Stetson Library Celebrated At Dixwell Fest

Lance Legion looked out on a Dixwell Avenue bustling with dance, music, art, and laughter — all in front of a reborn ​“Q” House community center and a relocated and expanded Stetson Library. 

“I’m really happy about the changes they made,” he said with a smile, holding his son in the afternoon sunshine. ​“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to come to the ​‘Q’ House, so it’s nice to see it’s open and that they’re finally giving back to the community.” 

Legion was one of the hundreds of New Haveners to turn out to the ​“Q” House Plaza at 197 Dixwell Ave. Saturday for a neighborhood festival hosted by the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL) and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

The event marked the official opening of the Stetson Public Library in its new home at the ​“Q” House community center. It also brought hundreds of neighbors together for over four hours of speeches, music, art, dance, fashion, and community building.

The festival had two sections, a main stage MC’d by Juan Castillo and DJ Platinum of WYBC FM radio, and a vendor section with tables staffed by artists, community organizations, authors, and local businesspeople.

The festival was a grand celebration appropriate for the immense community effort that the opening of the ​“Q” House and new Stetson Library entailed. The ​“Q” House had been closed since 2003. Led by Black women, as NHFPL Foundation President Mike Morand said on Saturday, the ​“Next Stetson” campaign raised over $2 million dollars in donations to help renovate and reopen the space.

Mayor Justin Elicker singled out for praise Stetson Library Branch Manager Diane Brown for her efforts to help move the Stetson Library from its long-time home across the street and Dixwell Plaza to its new, expanded and renovated home at the ​“Q” House. He praised her tireless dedication and work on the project. Former Mayor Toni Harp and the Concerned Citizens for the Greater New Haven Dixwell Community House were also all recognized by Saturday’s lineup of speakers for their role in the opening of the library. During the event, they all received awards for their dedication. 

Amid the celebration and thanks was constant recognition of the late City Librarian John Jessen, whom Saturday’s speakers also praised for playing a crucial role in the re-opening of the ​“Q” House and Stetson Library. His memory will continue to live on, Morand said, every time any person looks at Stetson library. 

“John and I are both very much librarians that like to be out in the community,” Brown said about her late long-time colleague. ​“If John was here, he would love this festival.”

In a part to honor Jessen’s memory, Brown said it was vital that the festival was just not filled with speeches by leaders and politicians; instead, just as ​“public libraries belong to the people,” so did this festival. 

While the event opened with few speeches, it quickly shifted into participatory activities, such as zumba led by Chaila Gilliam and line dancing led by Scheri Walker. 

The work of fashion designer Donald Carter wowed the crowds as models of all ages walked the runaway in his beautiful creations.

At the vendor booths, everything from clothing to make-up to paintings to jewelry to wellness products were sold. 

Painter Jasmine Nikole talked about how the Stetson library and Diane Brown have been ​“dynamic” in helping her get her work out. She got involved with the library through teaching workshops and has found a community of support in the space, she said.

Black Haven, an artist collective that aims to activate art justice through movement building events, initiatives and programming also had a booth, advertising the work of Black creatives and their upcoming film festival.

Inside the Stetson, librarian Brooke Jones discussed her plans to bring in the community through teen programming and the ​“maker space,” a multipurpose room that houses 3D printers, sewing machines, and computers. 

Beyond the community spaces, the library is also unique in that 75 percent of its book collection is from the African diaspora. 

Throughout the entire festival, people of all ages were smiling, singing, dancing, and laughing. 

Lacretia Watts smiled as she watched as her children hula hoop with martial arts instructor and ​“hood hula” artist Diamond Tree.

“I brought the babies out so they can have a good time because I don’t think they’ve ever really been to a big festival like this,” Watts said. ​“But it’s nice, it’s really nice and I feel like it’s supporting the community.”