By Katie Farrell Lovett
NEWBURYPORT — New events have been added to this year's annual Volunteer Opportunity and Poverty Awareness Fair.
The fair will be held at three different locations from Thursday through Saturday.
"We decided to expand it this year," said Catherine Yesair Gould, the chairwoman of the "Senzeni Na" Fair. The term is from the Zulu, and means "What have we done?"
That question is a powerful one, Gould said. Used in a protest song during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the phrase could have several meanings, such as "What have we done to help people?"; "What have we done to deserve this?"; or "Look at what we've done," she said.
"It's a great question," Gould said.
The song will be performed during a closing concert for the three-day-long fair.
Throughout the fair, events will be held at several locations: the Belleville Church, Immaculate Conception, Brown Square/Brown Chapel and the Unitarian church, which is the primary venue for most of the activities.
About 25 nonprofit organizations from the Newburyport area, as well as national groups, will be on hand to raise awareness about their organizations and to promote volunteerism.
The weekend will also feature presentations, documentaries, walking tours and a closing concert by the Boston Community Choir. During a "jelly bean mystery item" auction, items will be "auctioned off" to the person who guesses the amount of the items in the container.
The events are all free in order to be inclusive to all, Gould said.
Along with a strong group of volunteers, Gould has been planning the event since May. The fair is hosted by the Social Action Committee of the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist, Belleville Congregational Church, Pennies for Poverty: 2 Cents 4 Change Inc., and the Poverty Program.
"It's going to be fun," she said. "We've got a great bunch of volunteers. It's a group effort of a lot of people that worked really hard."
Gould said the group is still looking for sponsors, as well as people who will be willing to volunteer during the fair.
For more information, contact Gould at 978-463-0507 or e-mail 2cents4change@gmail.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Unless noted, events are at the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist, 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport.
Thursday, Oct. 15
6:30 P.m.
UN Declaration of Human Rights, article 25 and the power of peaceful protest presented by
Ross Varney, showing of "Amandla: a Revolution in 4 Part Harmony".
Event co-sponsored by the local Amnesty International group.
Friday, Oct. 16
World Food Day
10-11 a.m.
NPO set up time.
11-noon
Special fair preview time for students.
NPO time to network.
Noon: Fair Opens
Bake sale
Book signings
Jelly Bean Mystery Item "Auction"
Drop off site for food drive
Noon-2 p.m.
"Waging a Living"
Deb Smith, hosted by Amesbury Friends
2-3 p.m.
Homelessness
Ed Cameron
3-4 p.m.
Power of Music in Creating Social Change
Kathy Heywood
4-5:30 p.m.
Meet at Oak Hill Cemetery
Newburyport Activists and Benefactors
Walking Tour With Ghlee Woodworth
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception
"The Road to Fondwa" presented by
IC Haiti, at Immaculate Conception.
Saturday, Oct. 17
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bake sale
Book signings
Jelly Bean Mystery Item "Auction"
9-9:30 a.m.
Pennies, a New NPO Model
Fran Larkin
9:30 -11 a.m.
Immigration Forum presented by FRSUU
11-12 p.m.
The Global Water Crisis: Locally and Globally
Anna Phillips
12-2 p.m.
"Renewal" Documentary
Rob Burnham
3-4:30 p.m.
Meet at Brown Square
African Americans in Newburyport 1800s
Walking Tour With Ghlee Woodworth
5-6:30 p.m.
Belleville Church
MC Ross Varney
Boston Community Choir
(doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
6:30-8:30 p.m., Belleville Parish Hall
Reception Hosted by:
Belleville Congregational Church
7 p.m.
Mystery Item Winners
Presented by Ralph Ayers
