The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) is seeking submissions for “Women in the Heights: Up Close and Personal”. The 12th annual Women in the Heights exhibition, curated by Andrea Arroyo, will be held in-person, to inaugurate NoMAA’s new space in the historic United Palace.
In celebration of Women’s History Month (March), we invite artists to submit works that reflect on personal and collective experiences during these challenging times, while inspiring connectedness and hope.February 8, 2022 – Submission Deadline
Eligibility: Open to self-identified women artists working or residing in El Barrio, Inwood, Washington Heights or Harlem. Above 110th Street on the West Side (west of 5th Ave) and above 96th Street on the East Side (east of 5th Ave).
Artwork eligibility: Each artist can submit up to 3 works. Wall-hung works in all fine art media, dimensions limited to a minimum of 10” and maximum of 24” wide, and up to 4” deep (including frame).
Written/spoken word works (maximum 250 words) must be presented printed and framed as per framing guidelines.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday urged Americans to take action during “a critical point in our nation’s history” as thousands of protesters demonstrated across the country against new limits to abortion rights making their way through the courts.
Saturday’s nationwide rallies were sparked by the U.S. Supreme Court’s actions the day before, when the high court intervened to delay rule changes that would have limited the way the abortion drug mifepristone could be used and dispensed. The limits were paused while the court reviews the case more thoroughly.
Harris made a surprise stop in Los Angeles at one of the rallies, where she called the latest upheaval over abortion rights a further incursion by conservatives into myriad “fundamental rights” many Americans thought they had.
“And so this is a moment that history will show required each of us — based on our collective love of our country — to stand up, and fight for, and protect our ideals. That’s what this moment is,” she said Saturday, speaking to several hundred demonstrators from the steps of City Hall. “When you attack the rights of women in America, you are attacking America.”
Some of the protesters voiced their anger at the steps of the nation’s high court, which took Friday’s action at the request of the federal Justice Department. The agency asked the high court to lift restrictions on mifepristone imposed by an appellate court in Texas earlier in the week. The decision by the appellate court reduced the window of time when the drug could be used and prevented the drug from being dispensed by mail.
Critics of the Texas and appellate court decisions, including pharmaceutical companies, viewed the courts’ actions as a dangerous intrusion into the authority of the FDA, which regulates how medications are sold and used in the United States.
Demonstrators in New York City stood behind a sign with a four-letter expletive directed at Texas, where a federal judge set off the latest salvo in the battle over abortion. They held signs urging the government to defend medication abortions.
But the crowd was modest, attracting a little more than 100 people outside the picturesque public library along Fifth Avenue.
Still, the demonstrators attracted looks from passersby along the busy thoroughfare, some briefly joining the group to lend their voices.
“It can be hard to get people out, because people are being bombarded with all kinds of assaults on their bodies and people are tired and poor,” said Viva Ruiz, who said she helped organize the rally.
“The news cycle is so fast that when one thing happens something terrible happens the next day. So it’s hard to sustain the momentum or the energy for people to be on the streets,” Ruiz said.
With few exceptions, many of the rallies — organized under the banner of a group calling itself “Bigger than Roe” — were held in smaller cities.
Since last year’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized the right to an abortion, more than a dozen states have effectively outlawed abortion, while additional states have moved to further tighten abortion laws.
On Thursday, the GOP-dominated Florida Legislature moved to became the latest state to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Restrictions on the delivery and use of mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen to end a pregnancy, would be a further blow to abortion rights advocates. The other drug, misoprostol, can be used on its own, but doing so is less effective than using both drugs in combination.
When mifepristone was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications.
If the appeals court’s action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed.
States that support abortion rights, including California and New York, have begun stockpiling misoprostol to assure their states have adequate supplies. Washington state is among those stockpiling a supply of mifepristone or its generic form. And Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health buy additional quantities of mifepristone.
More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used mifepristone as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.
Harlem, New York, has been synonymous with jazz music for over a century. From the 1920s to the 1950s, Harlem was the epicenter of jazz, with legendary musicians like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Billie Holiday playing in venues like the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. Today, Harlem is still a vibrant hub of live music, with a thriving scene of musicians and venues. And this April, the Harlem Jazz Club Revival is set to bring together the best of Harlem’s music scene for a 10-day live music festival.
From April 14 to April 23, the Harlem Jazz Club Revival will pair the best Harlem venues with the best musicians in Harlem, showcasing a diverse range of music styles. From soul, blues, and R&B to hip-hop, house, and Latin, the festival promises to have something for everyone. And of course, jazz will be at the heart of the festival, with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world taking to the stage.
The festival will take place in a variety of venues throughout Harlem, from intimate clubs to larger concert halls. Each venue has its own unique character and history, adding to the festival’s overall vibe. Some of the venues participating in the festival include the legendary Apollo Theater, the historic Lenox Lounge, and the cozy Silvana.
