Former Grizzly Aaron Profit and Injoy Fountain perform

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Butler Community College hosted “A Celebration of the Arts” in honor of the Black History Month. The event featured a discussion with former Grizzly Aaron Profit and accomplished performer Injoy Fountain, as well as a dramatic monologue from Profit’s performance in The Agitators. Held at the El Dorado campus, the event aimed to highlight the importance of storytelling, perseverance and the impact of the arts in shaping history and culture.

Profit, an actor and associate producer at Horizon Theatre, captivated the audience with a monologue from The Agitators, a play that explores themes of slavery, racism and social change. Through his performance, Profit talked about the struggles and determination of historical figures, highlighting their sacrifices and the fight for justice.

“It takes resilience and passion to keep pushing forward, especially in an industry where opportunities aren’t always easy to come by,” Profit said reflecting on his experience.

Following Profit’s performance, Fountain took the stage to share her experiences as a performer and educator. She spoke about the challenges of overcoming self-doubt and failure, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and finding one’s passion. She also highlighted the significance of exposing children to the arts and the dedication required to succeed. Fountain performed a song by Ariana Grande, demonstrating her vocal prowess and recounting her experience on “The Voice.”

The event left a good impression on the attendees, including Markcell Tah, a sophomore majoring in cybersecurity.

“I came to the event because one of my friends recommended it to me,” Tah said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be that interesting. The real part I enjoyed during the event was when Mr. Profit was talking about his sacrifices and experiences to get where he is today.”