4th Annual Gala

Join us as we celebrate a Night of Black Excellence with our 4th Annual Gala!

When: September 30th, 2023

Time: 6pm - 10pm

Where: Rivermill at Dover Landing in Dover, New Hampshire 03820

Black Lives Matter Seacoast on September 30th 2023, 6pm - 10pm, at the Rivermill at Dover Landing in Dover New Hampshire, will be having its 4th Annual Black Excellence Gala! The purpose of the Gala is celebrate Black Excellence with Black performances, Black Food, Black music, Black Art; a space to love and appreciate Blackness in the most purest and unapologetic form.

The proceeds of our event go to our Mutual Aid Fund. This invaluable fund has helped our Black community by giving back over $100,000 for needs such as rent, utilities, and basic family needs. The Mutual Aid Fund is our radical act of caring for each other, while simultaneously working to change our communities.

We will be hosting a silent art auction at the event. The art will be made by various local Black artists and attendees will be able to bid on the art throughout the night with the highest bidders being notified at the end of the event!

The Host for the night is Kevin Pajaro-Mariñez, the Inaugural Assistant Director for Equity and Inclusion at Phillips Exeter Academy and founder of community-based reading group called the Black Men’s Reading and Reflection Group (BMRRG).

The Keynote Speaker for the night is the Honorable Talesha L. Saint-Marc, the first Black Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The featured performers are Adrienne Mack-Davis and Akrobatik!

The appetizers & dinner will be made by Vida Cantina with various desserts will be provided by Southern Girls Bakery.

Decor of the Gala is provided by Jewel Reid Decor Company!

Photography and Videography is done by Boston based Black owned film company, Together Forever Films!

Learn more about our Keynote Speaker, Talesha L. Saint-Marc, our performers, Adrienne Mack-Davis & Akrobatik, Art Auction Artists, and Vida Cantina below!

This Event is Currently Sponsored by Various Organizations and Businesses All Listed Here!

2022 Gala information can be found here.

Keynote Speaker

The Honorable Talesha L. Saint-Marc is a Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.  She joined the court in June 2023, as the first Black judge for the District of New Hampshire.  Prior to becoming a Magistrate Judge, Judge Saint-Marc was a shareholder at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A., where she partnered with businesses to provide thoughtful and practical advice and counsel regarding all aspects of employment law, including the FLSA, FMLA and ADA compliance, and Title VII and state human rights claims.  In addition to representing employers before both various government agencies and in court, she regularly served as an outside investigator in campus and workplace investigations.

Judge Saint-Marc is a lifelong New Hampshire resident, with a commitment to service.  Over the years, she has served as a CASA/GAL, a Big Sister, and has served on several boards for various organizations, including Rivier University, the Circle Program, and New Hampshire Legal Assistance. 

Host

Kevin Pajaro-Mariñez (he/him/his) is a first-generation Black Latino with Colombian and Dominican roots. He was born in Queens, NY, but was raised in the wonderful city of Providence, RI. Kevin attended the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his bachelor’s in Communication Studies. Thereafter, he attended Michigan State University where he earned his master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration. Currently, Kevin serves as the inaugural Assistant Director for Equity and Inclusion at Phillips Exeter Academy, an independent boarding school in Exeter, NH. Outside of his professional work, Kevin founded a community-based reading group called the Black Men’s Reading and Reflection Group (BMRRG) where Black men come together to think expansively about masculinity. Outside of his professional and intellectual pursuits, he enjoys dancing bachata and salsa, collecting cool socks, and playing video games.

Featured Performers

Adrienne Mack-Davis is a classically trained singer/songwriter originally from Rochester, NY.  For over a decade she has traveled the world performing over 1200 live shows both nationally and internationally opening and collaborating with the likes of Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Rhakim, Red Man, Pharoah Monch, Hannibal Burress, Homeboy Sandman, Swiss Beats and KRS One to name a few.  

In addition to being a feature artist on major national festivals [SXSW and A3C], she has also been featured on the So Far Sounds Live series and has the experience of being able to play a spectrum of different performance spaces, venues and platforms, from small coffee shops and family gatherings to the American Embassy in Vietnam to live radio and TV studio recordings.

She has participated in dozens of service workshops in over 9 countries on such topics as anti-human trafficking, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. Having lived overseas she’s had the privilege of being able to experience different cultures abroad allowing space for deeper self reflection, development and maturity in her sound.

