Author: matthew.porter.2

For two unforgettable nights in May, more than 50 students walked into Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion—and into a story that felt deeply personal. Thanks to the Kynock Foundation for the Arts, students from New Heights Charter School of Brockton and Esperanza Academy in Lawrence were able to experience Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, the Tony-nominated play presented by the SpeakEasy Stage Company.

Inside the theater, the students were transported to a vibrant Harlem hair salon where banter, dreams, and heartbreak unfold among a close-knit team of West African braiders. At the heart of the story is Marie, a DREAMer with big aspirations, and her mother Jaja, preparing to marry an American in hopes of securing a more stable future. As tensions rise, the women must confront what it means to be outsiders in the country they now call home.

For many of the students—many of whom come from immigrant communities themselves—the themes hit home. The setting was fictional, but the feelings were not. For over 90 minutes, the stage mirrored back lives full of resilience, identity, and family.

Days later, teachers from both schools reported students were still buzzing about the experience. One educator from Esperanza Academy said it best: “It’s so great that our students can experience theatre with the help from the Kynock Foundation.”

But the inspiration didn’t stop when the curtain fell. Students from Brockton had a chance to meet one of the actors, Yasmeen Duncan, after the show. 

The students asked Duncan what inspired her to pursue acting, she said it all began when she saw a live performance of The Lion King—and watched children her own age on stage, living a dream that became hers.

This is the power of the arts. One story sparks another. One performance plants a seed.

At the Kynock Foundation, we believe every student deserves the chance to be moved by live performance. That’s why we created our Kynock Arts Immersion Trips—to connect young people with transformative cultural experiences that stay with them long after they leave the theater.

These trips were made possible through generous support from the Mass Cultural Council, Brockton Cultural Council, and Lawrence Cultural Council.

We invite you to be part of this ripple effect.

👉 If you’re a teacher or community leader interested in partnering with us, email kynockfund@kynockfoundation.org.

🎭 If you want to help more students discover themselves through the arts, make a gift today.

Let’s keep the spark alive. One trip. One story. One student at a time.

Kevin Kynock taught English and theatre at BC High. Kevin taught at Boston College High School on Morrissey Boulevard for four decades and passed on his passion for the arts to all of his students. 

Each year, the Kevin C. Kynock Foundation honors a student at BC High. This year, a select group of judges chose a student, nominated by the faculty at BC High, who not only has shown great talent in the arts, but leadership and service to his community. 

Marek Powell is a multi-talented artist who excels in both the visual, music, and performing arts. His faculty nominator described Marek’s enthusiasm for the arts as contagious. He has shown his commitment to others by serving in leadership and mentoring positions. Our judges took note of Marek’s commitment to service, particularly an initiative he spearheaded to beautify the school  by recruiting artists to paint utility boxes on campus.

Our judges wrote of Marek:

“He not only appreciates art for personal expression, but has used to his gifts and leadership skills to help BC High and his wider community.”

“Marek exemplifies the spirit of the Kynock Award. He has demonstrated his competence in multiple fields of art, including music, theatre, and architecture. He is also sharing his passion with others in many way, including leading Student Arts Council and taking initiative with the utility box art project.”

Marek will be taking his talents to another Jesuit school at Loyola University of Chicago in the fall.

Save the Date!

The Kevin C. Kynock Foundation will be hosting its annual gathering at Shakespeare on the Boston Common on Friday August 1st. This year, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will perform “As You Like It!” The picnic will begin at 6pm and the show starts at 8pm. This is a great gathering for families! 

The Foundation will be hosting special guests from the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program to watch the show and get a backstage tour of the outdoor stage. We hope you can join us! More details to come.

On Thursday, April 3, more than 30 students from Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, Massachusetts traveled to the Huntington Theatre in Boston to see “ The Triumph of Love.”

The trip is the first immersion trip by the Kevin C. Kynock Foundation for the Arts this year and was supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Lawrence Cultural Council.

The students enjoyed a classic 18th century love story between a princess and her love. The princess must disguise herself to woo the prince. As the Huntington Theatre describes, “mistaken identities, hilarious complications and deeply felt desire collide head on with Rationalist Philosophy – and surprising romantic entanglements ensue!”

