A letter from Karma Cloud, Lincoln School, Newark

Events like the Newark Art Parade not only provide our students with a peaceful means of self-expression, but also raise our community’s Collective Consciousness and Spirit. In addition, it gives Newark Public Schools and the City of Newark of focal point. Our students need events like this to be a part of so that they can open their eyes to the bigger picture, broaden their horizons and feel connected to their larger surrounding community. They need to see that they are a part of something that has potential, that has value and that is larger than themselves. They also need to be seen. Being seen awakens their self esteem and stimulates their sense of pride and inner drive. It gives them a goal and encourages them, even if they are not fully conscious of the reason why, to bring their best and be involved in a positive way with their community.

Making Art for the sake of living bigger, brighter lives, breeds desire and innovation in our children. With these two impulses working hand in hand they can create solutions in their lives. With desire and innovation pulsing through their hearts and minds, they won’t see limitations as obstacles, but instead as opportunities to rise to the challenge of creating solutions and living beyond limitations. Art is a means of creating peace in our lives. And, this year at Lincoln School, our intention is to make a Peaceful Start to the school year! We, at Lincoln School, strive to cultivate such desire and innovation in our students and our staff and, therefore, are ever so grateful to the Barat Foundation for creating this opportunity for us to challenge ourselves creatively and pull together as a community. We look forward to doing so every coming year and hope that each year brings more schools and more people on the sidelines cheering on the Collective Consciousness, Creativity and Spirit of our children and our city.

There is no reason why the Newark Art Parade cannot become a Newark tradition. The Barat Foundation has created a vehicle for the City of Newark and all of Newark Public Schools to use as a means of coming together as a community and showing this city, state and the country our true colors. Just as Nelson Mandela seized the opportunity during his presidency to ride the vehicle provided by the South Africa Rugby Team and the World Cup to raise the Collective Consciousness and Spirit of his people, so too our Mayor and government officials, our Superintendent and Board of Education, should seize the opportunity to do so with the Newark Art Parade. They should lead the way by taking a personal and political interest in this Parade for it has the potential to create a common cultural identity for our city. If we are to ever actual manifest this so called “Renaissance of Newark,” we must invest in opportunities that allow us to see our beauty and take pride in ourselves.

Imagine if Mayor Booker, the Superintendent of Schools and the Barat Foundation personally invited every school to participate in next year’s Parade and guaranteed busing for every school that wished to participate? Imagine Broad St. closed from Bank street to Washington Park, or perhaps even better, to Lincoln Park, and filled with representatives from all 79 public schools and however many private schools of Newark, led by the Mayor. Imagine each school paired up with various artists, art galleries and art institutions to create art, music and performances for the parade. Imagine Newark businesses and corporations sponsoring each school to be in the parade, perhaps sponsoring their busing as well? Imagine both sides of the street lined with parents, families, students, residents and tourists. Imagine Lincoln or Washington Park alive with the sounds of student marching bands, performances and speeches. Imagine the inspiration and vitality this type of peaceful activism would bring our inner city and our schools to kick off the school year with such creative community spirit? Imagine what that could spark citywide? Imagine the Open Doors weekend drawing more residents and tourists every year. Imagine galleries, restaurants, hotels and other venues thriving with customers as a result. Imagine all this from a little Art Parade! It’s easy if you try!

We’ve already made a peaceful start with Art, now let’s take it higher. I hope next year you’ll join us, and Newark will shine as one!