ARTSPEAK RADIO + Robert Castillo, Gillian Helm, Sher “Purpose” Hall, and Diego Chi

Wednesday, June 17, 2020, noon – 1pm CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live www.kkfi.org

Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd talks with artist/musician Robert Castillo and Gillian Helm CEO Literacy KC in the first half of the program.
In the second half, musician/educator Diego Chi, and community activist/spoken word writer-performer Sheri “Purpose” Hall contribute original work in honor of Father’s Day, Sunday June21.

ROBERT CASTILLO is an upright and electric bassist, composer and arranger, visual artist, meditation instructor, and community organizer. This Kansas City native creates with the intent to imbue individuals with positivity so that they may be inspired to help construct a more beautiful world.
After graduating from North Kansas City High School in 2010, Robert attended North Central College in Naperville IL, majoring in Jazz Studies and minoring in Environmental Studies. Shortly after, he moved to the West Coast where accepted a position with AmeriCorps as the K-8 Music Teacher at Fossil Elementary School in Fossil, OR (pop. 473). Along with developing his own curriculum, he taught lessons on various instruments including piano, drums, bass, violin, cello, and guitar. Castillo found himself with ample free time in the central Oregon high desert, during which he further developed his meditation practice, composed and arranged music, and created visual art. Following his time in Fossil, Robert moved to Portland, OR where he founded the groove jazz ensemble The Sextet. Consisting of three horns and three- piece rhythm section, The Sextet plays music to move to and be moved by. Much of the music written in Fossil can be heard on their first album “In a Natural State.” When Robert moved back to Kansas City in the Fall of 2016, he reformed the group and released a second album “Blob Castle” in 2017. The Sextet released their third album “Among Friends” in September 2019. The album was well received, garnering recognition from the local NPR radio station. Aside from The Sextet, Robert performs all over the United States collaborating with musicians of any genre. One of these groups, The Standard vocal jazz ensemble, has been presented seven times with the Downbeat Music Award.
In March 2018 Robert was challenged to create enough visual art to host a solo show that following December. He has since shown his work several times, selling many of his paintings. As with music, his style is varied. His subjects include Post-Classic Mayan imagery, geometric abstraction akin to Kandinsky, and at times incorporates Van Gogh-like impressionistic backgrounds. The mediums he uses include oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and paint pens. Visual art has become a passion deeper than he could have ever imagined and he has visions to create monumental works.
Robert is a committee member of the Latino Arts Festival and a mentor for the Latino Arts Foundation. He also volunteers as the Assistant Director of Programming for the Art as Mentorship youth music program. Robert can be found volunteering at Cross-Lines Community Outreach, where he also serves on the Young Professionals Board.
“Hold” digital drawing on vinyl on glass 61×167”northbound streetcar stop at Kansas City Power & Light District
I am beyond excited to share my first piece of public art. “Hold” is a piece I created to promote unity in times of division. The piece was created before COVID-19 changed our world. Now that we’re living with social distancing and with the widespread focus on equality, this piece has taken on even greater and deeper significance. We’re now challenged to improvise and experiment with how we can connect with one another. The differences in skin tones of those holding hands in the image speaks to the diversity of our global community, and the freedom we have to connect with whomever. If it weren’t for the iPad and Apple Pencil, this wouldn’t have been possible. Previously I had submitted pieces for public art consideration through colored pencil sketches. The submissions would be overlooked and none were chosen. This is my first submission created using my iPad Air and Apple Pencil and I am so very happy to have been able to create a positive impact in our community using these devices. infinite thanks to Ann from Art in the Loop, Donna with KC Streetcar, and the folks at Signco Kansas City for printing and installing the art. — in Kansas City, Missouri.
www.robertcastillo.art
www.theseextetjazz.com

GILLIAN HELM, CEO Literacy Kansas City, Literacy KC offers a welcoming community for adults and families to improve literacy skills and enhance quality of life. With support from volunteers, donors, partners, and the community at large, Literacy KC invests in Kansas City’s greatest asset – our people.

