIV and R&B singer Nazzy Deloach will be taking part, along with others who have just begun to perform.
Utica College senior Tabo Bo, creative director and founder of Nomadic Voices, shares, “This will be our largest event to date, and we will be showcasing some amazing local talent. I’m excited to connect the College community with the Cornhill community and give young performers a platform to shine.”
Dr. Anthony M. Baird, vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Student Transitions/Chief Diversity Officer at Utica College adds, “Utica College has been a leading pillar of the greater Utica Community. Under the leadership of President Laura Casamento, we are committed to demonstrating servant leadership, civic, and community engagement. We encourage our students to immerse themselves in experiences in the community that allow them to think of others and to give of themselves.”
“This event is directed and produced for the people by the people, under the leadership of one of our very own students at Utica College, Tabo Bo. We are proud of everyone who helped to bring Tabo’s vision to fruition, from submission of the grant proposal in 2020 to the November 6, 2021 launch. When COVID struck and threatened the time of the grant and execution, Tabo came back to the DEI Collaborative and asked for an extension of the grant funds. We obliged and here we are today, as we look forward to a wonderful event. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team came together to help Tabo make his vision a reality. This event is for the people and for the culture of Utica College and the greater Utica community,” Baird said.
Kemble Park is located between Oneida, James and Kemble streets. Street parking is available. The event is free and open to the public.
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About the Utica College Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Student Transitions
Utica College’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Student Transitions works to create an equitable and inclusive College community by engaging in long-term, ongoing antiracism and anti-discrimination work. Acknowledging that our lived experiences are shaped by multiple intersectional identities and traditions, the division brings together diverse constituents from the community who work on projects, programs, and events intended to create a College and community that embraces and affirms our diverse population. It also oversees the DEI Collaborative, a collective of over 18 task and action groups that endeavor to build a sense of unity within and across cultures on campus.
About Nomadic Voices
Nomadic Voices was launched in Summer 2020 and offers an outlet and an audience for young creatives, where they are free to express their art. Their group sets up at different city parks and other popular locations, including Handshake.City, for their events to showcase singers, musicians, rappers, beat makers, spoken word artists, fine artists, and more. Founder Tabo Bo, a Proctor High School graduate, Young Scholar alum and current Utica College senior, has a passion for connecting creatives and providing a collaborative space for them to share their talent with the word. The organization has held more than 13 successful events so far in the city of Utica in just over a year.
