05-863Council File # o � a �3
Presented by_
Referred To
Committee Date
1 W HEREAS, the Rondo Avenue neighborhood of Saint Paul, an integrated but predominantly African-American
2 business, religious and educational center in the city's urban core challenged by geographic displacement when the
3 I-94 freeway was constructed in the 1950's and 196Q's, survives in the hearts and minds of current and former
4 residents; and,
5 WHEREAS, the Rondo Avenue community of Saint Paul proudly celebrates their history and culture through events
6 such as the annuals Spirit of Rondo Days Festival and expands its pride in their `Rondo' heritage through The
7 Rondo Oratorio; and, •
8 WHEREAS, the Walker West Music Academy and the American Composers Forum aze joint sponsors of The
9 Rondo Oratorio generously fixnded by The Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation, The City of
10 Saint PauPs Cultural STAR Program, The Saint Paul Companies, Inc. Foundation, John S. And James L. Knight
11 Foundation Advised Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation, and COMPAS Medtronic Arts Access Program; and,
12 WHEREAS; Concordia University in Saint Paul, through Dr. Cheryl Chatman, has generously provided Buetow
13 Hall at Concordia University, as the performance site for The Rondo Oratorio; and,
14
15 WHEREAS; composerDr. StephenMichaelNewby, conductor, gospeUjazz vocalist, pianist, international performer,
16 Seattle, Washington resident, was selected to depict the history and cultural legacy of the Rondo Avenue African-
17 American Community in the multi-movement musical composition The rondo Oratorio; and,
18
l9 WHEREAS; The Rondo Oratorio, composed by Dr. 5tephen Michael Newby, was inspired in part by selected oral
20 history interviews with people who lived and grew up in the Rondo Community and his visit to Saint Paul; and,
21 WHEREAS; the selected oral history interviews are published by Hand in Hand Productions as Voices of Rondo:
22 Oral Hostories of Saint PauPs Historic Black Community; and,
23 WHEREAS; The Rondo Oratorio is a celebratorymulti-movement musical composition for chorus, instrumentalists,
24 and narrator expressing the vitality of the Rondo Avenue Community of Saint Paul that has survived in spirit despite
25 geographic dislocation; and,
26 WHEREAS, the themes of The Rondo Oratorio - Faith, Hope, and Love - express the vitality of the Rondo
27 Neighborhood of Saint Paul and honor the rich heritage of the people who live and grew up there; and,
28 WHEREAS; The Rondo Oratorio draws on a rich variety ofmusical styles - gospel, jazz, classical, spiritual, hip-hop,
29 incorporating the experiences of the past and the visions for the future; and,
Green Sheet # �v�-�
RESOLUTION
CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA /Q
30 WHEREAS; The Rondo Oratorio and the City of Saint Paul are indebted to the voices of the Rondo Community
31 for telling their stories; the founders of Rondo Days for sparking recognition and celebration of the Rondo Avenue
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32 Community; Hand in Hand Productions for documenting and preserving the oral history and cultural legacy of the
33 Rondo Community; and artist Ta-Coumba Aiken for capturin.g the spirit of Rondo in his artwork that appeazs in the
34poster and program of The Rondo Oratorio; and,
35 WHEREAS; the Rondo Avenue neighborhood symbolizes communitypride and spirit that is revealed through music,
36 dance, image and narrative in The Rondo Oratorio; and
37THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council does hereby declare Saturday,
38 September 24, 2005 and Sunday, September 25, 2005 to be The Rondo Oratorio Days in the City of Saint Paul
39commemorating the Rondo Avenue neighborhood in Saint Paul.
Benanav
Bostrom
Harris
Helgen
Lantry
Montgomery
Thune
Yeas
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Absent
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Requested by Deparhnent of:
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Form Approved by Ciry Attorney
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Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
Adopted by Council: Date
Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
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Appr�
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DepartmeM/office/councii: Date Initiated:
�o -���,� 06SEP-05 Green Sheet NO: 3027899
Contact Person 8 Phone:
Debbie Mon(qomery
266-8610
Must Be on Council Agenda by (Date):
21SEP-05
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Assign
Number
For
Routing
Order
ueoartmem �enciorerson imvavuare
0 000cil i
1 2unc"I � DeoartmentDirector __
2 'ri Clerk Citv Clerk
3 I
4
5
Total # of Signature Pages _(Clip Ail Locations for SignaWre)
Action Requested:
Commemorating the Rondo Avenue neighborhood and declaring Saturday, September 24, 2005 and Sunday, September 25, 2005 to be
the Rondo Oratorio Days in the City'of Saint Paul.
itlations: Approve (A) or RejeCt (R): Personal5ervice ConVacts MuSt Answer the Following ques6ons:
Planning Commission 1. Has this person/firm ever worked under a contract for this department?
CIB Committee Yes No
Civil Service Commission 2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this personffirm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
� wrrent city employee?
Yes No
, Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Probiem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
AdvantaSles If Approved:
Disadvantanes If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
Total Amount of
Transaction:
Funtling Source:
Financial irRormation:
(Explain)
CosURevenue Budgeted:
ACtivity Number:
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