Newsmakers

Members of Brothers@, the initiative dedicated to building a community supportive of Black students and students of color, celebrated the group’s 10th anniversary with a gala in New York City this April. Attendees reflected on and celebrated a decade of transforming the lives of young men across the country, and the event was marked by powerful stories and heartfelt speeches. “By sharing my experiences and knowledge, I can help these young men navigate challenges, develop life skills, and build confidence,” said Williams Hernandez ’27, current coleader with Jalen Smiley ‘27 of Bard’s chapter. “I grew up not having some of the opportunities that these high schoolers have and I always wished that I would have had a program like Brothers@.”

In 2015, group founders Dariel Vasquez ‘17 and Harry Johnson ‘17 created an on-campus support group for men of color which offered a safe space for healing circles, near-peer group mentorship, and cultural-event planning for men of color on Bard’s campus. With the assistance of the Bard Center for Civic Engagement’s Trustee Leader Scholar program, Brothers@ later launched a youth outreach program designed to assist students from low-income high schools as they prepare for college or a career. The group's efforts have a demonstrable impact on students at Bard. Currently, the four-year graduation rate for Black students at Bard is just over 70%, while the four-year graduation rate for members of Brothers@Bard members is 90%.

Pauline Chalamet ’14, actress, producer, and Bard alumna, writes for the Hollywood Reporter about the vital importance of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and how eliminating it would be devastating to small and rural arts organizations. Chalamet, who recently lobbied Congress on behalf of arts funding, discusses how it supports initiatives such as local jazz festivals, museums exhibitions, arts education, and community theater, which enrich cultural identity and stimulate local economies that would otherwise lack access to major donors or sponsorships. If it weren’t for the NEA, she says, she may not have pursued life as an actor herself. “Arts funding is often the first thing to be cut by governments, when in fact it should be protected as essential,” Chalamet writes. “Creativity gives us purpose. Imagination advances humanity. The arts foster empathy, understanding, and connection. Access to creative expression—whether through dance, music, painting, theater, or film—helps us communicate on a deeper level and provides a bridge into the shared experience of what it means to be human.”

The Mastermind, a new film by S. William Senfeld Artist in Residence Kelly Reichardt, will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival this month. The Mastermind is about an art thief in 1970s Massachusetts who plans his first heist. It stars Josh O’Connor and Alana Haim, as well as alumna Gaby Hoffmann ’04 as part of the film’s stellar ensemble cast.

Reichardt has taught in the Film and Electronic Arts program at Bard since 2006. Her last film, Showing Up, also premiered at Cannes and was named one of the top ten indie films of 2023 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Sonita Alizadeh ’23, Bard College alumna and human rights activist, has been announced as the 2025 Cannes LionHeart by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The honor is awarded to a recipient who harnesses their position to make a positive difference to the world, and Alizadeh has used her platforms as the first professional Afghan rapper, an activist, and an author to fight child marriage and gender injustice and be a global voice for women’s rights. “Sonita’s journey is an inspirational story of resilience and courage,” said Philip Thomas, chair of Cannes Lions. “Through her music and her activism, she has used her voice and her platform to challenge oppression and inspire the next generation.” 

Born under Taliban rule, Alizadeh faced the threat of child marriage twice, at ages 10 and 16, before finding her voice through music. She has since performed on global stages and collaborated with artists and organisations that share her mission, and has addressed world leaders and worked with NGOs such as the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International to push for change. “Being awarded the Cannes LionHeart is more than an honor—it’s a powerful affirmation that using my voice to fight for girls' rights and freedom matters,” said Alizadeh. “This award reflects the journey from silence to sound, from being sold to standing on the world stage. It reminds me that no dream is too wild when it’s rooted in truth, courage, and purpose.”