Tardy Story & photo by Toni Bee - my baaaaad

An executive director serving food to the masses…the 10th grader deejaying dancehall reggae…a pony tailed blond juggling bowling pins. That was a bit of the spice dusting thru the huge backyard of 71 Cherry Street on the first Thursday in June at the Welcome Summer Barbeque.

The idea had been brewing for years – how to put on a unified event amongst Area 4’s largest school age programs: (MFNH) The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, the Boys and Girls Club, (CAC) the Community Arts Center, & the Area 4 Youth Center .

Thanks to the urging of Area 4 Coordinator Ardeene Goodridge, “We all finally came together.”, to plan the barbeque in mid spring said Mark Stearns, director of MFNH’s year long youth program.

“I’m so special, I’m so special
so special, so special!”
boasted reggae singer Mavado from blaring speakers set up by DJ Sendo, a sophomore at North Cambridge Catholic High School. Sendo picked a crowd pleaser and the tunes soon turned more than 100 camp councilors, kids, and community members towards the Fuller House tarmac. MFNH lead teacher Ricky Newton and Goodridge emceed the event and welcomed folks while tossing out Area 4/4 Peace buttons and bandannas.

“It’s fantastic to see all the children and the community come together”, noted Barbara Kibler, executive director of the Margaret Fuller House.

The “Physic Fortunes” team of CAC’s director Eryn Johnson & her G.M. Mark Gleisher added comedic pepper to the pot; grill masters Stearns and Issac, Cooke and Hewitt hot dogged then flipped burgers – cheesed, done - swift; be-gloved parent Sue Pickern, Sion Chambers, and several other volunteers served the feast line – quick; and Jenny the Juggler awed swarms of children with her basketball juggling and face painting skills.

“The idea that it’s a collaborative effort between agencies” in a city, “as resource rich as Cambridge.” was a sentiment that lay long in the mind of Mike Walsh, deputy superintendant of the Cambridge Police Department.

And the gifted youth…well they displayed their talent too: CAC’s Abel Tesema filmed the event; a hush overcame the crowd as “Ave Maria” was cinnamon-sung by Stephanie DeJesus n MFNH camper; and young ladies from the programs pranced cheers, a step show, and reggae danced. The dance and the music was fitting, for the parents of many children hail from Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados – even Americans related to the rhythms.

Strawberry blond April Akers bobs her head to the reggae beat while eyeing the b-ball crowd for her three grandsons. Akers felt the event was “Really great! The crowds and the Boys and Girls club being there was good.” And a tranquil transition into summer is exactly what the gritty-glam hood of Area 4 needed. Ardeene grew up in the area and she especially knew that the community needed a pre summer gathering with, “a peaceful note of togetherness.”