Hard hitting soul and RnB melodies fused with infectious Hip Hop and Dance instrumentals she emanates positivity and self love to inspire compassion and self confidence in people from all walks of life. Currently based between New Hampshire and Maine you can catch her either performing with The Bulkheads, a live soul, hip hop, funk band, alongside Nate Winter her accompaniment on guitar for acoustic stripped back sets and solo hitting stages with big instrumentals and even bigger vocals.

Akrobatik (born Jared Bridgeman), a native of Boston,  is an accomplished voice actor and radio personality and world-renowned Hip-Hop artist! He has also been teaching Hip-Hop Studies courses at UMass Boston since 2014, and is the faculty advisor for the UMass Boston Breakers, the university's official breakdance squad! His "Sports Rap-Up" feature on The Morning Show with Ramiro and Pebbles made him a household name in New England towards the end of the 2000's. Ak's socially and politically conscious style of rap music has appeared in movies, television shows, and video game soundtracks throughout his career.

Caterer

An unexpected and hidden gem on Route 1 in Portsmouth, NH, Vida Cantina is a chef-driven restaurant celebrating modern Mexican cuisine. Chef/Owner Dave Vargas pushes Mexican cuisine to the limit, bringing bright, adventurous flavors and locally grown ingredients together on a plate. Inspired by his Mexican heritage, Vargas takes each dish to the next level with superb technique, product and creativity. Look for an array of tasty signature tacos, the pigs head carnitas platters with 20 tortillas, and margaritas with a choice of 40+ tequilas. Ask about the Salsa Flights and the Tequila Flights. A local favorite gaining national recognition, Vida Cantina is considered one of New England’s best Mexican restaurants. Honor and awards include Hot New Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, Best Mexican Brunch, Best Chef-Seacoast Nominee, Top Ten Restaurants in New England, and more. Chef Dave has also been nominated as a James Beard Best Chef Northeast Semifinalist, 2022, 2020 & 2019 and a Semifinalist Nomination for Outstanding Chef in the US, 2023. Co-Owner, Jay McSharry was also  nominated as Outstanding Restaurateur, 2020.

Art Auction Artists

Her journey led her to acquire a comprehensive understanding of various photography techniques and genres. Her photographs are a testament to her ability to capture the hidden stories that lie within each frame, often revealing the unseen beauty in the ordinary and the extraordinary. Through the lens, Esmeldy explores the beauty and complexity of humans, using light and shadow to accentuate the features and emotions of her subjects.  Esmeldy invites viewers to see the beauty and humanity in each person they encounter, celebrating the unique qualities that make us all who we are.

To Esmeldy, Black excellence is a powerful reminder that greatness knows no boundaries and that every individual has the power to make a difference. Black excellence is a source of inspiration, motivation, and pride, showcasing the incredible talent, resilience, and contributions of the black community. It means embracing my identity, culture, and heritage with pride, while also striving for personal growth and making a positive impact in the world. Black excellence reminds her of the limitless potential that exists within each of us and the importance of unity and support. It's about breaking through barriers, shattering stereotypes, and paving the way for future generations.

 Julio's art is deeply rooted in his Mapuche Williche heritage, reflecting his dreams, social activism, and ceremonial involvement. He also serves as an intercultural educator, addressing the challenges of mixed-race contexts in contemporary southern Chile.

For Julio  "Black Excellence" as a celebration of achievements within the Black community.  As black, brown, and Indigenous, have been subjugated they have found it necessary, for the sake of our physical and spiritual integrity, to fight dominant culture in order to raise our personal identity and thus validate our cultures. A way we fight dominant culture is through creative expression, as a way of reminding ourselves of our value and the capacity we have to create an integral life in society. Cultivating Black excellence can create broader changes in socio-cultural processes, from our family to the whole community. To this end, we bring our full hearts and intelligence to carry out artistic work to create excellence and communicate our excellence to society. This excellence also allows us to find the best in ourselves, our communities, and each other. 

Mars Gabriel Lafond, is 15-year-old self-taught artist from Concord, NH, deeply inspired by mythology and childhood cartoons. Mars is a proud Afro-Latino youth of the 2020s, driven by a commitment to showcase Black Excellence in the face of hatred and bigotry. He believes that Black Excellence is a tribute to ancestors' struggles while celebrating current achievements. Mars seeks to make an impact through his art, music, and writing, determined to prove that the passion of younger BIPOC generations remains vibrant. Mars’ goal for his gala piece is to demonstrate that youth are engaged in preserving Black history and paying attention to the world around them. He wants to remind the Elders that the youth are passionate, focused, determined and they will continue to make a powerful impact as we strive for an equitable and brighter future. Mars’ Gala contribution reminds the future is not in the distance, it is here and now.