CivicStory's successful June 9th benefit program began with a fascinating 'champagne tour' of Recharging the Image: Selections from the Mott-Warsh Collection guided by Curator Mary Birmingham at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. 

The exhibition features outstanding works from a collection in Flint, Michigan by artists of the African Diaspora examining questions of representation, identity and race.

Attendees proceeded to the Summit First Aid Squad for a mini-concert by baritone Glenn Boothby (accompanied by Susan Haig,) CivicStory videos about creative developments in Atlantic City, Newark, and Summit, and gourmet hors d'oeuvres prepared by Francie Cho and daughter Clara Cho (Summit HS graduating senior). 

Short talks by First Aid Squad captain Dave Schempp, Summit Community Garden organizer Dr. Marian Glenn, Bruce Hillenbrand (retired VP, Culinary Institute of America), and Babi Lawrence and Lena Anglin, Kent Place School students in the STAR (Stand Together Against Racism) program, concluded the evening.

Student event coordinators included Leslie Stone (St. Lawrence University) Matthew Coron (SHS Rotary Interact Club president-elect), Will Henderson (Madison HSgraduating senior), and Zack Rissman (University of Pennsylvania).