“We love being a part of the Kynock Arts Immersion program,” said the Esperanza school representative. “The organization shows a lot of dedication bringing art to our students.”

The Kynock Immersion Trip is one of two being planned with Esperanza Academy this spring under the grant from the MCC and LCC. Another group will head to the Speakeasy Stage for its production of “Ja Ja’s Hair Braiding” in May.

This week, the Kynock Foundation turned classrooms into dance floors in its final artist-in-residence program in 2024 at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence.

Students were introduced to the art of Salsa dancing thanks to an incredible workshop by Andres Giraldo and Kelly Bachovchin from Salsa Y Control Dance Company! 💃🕺

View the entire photo gallery from the workshop.

These unforgettable moments — where classrooms become performance spaces — are made possible by the support of our donors. Help us bring more magic into schools by donating to our annual fund before the end of the year.

Are you an educator or community leader interested in hosting an artist-in-residence in 2025? We’d love to hear from you! 📧 Email us at: kynockfund@kynockfoundation.org

The Kevin C. Kynock Foundation for the Arts kicked off its exciting new Artist-in-Residence program in October 2024 with a powerful showcase of art, culture, and connection. This pilot program brings professional artists into schools to engage and inspire students through live performances, workshops, and storytelling.

For our inaugural event, the Foundation partnered with spoken word artist Nayellie Estrella, who performed at the Community Charter School of Cambridge during its Hispanic Heritage Month assembly. Nayellie captivated more than 150 students across four different sets, weaving stories of her upbringing as a Latina woman in East Boston. Her spoken word pieces resonated with the diverse student body, particularly those of Hispanic and Latino backgrounds, fostering a sense of pride and understanding.

A Powerful Connection

The experience created powerful connections for both the artist and the school participants.

Nayellie Estrella reflected on her experience:

“[The program] has been incredibly smooth and rewarding. I had the privilege of connecting with a fantastic school, filled with wonderful students and supportive faculty who made me feel truly welcomed. Being the first spoken word artist to participate in this initiative is a humbling experience, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”

The program also earned praise from Eliza Inder, who helped arrange the program with the Community Charter School of Cambridge:

“The Kynock Foundation did an amazing job listening to what we wanted for our artist-in-residence and finding the perfect spoken word artist for our Hispanic Heritage Month programming. Nayellie not only did an amazing job going with the flow as last-minute changes came up but also engaged with the students really well and had a great time. We are so grateful that our students and staff had this opportunity!”

On the Horizon

The success of this first event sets the stage for the next Artist-in-Residence program, happening this December at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Andres Giraldo, a celebrated salsa dancer from Boston’s renowned Salsa Y Control dance company, will lead a dynamic dance workshop with students. This collaboration is especially meaningful for Esperanza Academy, which serves a predominantly Hispanic and Latino student population.

The Kynock Foundation hopes to expand this program permanently in 2025. You can help make this vision a reality by supporting their 2024 Annual Fund. Your contribution will bring the transformative power of the arts to more students across Massachusetts.

Consider making a donation today.

Are you an educator in Greater Boston interested in hosting an artist at your school? Reach out to the Foundation at kynockfund@kynockfoundation.org for more details.

A Wonderous Trip to Boston’s Wang Theatre

On a warm sunny day in May, the Kynock Foundation brought more than 30 students from Esperanza Academy in Lawrence to Boston’s Wang Theatre. The students came to see the historic, highly acclaimed African-American Dance Theater perform in heart of the city.

On entering the magnificent Wang Theatre, one student asked: “Is this Cinderella’s house?”

The students were able to watch the diverse set of dancers take the stage for a two-and-a-half-hour performance. The students left the amazing display of storytelling smiling and excited. Some said they would remember the day for a very long time.

 “The kids are still talking about it,” said Esperanza Academy education partner Savannah Armstrong days after the trip. “Thank you so much [to the Kynock Foundation] for all of [its] dedication to bring this opportunity to life for our students!”

In addition to the students from Esperanza Academy, the Kynock Foundation welcomed its first student board member Liam Fitch (BC High ’25) on the trip. Liam will spend the next year helping support the Foundation’s work as a volunteer board member throughout the 2024-2025 school year.

