APP '16 Peter DiGennaro
APP '16 Peter DiGennaro hosted a community party for the music after-school program he directs, URock, working as an artist and cultural innovator to explore social justice. The community party was held on Oct. 8 at the Noelke Gallery and Howard Bookstore under the theme "Creative Community/Creative Economies."
DiGennaro is a human rights and music educator that strives to create programs that combine education with creative projects his students develop. URock! is a program of his that was implemented in Torrington High School in Connecticut in 2019 for the purpose of connecting students to parts of their community through art and music, all while helping local businesses.
"I'm aware of the history of the Brass Valley, where there's intergenerational trauma," DiGennaro says. "That trauma persists through the generations fo a family, but it doesn't have to. It's not just poverty, but shame, hopelessness, and those things take time to change. A creative communication outlet helps them rise above it."
Overall, DiGennaro's program effectively implements a modern strategy for change that centers giving communities the tools to empower and support one another in joy-filled ways. "URock! celebrates diversity and community...we also need to understand what healthy and fun is, and celebrate our right to have fun."
The community party on Oct. 8 was curated by DiGennaro's students. The party hosted music and raffles from Revolution Records, an interactive art project with artist Peter Cusack, live bands, student writing, student art, food from local restaurants Tequanna's Soul Food & Sweets and Toothpick, and an open mic. Read more about the event here.