Image courtesy of Moises Chiquito ‘24.
The People of Color Alliance (POCA) transformed Cummings Arts Center into a runway with “The Beauty in Culture,” their first annual fashion show. Countless white floral garlands hung from the second floor, and a wall of white roses with “POCA” in gold letters hung at the head of the runway. Students strutted down the runway decked out in clothes that expressed their personal style, traditional dress, and clothes made by Connecticut College students.
POCA burst onto the scene in August 2020. President Lyndon Inglis ‘24 started his first year in the midst of a pandemic when events were small-scale to minimize health risks. “What we knew were things that we heard about that happened in the years before us, like Eclipse,” he says. COVID limitations made Lyndon and his peers feel disconnected from the BIPOC community, and they wanted to create a space to bring people together. Supported by President Katherine Bergeron, Director of Race and Ethnicity Programs Maurice Tiner ‘17, former Dean of Equity and Inclusion John McKnight, and Genesis Program Coordinator Clayton Potter, POCA was officially approved as a club in the spring of 2021, and they immediately accomplished huge goals.
POCA’s In Color Magazine was released on Apr. 25, 2021 and was the precursor to “The Beauty in Culture” fashion show. Akwaaba Magazine preceded them to empower BIPOC students, but POCA thought “the more the merrier” when it comes to providing creative ways to bring together multicultural communities. After setting a precedent for presenting big events, such last year’s “Taking Up Space,” a celebration of interconnected culture through live music and food, Inglis with fellow directors Elani Colon ‘24 and Karla Ramirez ‘24 started planning the fashion show in Aug. 2021, wanting to make a historical event and start a new tradition for BIPOC students. Inglis says they focused intently on professionalism and attention to detail, “down to the RSVP, the drinks being laid out for everyone [and] being ushered to their seats.”
The College Voice editorial staff had the honor to sit front row and watch models, poets, and a dancer perform down the runway. The RSVP-only event was packed, and the high-energy show was supported by cheering crowds and head-bopping music.
The event was sponsored by the Connecticut College Government Department, the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology, CISLA, the Holleran Center, the Office of Admissions, the Office of the President of the College, and the Office of the Dean of the College. POCA also collaborated with the International Student Association whilst planning the event.
In the future, Inglis plans to add the fashion show to Conn’s list of traditions and will begin planning and casting for next year’s runway show this semester.
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