The event features Princaya Sanders’ journey from sixth grade to UMES diploma in the last installment of the “From West Baltimore” series, plus powerful performances by Felicia Curry and Norm Lewis.
Photo: From left, Felicia Curry, Princaya Sanders, and Norm Lewis. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Two Broadway stars commanded the stage, sparkling stars adorned the curtains, and the song “Stars” from “Les Misérables” was performed during the “Broadway in Baltimore” event at the M&T Bank Exchange on Oct. 19, but the brightest star of all was a young woman from Baltimore named Princaya Sanders.
Sanders was the focal point of “College Grad: From West Baltimore,” a 10½-minute documentary (watch below or on YouTube) that premiered at the event and recapped her journey from sixth-grade student in the first cohort of the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) CURE Scholars Program to first-generation college graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).
The video is the seventh and last of the two-time Emmy-nominated “From West Baltimore” documentary series, which chronicles five of the first students to participate in UMB’s CURE program, the first in the nation to offer the National Cancer Institute’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) initiative to sixth-graders.
Jennifer Litchman, MA, chief external relations officer and senior vice president, UMB, who introduced the documentary, is executive producer of all seven installments. She co-produced “College Grad” with Erik Neilsen, assistant director of video production, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, UMB. Neilsen also served as the documentary’s director, writer, editor, and cinematographer.
“Every other university had started its CURE program with ninth-graders, but we knew that starting in ninth grade was too late, that you have to start when they’re younger,” Litchman said. “I wanted to document our program with these films so others in the United States could use our program as a template to help these students achieve, graduate from high school, apply to college, and go to college and get a degree.
“In many cases, these scholars were the first in their families to do that, so they didn’t have a road map. They had to chart their own course and create their own map. Now our babies have grown up, and our CURE program has done exactly what it was created to do — mentor, train, and empower students to academic success, career readiness, and a competitive and rewarding future.”
In his remarks, UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, noted that Jay A. Perman, MD, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, was in attendance, which was fitting since Perman championed the CURE program that began in 2015 while he was UMB’s leader.
“Dr. Perman knew that if we created opportunities for these students in underserved areas of Baltimore, they could fall in love with science, research, and medicine and pursue their passion — just as Jay had done,” Jarrell said. “So I want to simply say, ‘Thank you, Jay,’ for starting this wonderful program and creating a pathway for these students to get to where their potential leads them.”
From left, Charleen Price, the mother of Princaya Sanders, joined Jennifer Litchman, Sanders, and Joy Moore on stage during “Broadway in Baltimore.” (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Hope and Joy
The documentary was shown to the audience of 250 and served as a prelude to entertainment from performers Norm Lewis and Felicia Curry in a concert that raised funds for UMB CURE. Sanders’ story left some audience members in tears, watching her grow on screen from young girl to young woman, overcoming difficult circumstances amid the city’s crime, and earning a college degree.
The closing sequence showed photos of Sanders from her CURE years followed by video of her receiving a UMES diploma when she graduated this past spring with a degree in rehabilitation counseling psychology. In the background, Sanders says, “CURE was such a series of fortunate events that just followed me. I don’t think I could be the Princaya Sanders you see today without CURE.”
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After a long round of applause, emcee Denise Koch of WJZ-TV said, “I don’t know about you, but I just feel better about the world after watching that. I have a lot more hope, and that’s hard to come by these days.”
Joy Moore, the mother of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was featured in the film visiting the scholars, walked to the stage to give remarks, noting that she hadn’t met Sanders until she was a UMES freshman but had come to know her before that through the “From West Baltimore” documentaries.
“I hope you in the audience are as inspired as I have been over the years by the CURE Scholars,” Joy Moore said. “Many years ago, I was invited to see a film about these kids who were going into a program that I soon fell in love with, CURE. And then I fell in love with the kids, who were persevering and trying every day to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
“We all know that every child has potential, but not every child has opportunity. CURE has provided opportunities to these amazing young people. A program like CURE not only changes lives, it also changes families and changes communities. And that’s why I congratulate all of the UMB community members whose efforts provide opportunity for young people like Princaya.”
Norm Lewis, left, and Felicia Curry sing “Happy Days Are Here Again” as a duet to close the “Broadway in Baltimore” event. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
First Lady Surprise
Sanders came to the stage, where a surprise was unveiled on the big screen behind the curtains: a message from Governor Moore’s wife, Maryland First Lady Dawn Flythe Moore, who was unable to attend but recorded a video of congratulations.
“Princaya, if you look around the room, you will see hundreds of people cheering for you and all of the other CURE Scholars,” Dawn Moore said. “We are all here to support you as you continue to achieve your dreams. We know you will continue to make us proud.
“The experience you are sharing tonight with the final installment of the ‘From West Baltimore’ documentary series reflects the importance of creating opportunity for our children. I hope all of you in the audience enjoy tonight’s concert and continue to support the arts and our beautiful children of Baltimore.”
The evening’s entertainment kicked into high gear with a performance by Curry, a Helen Hayes Award-winning actor and singer and resident company member of Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre. She sang a collection of Broadway show hits, including “Fabulous, Baby!” from “Sister Act,” “Send in the Clowns” from “A Little Night Magic,” “Easy as Life” from “Aida,” and “Tomorrow” from “Annie” with a soulful twist.
Lewis, a Tony Award-nominated actor and singer who has played the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera” and Inspector Javert in “Les Misérables,” was up next, joking that the crowd might know him more from his former role in the TV series “Scandal.” He belted out a variety of Broadway hits, too, including “Stars,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl,” “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Bring Him Home” from “Les Misérables,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from “The Little Mermaid.”
To close the festivities, Curry and Lewis teamed up for a duet of “Happy Days Are Here Again,” backed up as they were all evening by pianist Glenn Pearson and his band.