Author: Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, supported by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and the sponsorship of Temple Sinai, is joining with the Albany Institute of History & Art to present a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round, part of SJCA’s Social Justice series. The screening and discussion of the film, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ilana Trachtman, takes place Thursday, October 15, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.

Lead support for the program is generously provided by The Richer Team at Hanna Commercial Realtors. Additional program support is provided by the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial for the reception, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York for accommodations, Rick D’Avino for travel, and Phyllis Wang, Saratoga Jewish Community Arts for communications.

An Untold Civil Rights Story

Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round tells the untold story of the first organized interracial civil rights protest in U.S. history. When five Howard University students sat down on a carousel at Maryland’s Glen Echo Amusement Park in 1960, their arrests made headlines. When the white community near the park joined the Black students in picketing, an extraordinary, history-making partnership was born.

The pickets attracted Nazis, a congressman, and a press avalanche. Picketing together over a sweltering summer led to partying together, and union organizers mentored student activists. Ten of the 1961 Freedom Riders, including Stokely Carmichael, were incubated on the Glen Echo picket line, and the carousel arrests were challenged in a case that reached the Supreme Court.

With never-before-seen footage and immersive storytelling by director Ilana Trachtman (Praying with Lior, Black in Latin America, The Pursuit), four living protesters help rescue this forgotten history, revealing the price — and the power — of heeding the impulse to activism. 

The film features voiceover performances by Jeffrey Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Bob Balaban, Lee Grant, Peter Gallagher, Dominique Thorne, Alysia Reiner, and Tracie Thoms.

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For its exemplary record of leadership, service and efforts to improve the school and community, the National Honor Society NHS awarded Galway High School the Chapter of Distinction award.

NHS is supported by its parent organization, the National Principals Association (NPA), which also oversees the National Association of Student Councils.

The Galway National Honor Society chapter works closely with school and community partners to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The chapter supports the school’s Backpack Program, which provided food to 51 families last year. The members help prep backpacks and run an ongoing fundraiser which donates its profits to the program. The chapter also partners with Things of My Very Own, a nonprofit organization that provides intervention services to children. 

Each year, members participate in a chapter-wide service trip during the holiday season. The chapter has also partnered with the Galway Public Library to develop activities for the community.

“The NHS Chapter of Distinction Award celebrates chapters that truly embody what the National Honor Society stands for—students who don’t just excel academically but actively strengthen their communities,” said NPA CEO Ronn Nozoe. “The Galway chapter demonstrates how powerful it can be when young leaders channel their talents toward meaningful service and positive change.”

Chapter president Andrew Miller is excited about the recognition and sees it as a motivator for this year. At the chapter’s first meeting, he told members: “We want to build on our chapter of distinction and use our large group to do things that have an impact on something greater than us.”

The NHS Chapters of Distinction is a national recognition program created by NHS to honor chapters that demonstrate strong leadership, sound operations and a deep commitment to the pillars of the Honor Society. This distinction recognizes chapters that meet all Essential Standards and excel in key areas such as student governance and leadership development.