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Date: 6/21/2023
HUNTINGTON — Helena Alves is the Green Team coordinator for the Springfield Jazz and Roots Fest, run by Kristin Gaitenby Neville, both of Huntington, for the nonprofit Blues to Green, which Kristin founded with her husband, musician Charles Neville, in 2014. Charles Neville died in 2018.
The nonprofit the Nevilles founded strives to spread Charles’ legacy of using music to overcome racial injustice and bring people together in joy. Blues to Green hosts concerts, exhibits, public talks and media projects with the help of world-class musicians. The organization also provides educational sessions, bringing acclaimed Black and Afro-Caribbean musicians into Springfield public schools to use music to teach history and literature in a creative way that engages middle and high school students and makes them excited to attend school.
One of the biggest projects that Blues to Green organizes is the Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival, scheduled this year for July 21-22. The free festival draws 5,000 to 8,000 people to downtown Springfield for family-friendly art, education and music. The performers at this year’s jazz festival have just been announced, and are listed at bluestogreen.org.
Alves said the Jazz and Roots Festival is also environmentally friendly.
“An important goal is to promote sustainable consumption and waste channeling in order to avoid too much trash ending up in the landfill,” she said, adding that all of the food vendors are encouraged to use recyclable containers including drinking cups and serving ware. She said the “Green Team” is on site throughout the festival to ensure that the festival grounds are kept clean throughout.
Alves, a retired public-school teacher, has served on the Huntington Conservation Commission for over 20 years. She said she tries to make the world around her “clean, green and sustainable.”
Alves is asking volunteers to join these Hilltown women in their quest to make this year’s Jazz and Roots festival the best one yet.
“You, your friends, club members, church or social group can become part of an event that enriches the lives of everyone in Western Massachusetts,” she said.
To learn more or to sign up for the Green Team, contact Helena Alves at helenatva@comcast.net or 413-207-1600.
“Helena and everyone at Blues to Green look forward to hearing from you,” she said.