Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/19/2023
MONSON — Afri(K)que Limited will host its sixth annual Monson Cultural Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 12, at Veterans Field from 1-5 p.m. An event for people of all ages with close to 30 unique vendors, tons of activities and raffle prizes.
Some of the vendors include Flowers Wood Creations, Miya’s Mixes, Liv Nu Accessories, Crafts by Clines, Wilbraham Welcome Project, Open Pantry Community Services, Monson Free Library and Reading Room Association and Monson Democratic Town Committee. There will be performances from local artist Faith Ward, Youneek Group, Cita Light and Nadiaalves, interactive African drums and dance led by Faith Conant, a Colombian dance by Monique and DJ Serge LaMusica is returning with his knowledge of music from all over the world.
Founder and Executive Director Karina Dise said, “I really hope that the numbers increase this year. I hope people are feeling more comfortable in joining events, going out and having a fun time.”
She continued, “Our focus this year is the young entrepreneurship and supporting local businesses in our community.”
Established in 2014, Afri(K)que Limited is a nonprofit organization fighting against hunger, homelessness and poverty in women and girls through the arts. They promote handcrafted women’s wear, accessories, and artwork, presenting them at themed-parties, fairs, hospitals, schools and organized fashion shows and events. After traveling in Africa, Europe and in the United States, Dise observed how poverty was affecting several girls and women in their communities, the concept of Afri(K)que was born. She told Reminder Publishing many of these women know how to sew, paint, weave traditional fans and make handmade jewelry, but they still can’t afford a decent meal. The idea of supporting women and girls in the communities where they work through artwork started to make sense.
Currently, Afri(K)que is supporting three women from Togo, West Africa, who have talents sewing batik, bazin and kente clothing. They’re also giving hope to local women and girls in the Western Massachusetts area who are facing homelessness and hunger through donations of all kinds, giving handmade jewelry, toiletries, clothing, shoes and monetary donations to females in need and offering African jewelry and dance/drum workshops at different locations.
The idea for the cultural picnic came about when Dise noticed over the summertime there weren’t many events happening in the month of August.
“After the Fourth of July, there’s not much going on in August and children are preparing to go back to school at the end of the month,” Dise said. “We figured out there has to be some kind of celebration or event over the summer right before school starts where families get together and just have a fun time. That’s how the Monson Cultural Picnic started.” Proceeds of this event helps Afri(K)que Limited continue to give a helping hand to local women experiencing hunger, homelessness, poverty or sometimes displaced by fire. It also supports charitable trips to Togo, West Africa, and donations to orphanages.
Attendees can RSVP at www.afrikque.com. Afri(K)que are looking for a few more vendors. The best way to contact them is on Facebook at AfriKque Limited or log on to their website.