Sumner Hall “Freedom to Dream Academy” event comes May 9
Salisbury, Md. – A new whimsical tea party is coming to Kent County. On May 9, Sumner Hall is set to host a “Freedom to Dream Academy” event designed to inspire children and their families.
The event will include a “whimsical tea party” experience, hands-on activities for kids, and an author reading for the children’s book “What is Light?” by Markette Sheppard.
Event organizer and Sumner Hall President of the Board Vanessa Ringgold said the event is meant to build community through literacy and connection away from screens.
“Reading has always been one of the fundamental elements that has been part of my life that has allowed me to either make friends, create knowledge, explore different areas, increase my imagination and those are the things that I want to try to pass on to the children in our community,” Ringgold said.
Sheppard, who is working with Sumner Hall to organize the event, said she hopes attendees get the same feeling of welcome she received as a visitor to Sumner Hall. She told WMDT she was inspired to get involved with the local community by hosting an event ahead of Mother’s Day, because it is for parents as well as kids. Her book, “What is Light?” is about celebrating every day moments in a child’s life and finding the “glow” within one’s self. She said the book and the event is also geared towards parents because it is a special way to unwind and spend quality time with families in a fun and calm way.
“For me, this event, or events like this are special because I want to take all the time I have with my child while he’s young and he wants to spend time with me, to soak it in and make special moments,” Sheppard said.
Ringgold and Sheppard both emphasized that they also just wanted people to have fun, no matter their age.
“We wanted to make this an activity that could be enjoyed by all and everybody could leave with a positive message through the book ‘What is Light,” Ringgold said. “As well as the experience of a whimsical tea party, which we want people to have fun with.”
You can learn more and register for the event at sumnerhall.org.