Join Literacy KC students, volunteers, supporters, and staff for on our virtual annual luncheon! Literacy KC’s Day-Long Luncheon celebration will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2020 beginning at 8:00 AM. The action-packed day will consist of panel discussion by experts on adult basic education and workforce development, family-friendly celebrity storytimes, and much more!
Guests will be able to join any session on Zoom at no cost.
Featured guests include:

Mayor Quinton Lucas, KCMO
Taye Diggs, Award-winning actor and author
Shane W. Evans, Award-winning illustrator
TechN9ne, KC native and rapper
Makzilla, Slcket, CKO
Melissa Robinson, Councilwoman 3rd District
Dale Klose, PNC Bank, Kansas City Regional President
Steve Potter, Mid-Continent Public Library, Library Director & CEO
Dr. Tyjaun Lee, MCC – Penn Valley, President
Pete Browne, Kissick Construction, President

Learn more on how to be involved in a community effort to provide opportunity for the 225,000 adults in KC that read below an eight grade level. Panelists include: Pete Browne, Kissick Construction, Dr. Tyjaun Lee, MCC-Penn Valley, Steve Potter, Mid-Continent Public Library Facilitated by Claire Bishop, American Public Square and Literacy KC Vice President of Board of Directors.

Literacy KC 3036 Troost Ave. KCMO 64109
www.literacykc.org

DIEGO CHI, known for an innovative approach to music inspired by American and Latin cultures, Latinx rock’n’rollers Making Movies are “breaking down walls in the U.S” (Rolling Stone). From their Panamanian & Mexican heritage to their fusion of international sounds and genres, Making Movies melds reinterpretations of cumbia, mambo, son, and salsa with blues and rock’n’roll, as well as traditional Mexican and Panamanian folclór, while singing in Spanish and English. Making Movies “synthesizes what’s happening in Latin music better than anyone else out there today” (MTV), having collaborated with salsa legend Rubén Blades on the Latin Grammy nominated song “No Te Calles”, as well as Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, and the late Lou Reed.
The band has toured extensively, appearing with the likes of Arcade Fire, Rubén Blades, Los Lobos, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Bomba Estereo, Galactic, Jesse & Joy, and Thievery Corporation.
“this band is breaking down walls in the US.” — Rolling Stone
“lyrically and sonically one of the best albums of the year,” — NPR
“(Making Movies) an icon of pro-immigrant advocacy” — Chicago Tribune
“A pointed social statement from a group who’s sound is its own form of protest” — KUTX Austin
“Making Movies is breaking down barriers for Latinos in the US Heartland” — Remezcla
“… tough to classify into one genre, which … makes them that much more appealing.” — CNN en Español
“The band synthesizes what’s happening in … Latin music better than anyone else out there today.” — MTV

Making Movies www.mkngmvs.com

SHERI “PURPOSE” HALL is a wife, mother of four, author, servant of God, and performing artist. As an African-American child brought up by a single mother in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, she used poetry to fight her way through life’s struggles and still uses it therapeutically today.
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She has Four books: a book of poetry, epistles, and essays titled “Black Girl Shattered”(2017); two poetry chapbooks “Mélange du Femme Noir” (2019) and “Chosen for Both” (2015); and a workbook/workshop “Writing Wrongs: Writing to Heal” (2016) which won an award from Bike for the Brain, a non-profit organization that works to reduce mental health stigma.
She is the founder of Arsyn Spit Fire, East of Red ArtHouse, and PenFire Publishing; Interim CEO for Poetry for Personal Power; and provides consulting and assistance for many other non-profit, community-based, and arts organizations.
Sheri Purpose Hall is a 2019 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Awardee and Studios Resident Artist in her 2nd year, 2019 Art in the loop grant recipient, 2019 and 2017 Arts KC Inspiration Grant recipient, and the 2017 ArtsKC Inspiration Breakfast featured artist. She won the Poet and Activist award at the Music and More Foundation Poetry Awards 2 years in a row and was nominated for best-spoken word artist in the KC People’s Choice awards, Pitch Best KC, and the National Spoken Word Awards. She has also earned the opportunity to represent Kansas City Nationally as an individual competitor at the Women of the World Poetry slam 2 years in a row (2017/18) and as a team competitor at the National Poetry Slam 4 years in a row.
The driving force behind much of her work is her desire to make the world a better place for her children and the children of others. Growing up in a low-income area that was stricken with poverty and crime, she has seen the transforming power of words and literacy. Because of this, she serves her community in many different capacities using her work and words to provide perspective, engage conversational empathy, and foster real change.
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Through her continued endeavors, she remains unchanged in her purpose to spread the bread of life through the meat of her words. Her tenacious and determined spirit will continue to be a driving force in her mission to show the world that we are all here for a PURPOSE
www.spokenpurpose.com

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