Celebrate the arrival of spring with Leadlights Ensemble’s first event of the 2024 “Rising in the Hts” festival featuring “A Tree Grows in Harlem,” an interactive storytelling adventure led by actor/storyteller Reza Salazar, with live illustration by Josefina Hernandez and musical performance by Leadlights. Free copies of the picture book “Harlem Grown” by Tony Hillary will be available.

Rising in the Heights” is a festival of outdoor arts performances curated by Leadlights in partnership with Word Up Community Bookshop. The festival celebrates the rich artistic contributions of Black and Latinx cultures and promotes children’s literacy through music and storytelling.

This project is made possible in part with funds from UMEZ Arts Engagement, supported by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ); and Creative Engagement, supported by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council and the Howard Gilman Foundation. UMEZ Arts Engagement and Creative Engagement are administered by LMCC.