Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), State Representative Joanna McClinton, State Senator Anthony H. Williams and City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) will host a community event tonight in response to the tragic shootings in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood during a July 4th cookout. Two men in their 20s were killed and a 16-year-old girl was injured.

The event, titled “Hope and Healing” is in support of Cobbs Creek residents in the aftermatch of the shootings.

“This event, along with other recent shootings in the area, have left community members feeling afraid for their safety and the wellbeing of their loved ones and neighbors,” reads an official announcement. Continue Reading

After a two-year break, Philadelphians are again invited to celebrate July 4th at the “Wawa Welcome America” festival, which includes a concert at the Mann Center for Performing Arts (5201 Parkside Ave) and fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The concert will be held at TD Pavilion at the Mann Center, beginning at 7 p.m., and will feature Bebe Rexha, Flo Rida, and a special performance by the Philly POPS. Gates open at 4 p.m. The concert is free, but tickets are required (click here). Those who can’t make it to the concert or are not ready to mingle with crowds yet can watch it live on NBC10 and TeleXitos. Continue Reading

The Barnes Foundation and the People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC) are continuing their collaboration with a new project – Everyday Places Artist Partnerships. The project, which began rolling out last month through the Barnes and PECCDC’s collaborative initiative Barnes West, will provide West Philly residents with spaces to engage with multidisciplinary artistic projects that “offer inspiration and promote ​hope and healing.”

This week, the partners have announced five West Philadelphia-based social-impact artists who have been selected to participate in Everyday Places: Keyonna Butler, Marshall James Kavanaugh, Jahwula Seapoe, Karen Smith, and Andrea Walls. The selected artists will partner with neighborhood businesses and sites – including grocery stores, restaurants, laundromats, public parks, and community organizations – to build interactive, participatory projects. Continue Reading

Keni Jackson (Facebook photo)

Great news for local jazz music fans! After a two-year break the popular Thursday night jazz series, Jazz Heritage Series, will return to Malcolm X Park this summer. The series will kick off this Thursday, July 1 (weather permitting), with a performance by Southwest Philadelphia native Keni Jackson, a bass player and vocalist.

All concerts are free and held every other Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. Please bring your blanket or portable chair, and picnic! Please note that performances are not held in inclement weather.

Here’s the full schedule of performances through October 21st: Continue Reading

The 2021 Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival will not take place in their usual form due to continued COVID restrictions, but the organizers, Juneteenth Philly, will hold some other great events this Saturday to commemorate the end of slavery and celebrate Juneteenth.

The celebrations will kick off at 10 a.m. with Freedom Day Rally, followed by a march down 52nd Street from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. The inaugural “Art in the Park” exhibit featuring local artists will take place in Malcolm X. Park (52nd and Pine) from 12-7 p.m.

Gathering for the Freedom Day Rally and March will begin at 9 a.m. at 52nd and Haverford. The organizers are encouraging participants to fill out a sign-up form online.

For more information, please visit http://juneteenthphilly.org/.

Matana Roberts (Photo by M. Tarantelli)

Ars Nova Workshop, the Philadelphia jazz and contemporary music presenter, is partnering with The Woodlands cemetery to host numerous events on their grounds over the coming months as part of a joint project called “New Grass”.

This week, the Ars Nova Workshop and The Woodlands will be hosting the Grammy award-winning choir The Crossing for the world premiere of a new work honoring the life and memory of Breonna Taylor by composer, sound artist, and jazz saxophonist Matana Roberts. The performance is called “we got time.” and engages the audience to walk (safely and socially-distanced) through The Woodlands. Continue Reading