A Message from bergenPAC President & CEO - June 18, 2020

A Message from bergenPAC President & CEO

Dear Friends of bergenPAC,

I hope this finds you well as we head into the official start of summer this weekend. It has been encouraging to see the region begin more reopening efforts, including outdoor dining at many of our local restaurant partners. However, we know we still need to be patient and, most importantly, continue to stay safe when we leave our homes.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the theater and Performing Arts School at bergenPAC when the time is right. But for now, if you have children, I invite you to consider enrolling them our virtual summer camp. We have programs for all different ages. This can be a great time for them to explore and develop different artistic passions. See all the options at bergenpac.org/summer.

This is also a good time to acknowledge Juneteenth, which is tomorrow and commemorates the moment in history of June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas to tell the enslaved population that the Civil War was over and they were free. It’s remarkable that this was actually more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation.

As you are aware, there have been weeks of protests across America and the country demanding a more just society. bergenPAC recognizes the pain and fear systemic racism causes the Black community, which we know includes some of our students, patrons, staff members and artists. We believe no one should be denied the ability or space to feel safe and respected in their daily lives. Bringing people together from all races is at the heart of bergenPAC’s mission, and we will continue to strive to do it better.

Sincerely,
Dominice Roncace
bergenPAC President & CEO