The festival’s lineup features an impressive array of musicians, both established artists and up-and-coming talent. Some of the highlights include jazz greats like Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, and Terence Blanchard, as well as rising stars like Jazzmeia Horn and Brianna Thomas. Other artists performing at the festival include soul singer Lee Fields, R&B group Tank and the Bangas, and Latin jazz ensemble Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
The Harlem Jazz Club Revival is more than just a music festival; it’s a celebration of Harlem’s rich cultural heritage. The festival will also feature food, art, and cultural events, showcasing the best of Harlem’s arts scene. Attendees can sample local cuisine, view art exhibitions, and participate in workshops and discussions on topics like jazz history and Harlem’s cultural legacy.
Tickets for the Harlem Jazz Club Revival are available now, and prices vary depending on the event and venue. The festival offers both general admission tickets and VIP packages, which include perks like reserved seating and backstage access. With so much amazing music and culture on offer, the Harlem Jazz Club Revival is not to be missed.
In conclusion, the Harlem Jazz Club Revival is a 10-day live music festival that promises to showcase the best of Harlem’s music scene. With a diverse lineup of musicians playing a variety of styles, and a range of venues that capture the essence of Harlem, the festival is a celebration of the neighborhood’s cultural heritage. From jazz to soul to Latin, there’s something for everyone at this festival. So mark your calendars and get your tickets now for a musical journey through the heart of Harlem!
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers University and union representatives have announced an agreement on a framework for new contracts with several faculty unions, allowing a halt to a five-day strike that was the first such job action in the 257-year history of New Jersey’s flagship university.
Rutgers said early Saturday that the agreement on the framework on economic issues was reached late Friday night with the aid of Gov. Phil Murphy, and closure on that framework “will allow our 67,000 students to resume their studies and pursue their academic degrees.”
“Nothing we do is as important as living up to the expectations that our students and their families have of us to be fully supportive of them and nurturing of their academic ambitions and dreams,” the school said in a statement.
The unions representing professors, part-time lecturers and graduate student workers told members that they had agreed to suspend the strike and return to work, but more issues need to be resolved before members would have a tentative agreement to vote on.
“Our historic strike got us to this point. And let us be clear, a suspension of our strike is not a cancellation. If we do not secure the gains we need on the open issues through bargaining in the coming days, we can and will resume our work stoppage,” they said, also vowing informational pickets as classes resume next week.
Three unions, which represent about 9,000 Rutgers staff members, have been involved in the strike: the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates and some counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents part-time lecturers; and the AAUP-BHSNJ, which includes faculty in the biomedical and health sciences at Rutgers’ medical, dental, nursing and public health schools.
The unions said the framework included “significant” pay increases for adjuncts and substantial raises for graduate student workers, as well as more job security for adjunct and nontenure-track faculty, union representation for graduate fellows, and other improvements.
Rutgers said the pact, retroactive to July, will increase salaries across the board for full-time faculty and EOF counselors by at least 14 percent by July 2025. It will also provide a 43.8 percent increase in the per-credit salary rate for part-time lecturers and strengthen their job security, increase minimum salaries for postdoctoral fellows and associates and substantially increase wages and other support for teaching assistants and graduate assistants.
Picket lines went up Monday at the New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark and Camden campuses as students were finishing their spring semester and preparing for finals and commencement. NJ.com reports that some said they went to classes as usual because some professors were still teaching or handing out assignments, while others said classes were called off or they decided to stay away or even walk picket lines in support of the walkout.
On Friday, April 28, 2023, the Cultural Oneness Festival will take place at the Radach Lodge and Conference Center in Tamale, Ghana. This festival is a celebration of cultural diversity and unity, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate their differences and similarities. The festival will feature a variety of cultural performances, food, music, and dance. This year’s guest of honor is His Royal Majesty Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, the King of Dagbon. The festival is being hosted by His Royal Blackness King KKD, a prominent figure in Ghanaian culture.
The Radach Lodge and Conference Center Tamale is the perfect venue for the Cultural Oneness Festival. The center is located in Tamale, the capital city of the Northern Region of Ghana. The center is surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees, providing a serene environment for the festival. The center is equipped with modern facilities and amenities, including conference rooms, accommodation, and a restaurant. The center is easily accessible, with good road networks and transportation links. The staff at the center are friendly and professional, ensuring that guests have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
This year’s guest of honor at the Cultural Oneness Festival is His Royal Majesty Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, the King of Dagbon. The Dagbon Kingdom is one of the oldest and largest traditional states in Ghana, with a rich cultural heritage. His Royal Majesty Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II ascended to the throne in 2019, following the death of his predecessor. Since then, he has been working tirelessly to promote peace, unity, and development in the Dagbon Kingdom and Ghana as a whole.
His presence at the Cultural Oneness Festival is a significant honor and a testament to the importance of cultural diversity and unity in Ghana. His Royal Majesty will be accompanied by his entourage, who will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Dagbon Kingdom through music, dance, and other performances. Guests at the festival will have the opportunity to interact with His Royal Majesty and learn more about the Dagbon Kingdom and its people.
The Cultural Oneness Festival is an important event that promotes cultural diversity and unity in Ghana. The festival brings together people from different backgrounds to celebrate their differences and similarities. The Radach Lodge and Conference Center Tamale is the perfect venue for the festival, providing a serene environment for guests. His Royal Majesty Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, the King of Dagbon, is the guest of honor at this year’s festival, and his presence is a testament to the importance of cultural diversity and unity in Ghana. The festival promises to be a memorable event, with cultural performances, food, music, and dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghana.
NEW YORK (AP) — “The Neighborhood” might be a hit sitcom now, but needed some careful planning before laying down a solid foundation.
“We shot the pilot twice. We had to recast. And so, there was moments where you didn’t think the show was going to go,” said Cedric the Entertainer. “But the elements of it, the idea that it was about gentrification, the idea that it was about a Black family kind of staying true to their neighborhood when they saw white families moving in … I think it just caught legs and really resonated with people because we do it in, of course, a sitcom, lighthearted way.”
“The Neighborhood,” now it its fifth season on CBS, follows the Butlers, a Black family led by Calvin (Cedric) and Tina ( Tichina Arnold ) as they coexist with their white neighbors, Dave (Max Greenfield) and Gemma Johnson (Beth Behrs), who moved from the Midwest to a predominately Black neighborhood in Pasadena, California. The show celebrated its 100th episode this week.
While not every episode deals with heavy topics, the show has unpacked topics like Black Lives Matter and social justice, pregnancy loss and white privilege. But as more issues emerge like attempts to ban books and critical race theory, Cedric believes his show is more than capable of exploring them.
“One of the great testaments to the show is that we try not to preach it, but we also aren’t afraid to kind of just dive in,” said the former Emmys host. “We try to … deal with all those kind of subject matters on our show without just saying, ‘Hey, this is the line and this is what we believe in.’ We just raise a question.”
The milestone episode was directed by Cedric, who also serves as an executive producer. He said sitting in the big chair has been the next progression of his show responsibilities.
“It was only natural for me to kind of really morph into directing because I can see the show; when I’m reading the scripts, I kind of know where people are going to be. And so, that was something that I’ve been wanting to grow into,” explained the funnyman, who also directed an episode last season.
The St. Louis-area native began his career in standup comedy, although later than most; after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University, he worked for State Farm before diving into professional comedy in his mid-20s. After making a name for himself locally, he eventually secured hosting stints for HBO’s legendary “Def Comedy Jam” as well BET’s popular “ComicView.”
While his sitcom star is brighter than ever, it’s a culmination of years of experience; he starred in “The Soul Man” which ran from 2012 to 2016, but for many, his role as the loveable sidekick, Cedric Jackie Robinson on the ’90s sitcom, “The Steve Harvey Show,” won the hearts of viewers.
“I really believe that that’s kind of led to my longevity: that idea of watching Steve, being right there close (to him),” Cedric said of his good friend and “Kings of Comedy” brother. “The way he hired, the way he got Black people on the show, how he was able to negotiate his deals — all these things were things that I was exposed to just by being the No. 2 guy in the right situation.”
It was an especially huge payoff because at the time, Cedric had a deal in place to lead his own show. But after seeing Harvey’s early sitcom, “The Boys,” last only one season, he chose learn and observe, rather than jumping into leading a show head-first.
“It’s hard to knock that down when someone is kind of saying, ‘Hey, you’re the man!’ … I kind of saw him fail once. And I was like, I don’t want to run out there and get one season,” said the “Barbershop” star. “I kind of felt like that was the right thing for me to do, and it worked out great.”
Currently, the star comedian is on the 23-city “Straight Jokes No Chaser” tour with D.L. Hughley, Earthquake, and DC Young Fly, hosted by Mike Epps. Cedric notes the current politically correct climate hasn’t necessarily changed his brand of comedy, but believes some programs that provided platforms to create star Black comics might not be able to exist today.
“Def Jam was really one of those rare scenarios where we got to truly voice who we were. You didn’t have to change anything about yourself,” said Cedric. “I don’t think that that kind of rawness, that kind of honesty, visceral, right-off-the top whatever you’re thinking kind of joke-telling…I don’t think you could get away with that in today’s society.”
And while he coyly says today’s society is “soft as hell,” don’t expect “The Neighborhood” star to get any homeowners association violations.
“I want to come out and make people laugh and have a good time … I’m not that comic that’s there to challenge you or super offend you,” says Cedric. “I got the CBS, Paramount shield with me, and we’re doing great. And I employ a lot of people with this show. … I wouldn’t want to be the detriment of somebody else’s livelihood. So, I’m very careful of it without, at the same time, without being precious.”
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
