Somehow, we are already four months into 2025. How is that possible?!
This is a big year for The Z! This is the year when everything we’ve been imagining, everything that we’ve been planning for, comes to life. At the end of this year, we hope to complete the construction phase of this project. It’ll be here in the blink of an eye, but at the same time can’t get here fast enough.
That means that staff are busy planning for reopening, implementing our strategic plan, all while putting our values into action. The staff at The Z are some of the most dedicated, passionate people who believe deeply in our mission.
We have made the best out of our time while the building has been closed. This has allowed us to get out in the community, building lasting partnerships and friendships. Rethinking what it means to center the community, this community, at The Z.
We can’t wait to welcome you all back. Afterall, bringing people together in a shared experience is what we do best. And it’s what we need most right now. Join us as we create The Z for the next 100 years.
Please enjoy the fourth edition of Musings from The Z!
HBCU COLLEGE FAIR
On Saturday, February 15th, the Zeiterion hosted the 2nd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College fair at the Andrea McCoy Recreational Center in New Bedford’s West End. From the Bayou to Baltimore. 11 HBCU’s were present with local alumni representation, many of whom are from and still live in the greater New Bedford area. About two hundred community members joined us, as they explored the gym learning about the academic and extracurricular offerings of each school that are unique to the HBCU experience.
One school, Grambling State University, offered the opportunity for on-site admissions to graduating seniors that provided their official transcripts. In addition to 11 HBCUs tabling at the event, seven community organizations were present to inform community members and young people of college scholarship opportunities, career recruitment/placement offerings and wrap-around services.
The first Black and Latino owned internet-based radio station in New Bedford, WNB One Radio broadcast live from the fair, interviewing students and parents about their HBCU fair experience.
Most notably, Black Greek culture was on display with a Greek Step show featuring three of the nine National Pan Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities better known as the Divine 9. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. put their choreography on full display, highlighting the history and social contributions of each organization. The Step show was followed by a robust Q&A with members of the Step teams and members representing seven of the Divine 9 organizations.
For the second consecutive year, we were delighted to have Domino’s Pizza sponsor free lunch, always a favorite among the students.
This program was made possible by donors like you, the Southcoast Community Foundation, New Bedford Cultural Council, Acushnet Cultural Council, Dartmouth Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Bristol County Savings Bank, The Carney Family Charitable Foundation, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, New Bedford Parks and Recreation, The Beyond House, WNB One Radio, Reliable Bus Lines, Inc.
SNEAK PEEK! OUR NEW SEATING LAYOUT
We’re excited to share the new seating layout of the theater with you! The staff, architects, seating experts, and the building committee spent many months finding the right arrangement of seats that addressed our priorities: patron comfort, sight lines, accessibility, and revenue impact.
Ultimately, we chose this layout, which drastically improves accessibility, enhances sightlines, and increases the theater’s capacity by approximately 80 seats. This layout also has a fantastic bonus: it allows us to move the sound board to the center of the theater, optimizing sound design. We can’t wait to share more information about improvements to the theater and your experience as we get closer to reopening!
Thanks to generous donors, look at all we’ve raised!
Thank you for being a Z donor. Your generosity allows us to focus on our mission and direct resources where they will create lasting impact. We couldn’t do this without YOU.
ADVANTAGES OF MONTHLY GIVING
We understand life is full so why not work smarter, rather than harder? Please consider simplifying with a monthly donation by setting up an automatic recurring donation.
A convenient alternative and a mutually beneficial choice!
Visit www.zeiterion.org/support/donate
Why it’s good for you:
• Convenient and hassle-free! Set up your donation once and we’ll take it from there.
• Financial Flexibility: Make smaller, more manageable contributions throughout the year.
• A deeper sense of connection as well as a feeling of greater impact on the cause you support. Knowing we have your ongoing commitment enables us to plan and allocate resources effectively, maximizing the impact we can achieve together.
• Joining a community of monthly donors like you, linked in shared purpose, brings us closer to surpassing goals!
Why
it’s good for The Z:
• Regular reoccurring donations actively ensure the future of The Z.
• Predictable and reliable source of revenue directly finances the mission!
• Improved donation efficiency: Less overhead/ administrative work for us so we can focus on our mission and goals.
The big dig, Zeiterion style
STAFF SPOTLIGHT:
Kayla Conner Grants Coordinator
Q: How long have you worked at The Z as a Grants Coordinator in the Development department?
A: I’ve been at The Z in Development for 7 months!
Q: What past work experience informs your current position as Grant Coordinator?
A: I bring several years of experience in the non-profit sector to my current position. After earning my Bachelor’s in Philosophy from UMass Dartmouth, I worked in the private sector while raising my family. Following the pandemic, I became actively involved in local non-profit organizations, attending fundraisers, volunteering at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House, as well as teaching art at the New Bedford Art Museum. Currently, I serve as a trustee for the Rotch-Jones-Duff House. I have also successfully applied for and received grants in the past. As both an artist and a resident of New Bedford, I am deeply passionate about supporting the local arts and culture scene.
Q: Do you have a memory of The Z or State that you’d like to share?
A: As a child, a night at The Z was a very special event. We’d make an entire evening out of itdressing a little fancier than usual and go out for dinner, too. We’d get tickets with family so we could all experience the show together. It was a time to enjoy something beyond the ordinary, and I remember feeling excited and proud to be part of the experience. The Z made those nights memorable and gave me an appreciation for the arts from an early age. Now that my own kids are a bit older, we are excited to create new memories in the restored theater. It’s wonderful to be able to
share the same experiences I had as a child, and I look forward to seeing their excitement as they enjoy the magic of The Z just like I did.
Q: What should a donor know about the person that applies for grants on behalf of the Zeiterion?
A: A donor should know that I am deeply committed to our mission, and I am dedicated to securing funding that will help the Zeiterion continue its’ vital role in the community. I am passionate about fostering learning, connection and creative expression through the arts and work diligently to align funding opportunities with these core values. I bring a deep knowledge of the local community and The Z’s impact on it, ensuring that all proposals are grounded in the theater’s mission. As someone who is raising my family in New Bedford, I am driven by a desire to see the community thrive and reach its’ fullest potential.
Q: Anything else?
A: None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors. Your support enables the Zeiterion to continue offering highquality programming. The Z plays such a crucial role in New Bedford’s cultural landscape, offering everything from performances to educational programs. I’ve witnessed how these experiences spark creativity and build connections among people of all ages, and that’s something I’m proud to support.
VALUES IN ACTION: Staff Retreat
We leaned into two of The Z’s core values—imagination and connection—to collectively reimagine The Z in preparation for its’ reopening during a recent interdepartmental staff retreat. First Unitarian Church in New Bedford was the perfect host and backdrop for this important work. We are committed to our community and to you.
We are thinking about the future! What would you like to pass on to future generations? We’d love to know! Please email Molly McCarthy, The Z’s Development Director, with your thoughts at mmccarthy@zeiterion.org.
