IAIS is proud to highlight the basketry of Liz Charlebois, Abenaki Descent, for the months of April through June. She has been making sweetgrass and black ash fancy baskets for ten years, learning as an apprentice with Master Abenaki basket maker Jeanne Brink. In keeping the tradition alive, Liz has begun teaching her young daughter the craft.

Co-presented by Neighbors Link Stamford

ABOUT THE FILM: Made in L.A. is an Emmy award-winning feature documentary that follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Catalina Horak,
Catalina is the Executive Director of Neighbors Link Stamford. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 13 years and brings a wealth of multicultural experience to the organization. A native of Colombia, she has lived in several countries in North America, South America and Europe. Catalina has lived in Fairfield County since 1997. She has served as a board member and officer of several non-profit organizations in the USA as well as in her native Colombia. As former Board Chair on Neighbors Link Mount Kisco, she was a driving force behind the initiative to replicate Neighbors Link and bring it to Stamford. She has a MS in Nonprofit Management from New School University

ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS LINK: Neighbors Link Stamford is a new non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive resource center for recent immigrants in the Stamford, CT area. The mission of Neighbors Link is to strengthen the whole community by actively enhancing the healthy integration of immigrants. We are an affiliate of a successful 10-year-old non-profit organization in Mount Kisco, NY. Stamford is honored to be the innagural partner in this endeavor. Wile our name and programs will be similar to Mount Kisco’s, Neighbors Link Stamford will be led and operated by members of the greater Stamford community.

Back by popular demand, the Newington Children’s Theatre Company’s five-week full-day SUMMER THEATER ARTS PROGRAM, for kids ages 8-15, gives participants the opportunity to learn and strengthen their musical theatre skills by working with theatre professionals in acting, dance and music. Participants receive hands-on experience by having the opportunity to apply the skills that they are learning throughout the program while preparing for a fully staged production of the beloved musical, ANNIE.  

The SUMMER THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM runs July 2^nd through August 5^th, Monday through Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm at the NCTC Performing Arts Theatre located at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington. Before and aftercare are available.

The SUMMER THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM will be run by NCTC’s Executive/Artistic Director, Claire Van Cott and choreographed by NCTC vet, Jessie Sattler. Every registered participant will receive a role in the show.

Public performances will be August 2^nd-5^th, Thursday-Saturday at 7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. The cost for this five-week program is $1,250.

For more information, please call 860.666.NCTC or visit www.NCTCArts.org.

More About the NCTC Performing Arts Theatre

NCTC Performing Arts Theatre provides year-round quality entertainment and hands-on educational programs in the performing arts to children and young adults from preschool through college.

NCTC Performing Arts Theatre is the home of the Newington Children's Theatre Company, Connecticut's longest operating children's theatre and Newington Mainstage, a new acting company for adults. www.NCTCArts.org

IMAGES features the work of local photographer Charles Ruger and the 4^th Annual Juried Photography exhibition celebrating the work of talented regional photographers.

Charles Ruger studied art history and politics at Connecticut College and Columbia University. He is a self-taught photographer whose work figures into private and corporate collections internationally.

He lives and works in New York City. For more information on Ruger’s work, view his site: http://www.charlesruger.com/aboutthework.html

Come help us celebrate the 20th anniversary season of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival! Enjoy readings by major American poets, live music, writing workshops, poet talks, film and drama, museum tours, Poetry on the Trails, contra dance, book sales and signings, food vendors...picnics are welcome! 

Admission:  OPENING WEEKEND, June 1–3: $10 per person, per day, or $25 per person for the weekend. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, and August 1: $5 per person, children ages 12 and under free. Parking is free.

Guest poets include: Suji Kwock Kim, Bessy Reyna, B. Yung, Richard Wilbur, Minton Sparks, Toi Derricotte, Dana Gioia, Christian Wiman, Marilyn Annucci, Natasha Trethewey, Sue Burton, Donald Hall and Tony Hoagland.

For more information: http://sunkengardenpoetry.org/

Donate your gently used furniture for the Amherst Survival Center's annual fall used furniture sale! See www.amherstsurvival.org, email furniture@amherstsurvival.org, or call 413-549-3968 x252 for information or to arrange pick-up or delivery. All contributions are tax deductible, and donations will be collected through the end of August so we can set up for the sale at the Survival Center September 7th and 8th. The sale supports Survival Center programs that provide food, health care and clothing to over 4,000 of our neighbors in need in Hampshire and Franklin Counties in MA each year.

Join us on Wednesday, June 13th for an evening of music and poetry in the Hill-Stead Museum's beautiful Sunken Garden!  The evening's featured reader will be Dana Gioa, an internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet.  Music will be performed by band, Eight to the Bar.  Parking is free.  The venue is wheelchair accessible.  Food can be purchased or brought from home. 

Admission is $5 per person.

For more information: http://www.sunkengardenpoetry.org/