We Made A PodCast!

"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, executive director of the Dr. Margaret Wade Lewis Center for Black History and Culture, sits down with her beloved “Ciesta,” Professor Ciesta Little-Quinn — educator, musician, choir director, and longtime pillar of Black cultural life in the Hudson Valley.

The Dr. Margaret Wade‑Lewis Center for Black History and Culture is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of the Black community in the Hudson Valley. Named for Dr. Margaret Wade‑Lewis, a pioneering scholar and mentor at SUNY New Paltz, the Center engages, educates, and empowers the community through cultural programming, historical research, and public storytelling.

Photo Caption: Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis and Professor Ciesta Little-Quinn

Donations from the Episcopal Campus Ministries' Allison Moore and two LA&S student interns ––Sierra DeVito and Marietou Sacko––have helped make this production possible.eserves 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. Donations from the Episcopal Campus Ministries' Allison Moore and two LA&S student interns Sierra DeVito and Marietou Sacko have helped make this production possible.

We Be Griots, a podcast amplifying Black writers, poets, and storytellers, shares powerful life stories, journeys for justice, acts of resistance against racism, and celebrations of achievement.

Listen To The Podcast Here: https://www.mwlcenter.org/podcastwbg