The Kevin C. Kynock Foundation announces Aaron Fernandes, BC High Class of 2024, as the winner of this year’s Kevin C. Kynock Award, an honor that recognizes his outstanding talent in the arts, his leadership, and service.

Aaron is a multi-talented musician, proficient in both the violin and clarinet, and a dedicated singer in the choir, where he serves as vice-president. His musical talents are impressive alone, but what truly set Aaron apart for our panel of distinguished judges was his dedication to mentoring younger musicians and his unwavering commitment to service.

Aaron spends many of his free hours outside of class in mentorship roles at BC High. He is also a leader in several off-campus service organizations including serving as a leader for a local English as a Second Language Tutoring Program, serving several public service youth organizations, and representing Massachusetts as its “youth governor” in 2023.

One judge remarked that Aaron is “an exceptionally well-rounded candidate for the Kynock Award,” highlighting not only his artistic abilities but also his leadership and service qualities.

Another judge wrote in support of him, “Aaron has incredible skill with the violin personally, but also actively works to support and include newer players. Beyond the arts, his involvement in student government and clear interest and skill at civics and politics shows exceptional leadership.” 

The award is named after Kevin C. Kynock, a revered English and theatre teacher who dedicated four decades to inspiring students at Morrissey Boulevard, this award honors a student who reflects Kevin’s passion for the arts and commitment to service. Kevin’s legacy is one of enthusiasm and dedication, and today, we continue to honor him by celebrating students who embody these values.

This award is made possible by the generous support of our donors, whose commitment and dedication ensures that we can continue to honor students like Aaron who make significant contributions to our community.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of William “Bill” Burke, Jr.

Bill spent 60 years inspiring young minds as a drama director, teacher, and administrator at Boston College High School. Many of those years were spent teaching and laughing alongside his dear friend, Kevin Kynock.

Bill was a devoted supporter of the Kynock Foundation for the Arts from its very first days. He was always willing to bring a friend to an event, share a story about Kevin, or give an idea on how to grow as an organization. Just as he did over his 60 year career, he was always looking to help – however and whenever he could.

This past fall, we were able to honor Bill for his amazing career at BC High and his commitment to our organization. Even though his lifetime of achievement spoke for itself, Bill was as humble and self-effacing about it as ever.

Our group would not exist without Bill and his commitment that has helped us bring unique arts experiences to hundreds of students in and around Boston.

Information about services for Bill Burke can be found at the Dockray and Thomas Funeral Home website.

From all of us at the Kynock Foundation, we say thank you Bill. And we share our prayers for you, your family, and every person whose live you touched.

The Kynock Foundation Board
Jimmy D’Amico
Brendan Kennedy
Signe Lindberg
Matt Porter

The 2023 Kevin C. Kynock Foundation Gala was a complete success thanks to our devoted supporters.

On Saturday, we were able to celebrate how far we’ve come in the last six years with support from people like you:

• Kynock Trips to see live performances in Boston have continued, bringing more than 75 students to see live theater, many attending a live performance for the first time. For every $100 raised, as many as six youths can be sent to see a live performance.
  
• The Kevin Kynock Award has been granted annually to a senior student at BC High who has shown a commitment to leadership in the arts.
  
• Kevin’s name lives on at the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, supporting their youth apprenticeship program.

On Saturday, we heard from Pati Fernandez at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, Mass. who said about her school’s recent Kynock Trip to the Wheelock Theater in Boston.

“Our students saw actors who looked like them on stage and said, ‘I can do that because they look like me!’ The Kynock Foundation was instrumental not because they just paid for the trip, but because they worked with us to find the right trip for our students and our curriculum.“

We were also able to recognize Bill Burke, friend and colleague of Kevin, with an award for his outstanding support of our organization from Day 1. Without his help, none of our work would have been possible.

With your support, we hope to expand our Kynock Trip program bringing another 75 students or more to see live performances in 2024. We also intend to fund opportunities for artists to visit schools giving group workshops.

If you have not donated to our 2023 Annual Fund, please consider doing it now. Our budget for 2024 is determined by how much we raise by December 31st.

We also want to thank our gala sponsors Wegmans, Zugibe Vineyards, Boston College High School, Boston College Theatre, the Institute for Contemporary Art, and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum for their support of this year’s gala.