Family Pride Paddle

This paddle is a safe space for young people and their families to come and paddle the Ipswich River. Local members from the LGBTQIA+ community will be on hand to offer encouraging words to both young people and their families. We are delighted to be joined by Dr. Viola Voilà, an accomplished violist, musical educator, and drag entertainer. Paddlers will be treated to music on the water as they paddle! 

IRWA provides boats, life vests and paddles. Location will be in Ipswich and announced in an email sent out prior to the event. 

This is suitable for youth and their families. If you consider yourself a youth and don’t have family to come with you, please register and we will be your family for the day. If you consider yourself an adult and want to participate, contact us about volunteering on this paddle or join us on our Pride Paddle in July. 

About Dr. Viola Voilà

Dr. Viola Voilà (she/her in drag) or Dr. Kasey Calebaugh (he/him out of drag) enjoys a wide range of musical endeavors as a violist, drag entertainer, and full-time educator at Suzuki School of Newton. They completed a Doctorate of Music Arts degree in Viola Performance from the Hartt School, graduating with the Regents’ Honor Award – the most prestigious award that the University of Hartford bestows on graduate students. They regularly film drag story hours and interview local residents at Ipswich Community Access Media and perform with the Cape Ann Symphony and Nonconformist Orchestra (a transgender/non-binary, LGBTQ+ and minority inclusive professional orchestra). Find them across all socials @drviolavoila.