EVENTS
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Andra Day to receive Breakthrough Performance Award for her striking portrayal of Billie Holiday in ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Lee Daniels-directed film
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By Audrey J. Bernard
hree-time Grammy Aw a r d - n o m i n a t ed singer and actress Andra Day, 36, will receive the distinguished Breakthrough Performance Award from the Palm Springs International Film Awards for her staggering performance in the film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” directed by Lee Daniels, which is an intimate tale of a civil rights trailblazer whose defiance through music helped usher in the civil rights movement. Daniels explained the importance of bringing this story to light. “She was really dogged by the
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Andra Day regards starring in the new Lee Daniels’ film, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” as “the role of a lifetime” (Photo Credit: Jay L. Clendenin-Los Angeles Times)
government for singing ‘Strange Fruit’ and they really, really -- they came for her,” he said. “So to me, she kicked off the civil rights
movement as we know it to be, and I had to do it. I had to tell her story.” “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” takes
place in the 1940’s in New York City where the federal government targeted Holiday following the release of her 1939 civil rights protest song “Strange Fruit,” in a growing effort to escalate and racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad. “Few jazz vocalists are more beloved than Billie Holiday, and Andra Day brings Holiday and her iconic voice back to life through a sympathetic and nuanced portrayal that sheds new light on the U.S.
government’s role in seeking to muzzle a homegrown legend,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “In her impressive feature film debut as an actress and her first leading role, it is our honor to present the Breakthrough Performance Award to Andra Day.” The role marks Day’s first major acting performance which she does not take lightly out of a sense of accountability to Holiday. “I didn’t want to be a stain on Billie Holiday’s legacy,” Day said. For Day, Holiday was “the woman that helped me to own my voice, to make
sure that whatever it is that I’m creating affects people, that it’s intentional.” To get inside Holiday’s skin, Day made some major lifestyle changes. “It took me forever to get improper,” Day said. “I did start smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and being more sexual.” Her efforts garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama! The cast also includes Trevante Rhodes, Garrett Hedlund, Natasha Lyonne, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The film will premiere on Hulu on February 26, 2021.
Exclusive interview with JOCELYNNE RAINEY, President and CEO of Harlem’s “Getting Out and Staying Out “GOSO
Harlem Community Newspapers | February 25. 2021
By Maria Grazia CAVENAGHI
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WWWW.GOSONYC.COM
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hen I recently was made aware of GOSO’s approach to help solve the devastating problem of lack of opportunities for black and brown youths who get caught in the vicious circle petty crime/ jail, more serious crime/ more jail …I had to have a conversation with Miss. Rainey about the important mission of GOSO and its team of dedicated so-
cial workers. What are the aims of GOSO? Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO) envisions a world where neither a person’s race nor contact with the legal system determines their future. Each year GOSO provides 1,000 16-24-year-old young men impacted by arrest and incarceration with the wraparound services and resources they need to further their education, secure meaningful employment, and achieve emotional well-being. We achieve this goal by applying our “Goso approach” that is based on the three Es: Education, Employment and Emotional well-being. We believe that all three work together to form a foundation on which GOSO participants can build
their future. Which communities are mostly represented by GOSO participants? About 95% of GOSO participants are Black or Latinx youth from marginalized communities characterized by poverty, crime, and incarceration, including many from Harlem. Most have experienced significant childhood trauma, and about 50% are experiencing housing insecurity and/or homelessness. About 65% lack a high school or equivalency diploma at the time of their enrollment; approximately 70% have no prior work experience or marketable skills. About 60% of Community Program participants are formerly incarcerated, and about 40% are at risk of incarceration and have been referred to GOSO by justice
system practitioners. GOSO’s impact is very impressive: 86% of the participants stay out of prison or jail; 69% of those placed in subsidized GOSOworks internships achieve full-time employment upon completion and 71% are engaged in work and/or school. According to you what is the reason of this success? GOSO’s approach is person-centered, and we tailor our services to meet the individual abilities and needs
of each participant. Our job readiness and placement program, GOSOWorks, places participants in subsidized internships with 100 employer partners across New York City. For many participants, this is their first job and many are hired in full-time jobs after going through the program. Through the assistance of the array of supportive programs that we offer, many of our participants become outstanding employees, ready to grow with the challenges of the job.
Despite the challenges they face, GOSO participants demonstrate maturity, resilience, and a strong desire to reshape their lives. For the young people we serve, we dream of justice transformation, infused with trauma-informed care, healing, and dignity. We dream of a world where we do not need to exist. For more info: d: 646-383-2201 | p: 212831-5020 gosonyc.org | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter