ARTISTS & PERFORMERS
TEOLI STAGE
The Carmela Teoli Stage is named in honor of the Lawrence teen whose courageous testimony before Congress helped bring a successful end the Bread and Roses Strike by raising national awareness of unsafe working conditions. After dropping out of sixth grade to work in the mills, Teoli suffered a horrific injury when her hair was caught in a textile machine. Despite months in the hospital, she joined the strike and testified before Congress, gaining national attention, the support of President Taft, and pressuring mill owners to raise wages. Her testimony also gained support for labor laws that limited work hours for children so they could attend school and set minimum ages for dangerous jobs. Teoli's bravery continues to inspire today's youth in the ongoing fight for workers' and human rights, showing that even the youngest voices can make a lasting impact.
YARINA
Yarina is a musical group made up of eleven brothers and sisters from the Cachimuel family. Their artistic approach is framed within the musical fusion of the Otavalo Kichwa people, combining ancestral sounds with contemporary elements. The group was founded in 1984 by their parents, José Manuel Cachimuel and Rosa Elena Amaguaña, who, driven by the fight for the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, initiated this project as a way to preserve and raise awareness of the Kichwa cultural identity. Their commitment to social causes is also reflected in their collaborative work with various community organizations.
LUIMI BANDA
LuiMi Banda originated in Moca, Dominican Republic and later expanded its musical roots to the vibrant and diverse area of Boston/Lawrence, Massachusetts. With a rich trajectory spanning over 15 years, the band has captivated audiences through its authentic rhythms and energetic performances. Blending tradition with modern flair, Luimi Banda continues to represent Dominican musical heritage across the community all while providing an unforgettable performance.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
The Neighborhood Kids are a conscious hip-hop collective out of San Diego California using music as a vehicle for justice, unity, and meaningful change. Led by Verde, Amon the MC, and DJ JG, they bring hard-hitting lyrics and a revolutionary sound that is forged for resistance, aiming to shift minds and change the world through hip-hop.
JONATHAN SUAZO
Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, and cultural seeder who utilizes music to shine a light on elements of his Puerto Rican and Dominican roots. Jonathan was named one of the top ten emerging Jazz artists of 2023 by the GRAMMYS and his debut album “Ricano” (Ropeadope Records) was listed as one of the best Jazz albums of 2023 by The New York Times.
A Berklee Global Jazz Institute graduate (M.M), he’s received many honors including the 2024 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, The WBUR Makers Series Award for generating impact in the Boston's community, The Winter 2023 South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant, and the Berklee Urban Service Award for using the arts to bring awareness about the needs of the Puerto Rican people during hurricane Maria and supporting humanitarianism. Jonathan has also served as a grant reviewer for organizations like New Music USA and Mid Atlantic.
Catalina Maria Johnson of Downbeat Jazz Mag describes his music as “a soundscape propelled by lyrical sax playing” and Giovanni Rusonnello from the New York Times describes his music as “richly built, written from the heart and packed with complexity, always seeking the next level of altitude.”
Suazo’s resume includes collaborations / performances with Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Sánchez, Charlie Sepúlveda, Gonzalo Grau, Danilo Perez, Ricky Rodriguez, Ileana Cabra (iLÉ), Calma Carmona, Rakalam Bob Moses, Joe Lovano, Paoli Mejias, Humberto Ramirez, David Rivera, Tito Matos, Ricardo Pons, William Cepeda, Jon Secada, Pedro Capó, Obie Bermudez, Hans Glawischnig, Humberto Ramirez, Silverio Perez, Tony Escapa.
DARIANA D. GUERRERO
Dariana D. Guerrero is a dynamic award-winning writer, dedicated activist, and passionate educator with an impressive track record spanning over a decade and counting! Drawing from her extensive 10-year experience in facilitating writing workshops, performing poetry, and advocating for equity and anti-racism, Dariana's focus on poetry and resistance narratives reflects her fervent commitment to using words as a catalyst for change. She proudly holds a degree from Smith College, class of 2017, and is currently pursuing a master's in English at Salem State University.
Dariana's literary journey has flourished through her contributions to an array of esteemed magazines, journals, and papers. Her talent has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including the coveted 2023 Mass Poetry Award and the honor of being named a 2023 Periplus Fellow. Notably, she emerged as a 2017 Fulbright finalist, a testament to her exceptional dedication to intellectual and creative pursuits. In 2023, Dariana was a semi-finalist in The Publisher's Slam sponsored by Button Poetry and hosted by the Roxbury Poetry Festival.
Dariana seamlessly blends her roles as an educator and community advocate, harnessing her powerful poetry to activate social change.. Her impact reverberates beyond her writing as a former board member of the national non-profit, The Body Positive, and a certified Be Body Positive Trainer. Adding to her diverse accomplishments, Dariana's debut poetry collection's, "Sancocho" was London Sexton Prize finalist. As a 2023 Artist in Residence with the Lawrence Arts Collective, she continues to nurture her creative spirit and express her deep passion for art, writing, activism, and justice. Dariana recently debuted her artist book, "The Sancocho Shuffle: Cartas Con Sabor!" inspired by her first collection of poetry, "Sancocho," the images are an homage to Lawrence, language, childhood, and community.
WANGECI GITAU
Wangeci Gitau (she/they) is a writer, poet, and culture maker from Lawrence, MA by way of the Kenyan diaspora. She is the author of two poetry collections: "there’s the truth and there’s other things" (2019) and "i’m not allowed to explain (only foreshadow and reminisce)" (2021), which explore themes of memory, migration, and identity. Wangeci is the co-founder and prose-editor of Exposed Brick Literary Magazine, a community-rooted publication that has released six issues featuring local and global artists. Through Exposed Brick and beyond, she has curated book launches, community art workshops, youth showcases, and interdisciplinary performances centering Black, queer, and diasporic voices. Her writing has been featured in Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose From Across the Undocumented Diaspora (HarperCollins), the Bread Loaf School of English Journal, and stages across the country including UC Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender, the Huntington Theater, and WGBH’s “Stories from the Stage.” Wangeci has worked in public education for nearly a decade and continues to teach and mentor young artists. As a Gikuyu culture maker, she creates multidisciplinary work rooted in land, liberation, and ancestral knowledge, through mural-making, fashion, playwriting, or public storytelling.
THE PARTY BAND
The Party Band is an original brass band embodying homegrown, unadulterated, unplugged fun. Their mission is to bring people together, celebrate the gift of being alive, and make the world a better place through the joys of quality live music in a way that is accessible to everyone.
Originating in Lowell, MA, The Party Band has traveled the country blasting brass for fun, festivals, community events, schools, weddings, protests, and nightclub shows since their inception in 2013. The band has recorded three albums of original brass music inspired by the sounds of New Orleans and folk music from across Planet Earth. The Party Band believes it is important to be a force for good in the world, and to celebrate every day like the party that it is.