Medford Arts Center (MAC) kicked off July with a special celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
On the evening of July 1, husband-wife duo Vince and Naomi Dispenza–who lead the poetry events at MAC– hosted an interactive presentation inside the arts center’s gallery, outlining the journey of America over the last 25 decades. The event, titled Celebrating America, was free and open to the public.
The presentation highlighted some of the country’s most prominent quotes, speeches, songs, and documents. Vince sat at the front of the gallery with two microphones: One for him, and one for audience member participation. Some pieces of writing were read by Vince, but most were read by volunteers in the crowd, who he encouraged to come up throughout the presentation. The highlight of the night was a group reading of the Declaration of Independence, which concluded the event.
To begin the presentation, Vince asked the audience a “personal question:” “Who used to love going up and down the aisles in the supermarket?” Audience members raised their hands and shared their own memories. This kind of audience participation and interaction remained consistent throughout the evening, and guests were eager to share bits of their own lives any time Vince posed a question.
Hosts Naomi (left) and Vince Dispenza with Claudia Weil (center) at Medford Arts Center’s Celebrating America event.
Vince shared a story of the first time he purchased a calendar at the supermarket and marked all the birthdays of significant family members. He said he’s added “America’s Birthday” to July 4 every year since 1987, noting how America has become like family to him.
He then posed the real “personal question” of the night: “What is America to me?”
By this point, the audience was tuned in. The first volunteer speaker read the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, Vince gave lessons of the country’s highest, lowest, and most notable moments and individuals, starting in the 1700s and ending in the present day.
Some of the other pieces volunteers came up and read (or sang) include “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the Gettysburg Address, “God Bless America,” John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and poet Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb.”
MAC member Claudia Weil came dressed as Lady Liberty, ready to read Emma Lazarus’ sonnet “The New Colossus,” which was written to raise money for the development of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal.
“I thought it would be a good poem to read for the 250th,” Weil said. She was excited for this event, and she was excited to take a glance back at the values the country was built on while America is at such a divide.
“It’s kind of a weird, painful anniversary, [because we’re not who I thought we were going to be when I was growing up]. I’d just like to see more of the character and ideals that our country was supposed to be based on.”
To wrap the event, Vince and Naomi handed out copies of the Declaration of Independence. Everyone in the gallery read the text aloud, together, honoring the values, equality, and rights America instated 250 years ago.
Claudia Weil reading Emma Lazarus’ sonnet “The New Colossus” next to host Vince Dispenza at Medford Arts Center’s Celebrating America event.
