Congo Square Announces First Sam Roberson Award Recipient

Cassandra Bell

Congo Square Theatre Company has announced that their inaugural “Sam Roberson Artist | Activist: Believe, Conceive, Achieve Award” will go to artist Cassandra Bell. 
The Sam Roberson Award recognizes a Chicago-based artist who has demonstrated a strong sense of activism, justice, and equity in their work and lives. Bell is being recognized for her writing, directing and filmmaking efforts that empower women and youth.

The award is in honor of Congo Square’s late artistic director, Sam Roberson, who died in May of 2017. A call for nominations was sent out
inviting the community to nominate artists that “work and live in Chicago; connect communities and people; show a high quality aesthetic; and portray an intersection of art and justice in their artistic work.”

The award is funded by a personal gift from Angelique Power, and a 
matching gift from the Field Foundation in memory of Roberson. Bell will 
receive an unrestricted cash award of $1,000 at a presentation on Saturday, June 30, during Congo Square’s Jambalaya Series, which features staged readings, artistic discussions and independent film. 
That night’s event is a reading of BREATHE by Javon Johnson at the Reva and David Logan Center at 915 E 60th St, Chicago. The award presentation will take place at 6:45 PM, with the reading to follow. The event is free with RSVP.

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