Q House Halloween Lets Kids Be Kids

Under the setting sun, a group of young people line danced in loose precision to the beat of V.I.C.’s ​“Wobble.” A line with witches, ghosts, and dinosaurs stretched from the field to the gymnasium, where trick-and-treat festivities awaited. Face-painted zombies, pirates, and superheroes chased each other in the cool autumn air, squealing with delight.

That was the scene Friday evening towards the end of the Halloween Festival staged by Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP) at Dixwell’s ​“Q” House community center at 197 Dixwell Ave. As the festivities neared conclusion, LEAP Executive Director Henry Fernandez surveyed the grounds with a seeming air of satisfaction.

“When you think of what kids missed during Covid, the academic part is really important, but it’s also the social part that was missing, and this was a perfect opportunity to have kids enjoying themselves and just having fun,” Fernandez said. 

For the Q House, there’s been a rich tradition around Halloween, according to Kenneth Notarino-Jeffrey, interim children’s program director at LEAP, which co-hosted the event.

“It really addressed the issue with safe trick or treating,” he said. ​“We as a community organization are giving kids an opportunity to have some of the activities that give them that traditional Halloween experience, and outside of that providing other programming as well.

That included the rhythm and acrobatics of Capoeira Esperanca CT, which practices a dance-infused martial art from Brazil, and a bomba performance by Proyecto Cimarron, a group dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican culture and advancing social justice. 

There was a room dedicated to arts and crafts, another showing the movies ​“Hocus Pocus” and ​“Halloweentown. There was a book giveaway in the teen lounge and Covid and flu vaccines available in the fitness room. 

“This isn’t just for people participating in LEAP’s programming,” said Tina Sapiente, LEAP’s deputy chief of staff. ​“This is for everyone.” 

Over at one of the tents on the nearby field, Juanita Harris watched her young granddaughters watching other kids get their faces painted. Both were dressed as princesses. 

“It’s nice for them to experience Halloween,” she said, as guests sipped cocoa and apple cider in the mild late afternoon light. 

Inside the gymnasium, Renee Brown and Nakima Reece, clad as witches, were settled behind a table with a bowl of Halloween candies.

“Whatever they do, I’m here,” said Brown, the owner of Trachouse Salon on State Street who worked at LEAP for seven years. ​“This kind of event is so important for the kids.”

At a table beside the two were Paul and Katie Hawkins. 

“We live in the neighborhood and we’re part of Orchard Street Block Watch,” Paul Hawkins said. ​“This is about keeping kids safe and keeping them off the streets, and keeping them positive with a nice Halloween experience.” 

Then there was the elaborately decorated table of the New Haven Heat, a traveling basketball team that reportedly boasts the top 8^th grade team in the state. 

“We gave up practice time to do this,” said Teri Durant, one of the player’s mothers. The team normally practices on the Q House courts on Fridays. ​“But it’s worth it.” 

Richard Whitaker, the New Haven Heat coach, agreed. ​“We were asked if we’d like to volunteer, and this is a great cause, so we’re here.” 

In the hallway crammed with rabbits, fairies, and a few spidermen, someone was shooting a photo of a little girl dressed as Zora the Pirate Genie. She asked the girl her first name.

“Zora the Pirate,” the girl said.

Daniel Byas, dressed as Batman, said he was still planning to go trick or treating Monday night but this was an opportunity for ​“more candy,” as he put it.

In the upstairs hallway outside the dance studio, Summer Choate, director of training and curriculum, was observing a group of women line dancing to the hypnotic beat of T.K. Soul’s ​“The Zydeco Bounce.”

“The more things we can provide where people can just be together with their families and having fun, the better, especially after we’ve all been isolated the past couple years,” she said. ​“It’s really great for your mental health, your spirit.” 

In the next room, Briana Gaines, assistant site coordinator, was helping kids and adults take their turns posing on the 360 photo booth.

“It’s good to do all this because it can open the community to what we do here, especially for education,” said senior counselor Raveen Jones, alluding to LEAP’s mission of providing academic and social enrichment and mentoring after school and during the summer for New Haven children and teens. 

By then, afternoon had become evening. The party went on. A boy in a Scream mask posed for a picture, then rushed off with someone clad in a New Haven Steelers uniform. The line dancing continued, its lively beat seeming to further lift the spirits of the crowd. 

“This is what it’s all about,” Fernandez said. ​“Letting kids be kids.”