BAMS Fest: Play Playe Edition was a WHOLE VIBE

I hope everyone has had a restful rest of the weekend and a smooth start to this week. My team and I definitely rested... for good reason!

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Kidogo participated in BAMS Fest for the second year in a row-- Kidogoville at BAMS Fest: Play Playe Edition. Facing massive headwinds in the name of uncertainty, the event had to grow like a rose out of concrete. And bloom it did.

Our first artist of the day!

It is hard to put into words how much we need safe and joyful spaces these days. As too many of the nation's leaders work to exclude certain people of color who build and fuel our economy, social enterprises, and cultures-- as the so-called top tries to squish and squash the rest of us-- as we witness and experience adversity, safe spaces are our lifeline.

My oldest sister tests our prototype SEL matching card game with my Spelman sister's son.

Catherine Morris, the Executive Director of BAMS said that BAMS Fest is about "belonging, care, and joy." I could not agree more. We share the same goal for Kidogoville, especially for young children.

Me with Catherine Morris

I tried to soak in the goodness in real time. Periodically, I would step back and feel the pulse and energy of the room. It was truly a whole vibe! I heard laughter, giggles, and excited helium-like voices of little cherubs. I heard voices of pride as they showed off their art to their caregiver or parent. I noticed women being open with each other in the grownup section. I saw tiny toes lifted in the air for a yoga pose, huddled heads engrossed in a book, and bodies as still as could be as they were painted in splendorous colors. The music from the outside poured in so that we didn't experience FOMO.

Jumpstart reads Sage Does Pilates

As one Mom put it, Kidogoville at BAMS Fest was "Amazing!"

I met crafty moms like Moms like Asia, resourceful Dads like Richard, and other potential community partners and supporters. I was proud to give Congressman Ayanna Pressley a tour of our space and to receive Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia, State Rep. Christopher Worrell and State Senator Liz Miranda as well.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley with some of our partners

Kidogo Team Members: Kourtney Simons, Jessica Bodiford, and Aurora Lee all made this event possible. An idea and vision is a mere notion without people pushing the plan. The planning took months of effort, thought, care, and precision. The last-minute change in location threw a wrench in our operations, but we managed.

The day-of? Aurora Lee brought us to the finish line in style and brilliance!

Kidogo Team with some of our volunteers

The Kidogo Team would like to thank:

BAMS:

Catherine Morris and staff

Austyn Ellese as Chair of the Board of Directors

Other BAMS partners

MM Elite Events

Myriam Michel, Founder

Her entire staff

The Record Co.

Bobby Boyd, Director

Reggie

Partners:

Boston Ujima Project (especially JaNoah Daley)

Angela Allen and staff of the YMCA

Ashley Jaundoo of Jumpstart

Leslie Forde of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs

Jeanette Sargeant of Be a Light Wellness

Angela Owens of Painting as Art and Ritual

SonJoria Sydnor of Our Family's Doing Yoga

Clarissa Shepard of Nova Pilates

Moms share with Leslie Forde and Mezeline Lindor in the Grownup Lounge

Sponsors:

Gabby's Bows

Black Girl Sunscreen

Mass Cultural Council

Volunteers:

Yawa Degboe

Dora Vez

Phoebe Wong

Amanda Yuan

Toni Miller

Kristen Halbert

June Handy

Cyndy Clovis (my oldest sister)

Nayomi Santiago

Samuel Sackey

Ngozi Nnaeto

Salina Dorvil

Lydia Yared

Shalom Mimololuwa Olowu

Bianca Vonleh

Garry Miller

Marc Germain (my hubby)

Amara Germain (my mini me)

Zoë Payne (my great-niece)

George Saxon (my Daddy)

Interior Design Volunteers:

Pamela Jones

Kyle Freeman

Sheneya Carter,

Janelle Dibinga

Cynthia Gaucher-Germain

AJ Clovis (my niece)

Tricia

If I have inadvertently forgotten someone's name, PLEASE charge it to my head and not my heart.

All of us need all of us. Moments like this demonstrate that.

We envision. We plan. We push. We get it done. We make the impact. Then we rest and reflect. Rinse and repeat.

There are a few supportive things I'd like YOU to do in the midst of this cycle:

1. Do you have any pictures and/or videos, you'd like to share? If so, add them here. For people who requested not be shown, we did our best to remove the photos. Please comment/flag any additional photos in question. Please do not delete or alter any photos in this folder.

2. Review Kidogo Productions on Google (Be kind, lol!).

3. Reply to this email with any other collaboration or partnership ideas.

For the Kids, for the Culture,

Keeana Saxon

CEO/Founder