Allison “Chucky” Allen, Author
Friday Night: Open House & Taste Testing
Community, Love and Celebration
Introducing the Main Street Cultural Center and Building excitement, despite the heavy rainfall the center had a packed house. With live entertainment from DJ Sho Nuff (Kevin Garner) as community members filled the space, admiring photography artwork captured by Christina McField hung among the walls throughout the space. Community members were filled with excitement and joy and many many questions and getting their bellies full with a local food tasting from Main Street Kitchen staff and servers. Following the performance by special guests the Monogram Hunters, our most recent RPPL Artists Big Chief Tyrone and Big Queen Denise blessed us with a powerful performance and the storytelling behind the Monogram Hunters.

Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen

Servers Zy’Nila Conecin, I’lekia Frazier, Xiauna Turner and Carla Broome along with lead server Karla Turner Bailey
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen

Austin is captured here in this moment with the architects that brought the vision of the Cultural Center to life, explaining that the logo of Main Street’s T-shirts was inspired by the green beams seen in the center of the space replacing what were once solid column bars separating the middle section of the building.
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Saturday Morning/Evening
Ribbon Cutting Grand Opening
Engaging community, funders and donors as owners Carlton and Brandi Turner along with Board members, architecture team and many other team members and supporters prepare to cut the mark of the Main Street Cultural Center opening for business and fellowship. We heard words of encouragement from speakers, Jean Greene (Board Chair), Mayor Broome (Mayor of Utica), David Lewis (MAC), Pastor Owens (Community Advisory Group), Mike Grote (Alembic Community Development), John and Allison Anderson (Unabridged Architecture). With amazing music and spoken word artists and experimental video, performances by Alexis McGrigg, Jesse Robinson with Marice Turner. Klaccik Carpenta (Cellist), eZra Brown and band, Amanda Furdge and Jammayette Washington.

Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen

Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Sunday
Rooted in Culture and Spirituality
A Southern Soul Food Sunday and a Hallelujah good time!!
To close out our final day of our Grand Opening we were blessed in the space with an amazing performance by The Utica Community Choir under the direction of Mr. Curtis Shears while enjoying Sunday dinner. Reflective storytelling sessions by Mrs. Mary Lofton and Pastor Owens with closing remarks and visions for the future from Carlton and Brandi Turner.
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen