Screening of "Light Found in the Dark : The Life of Dr. Steve Gallon III"

249 Northwest 9th Street,Miami FL 33136

11 February, 2022

Description

Join us as we debut Part II of an introspective documentary & coming of age story about a young man from Liberty City. Happy Hour Social and Limited Advance Screening of Light Found in the Dark: The Life of Dr. Steve Gallon III (Part I & Part II) | An AllLikeMindsMedia/FANIT Production | Directed by: Arvis Lawson | Produced by James “Munch” Mungin| Executive Producer: Dr. Steve Gallon III Sponsored by Southeast Overtown/Parkwest CRA | Art of Black Miami | E11leven Vodka | Duke & Dame Whiskey “Light Found in the Dark” is a documentary film about the life of Miami’s renowned Liberty City’s native son, Dr. Steve Gallon III, who rose from the streets of Liberty City to become a teacher, principal, Superintendent, and now the Vice-Chair of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation’4th largest school district, and who garnered a national platform as a voice for urban education. It also examines and explores his personal and professional journey which was marred by just as many setbacks as successes. The film uses Steve’s real life in framing the narrative and struggle of young Black males decades ago and even today, and their continued struggle, no matter their place in today’s society, to avoid pitfalls which too often lead to prison, poverty, or an early death. Sounds Curated by DJ Tight Current Exihibition at the Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery: Hampton Art Lovers and Pegasus World Cup Presents : "Too Black, Too Fast", an art exhibition sponsored by luxury brand Baccarat showcasing the portraiture and history of African American jockeys in thoroughbred horse racing and America's first professional athlete. More than 200 years before Jackie Robinson took to the baseball field, Black Jockeys ruled this "Sport of Kings" from 1600s until the early 1900s. The show is apart of the 2022 Pegasus World Cup activities. Considered the first professional athletes in the United States, Black jockeys pushed the sport to great heights in the late 1800’s and early 1900s. The numbers tell an amazing story of resilience and Black excellence. Enslaved men, who worked on the farms of wealthy white men, were the ones who knew the horses best, so they were the original trainers and jockeys. And, though slavery had been abolished by the time the Derby was first run, free African-Americans continued to hold many of the working-class jobs that were necessary to make a stable run. Thirteen of the 15 jockeys in the inaugural Derby in 1875 were African-American, and the African-American Oliver Lewis won the race riding Aristides. More zing, is that African-Americans won 15 of the first 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. "Too Black, Too Fast" is a multimedia project exalting the history of African Americans in thoroughbred horse racing. Artist Michael McBride and sculptor George Nock have captured the story of African Americans in thoroughbred horse racing through visual art and portraiture. Hampton Art Lovers We inspire the appreciation of African-American Fine Art. We honor the heart and soul of Fine Artists and make their work accessible to anyone who loves art. Hampton Art Lovers believes that understanding culture through experiencing the arts is becoming increasingly vital in the modern world. We live in an information economy, a world in which technology can provide access to products and services that have been previously inaccessible. Intense, experiential learning is the currency of the knowledge economy and lovers of art do this naturally. Hampton Art Lovers believes that through culture and arts education we can improve our communities and communities all over the world. Historic Ward Rooming House The Ward Rooming House is owned by the City of Miami SE Overtown/Park West CRA and operated by Hampton Art Lovers. The Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery has a rich socially significant history. It is an honor to bring this exhibition to this space. Built in the 1900s by an African-American family with Bahamian roots (Shaddrack and Victoria Ward), the Ward Rooming House served as a home for both African American and Native Americans who needed a safe place to sleep at night. In the 1940s and 50s it was known for hosting various civic groups and became the “Club House”. Built in the era of Overtown's historic heyday, when it was known as "Colored Town," the Ward Rooming House stands as a tribute to the history of one of the oldest historic Black community in the City of Miami. As one of the few remaining buildings of its time, a seemingly ordinary rooming house becomes significant for the larger role it serves in preserving the history and architecture of Miami's Black community. It was designated a historic site by the City of Miami in 2006 and fully restored in 2010. Now it serves as a gallery and event space.