When I arrived at the field at Historic Huguenot Street to emcee the Margaret Wade-Lewis Center’s Juneteenth Jubilee, I thought I was stepping into an afternoon of music, dance, stories, and history. And I was. But almost immediately, it became something more.

"We Be Griots"is the name of our new podcast! A "Griot" is a West African storyteller who A "Griot" is a West African storyteller who preserves the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people. "We Be Griots" is a series of conversations about the Black experience in our region. The name of this podcast comes from a poem of the same name from Ulster County's first poet laureate, Kate Hymes. Episode one is a wide‑ranging conversation, host Esi Lewis,

Caren Fairweather We at the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Center were heartbroken to learn of the passing of our beloved Caren Fairweather. Through her role as board advisor, Caren tirelessly helped strengthen our organization, steering us with kindness, grace, and humor. We deeply appreciate the wisdom she has left with us, and we will continue forward with her legacy guiding us. We send our deepest condolences to her cherished family. ❤️🕊️❤️ Read her obituary: https://www.copel