Some participants are in wheelchairs, others have recently arrived from, perhaps, a third world country and know very little English. But because we welcome differences we learn to help one another, take time to listen, to laugh and clean up.

In the thirty plus years of these celebrations, there have been many models, some fancy, some simple but all foster a sense of belonging and of being valued. We often use slides as portable sets which we are then able take to senior centers, the handicapped and, most often, schools in the inner city in which we invite the children to actively participate by singing, asking us questions and moving to the music.

We won many awards. We performed "Gershwin" at the Kennedy Center; scenes from "Twain" at the Mark Twain Memorial; Anne Frank in a town wide celebration in the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center; in schools all over Connecticut, and, lately, in libraries where we meet, practice and perform.

Many years of interdistrict celebrations followed. They were generously funded, and invariably died when the money ran out. In order to continue ongoing programs with minimal funding we have for the past six years turned to community service activities in the West Hartford Public Schools and Trinity College using volunteers from the student council and Honor Societies who become Big Brothers & Sisters to the younger children. Two years ago, we introduced tribute celebrations at Trinity College in Hartford. The following summer they became part of the summer program at the YMCA in Woodstock.

All you need is the script. Many are available. They include MLK Jr., Mark Twain & Frederick Douglass in joint appearance; Thurgood Marshall, Dona Felisa Rincon, scenes from Anne Frank, Marc Chagall, Langston Hughes.

Next, you need a table, chairs and assign parts. The rule is that everyone is entitled to be a Langston Hughes at least once. We read through scenes, discuss their relevance to our lives and take turns performing them to the group. Inbetween practicing the scenes, we take time to sing, draw and dance. Trust me, the Big Brothers and Sisters know how to follow these instructions and add their own creativity.     

The scripts are not canned. They can be added to, adapted and arranged according to the time available. They are not copyrighted. Costs are minimal. Libraries usually have extra rooms, so do schools. Try it! It's fun for everyone.