April 7-14th, 2025
Planting Trees with PHS
Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Spring must be here: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) will host the planting of more than 900 trees; they will be distributed and planted in the Greater Philadelphia area. You can be part of this community endeavor by volunteering. The project reflects PHS’s mission to promote healthier, greener communities, particularly in neighborhoods with few trees. Philadelphia only has 20 percent tree coverage, according to PHS. Help unload, sort, and distribute bare root trees. You can help assist in sorting and giving out trees, on April 7-11, or plant trees on April 11-14. Bring hand sanitizer, gloves, closed-toed shoes, water bottle, and dress appropriately. Tools, brooms, garbage bags, and other items will be supplied.
May 9, 2025, 8:00pm
Will Downing
They say a man’s “soul” is his spiritual essence. Life’s twists and turns can lift that soul high into the sky or send it crashing to the ground below. Unfortunately, 2023 started with the latter for Will Downing, following the unexpected and soul-crushing loss of daughter Aron Siobhan Downing in January. As a father, he was devastated…heartbroken. As an artist, he sought solace and comfort through his craft…facing the hurt head-on and exploring multiple themes of love to begin the healing. Persevering through the pain Downing is poised to finish the year with his soul rising…literally! The Prince of Sophisticated Soul is ready to share his 7- song masterclass in triumph over tragedy, Soul Rising! Celebrating an insane 35 years in the “bizness” and 27 Albums to his credit Will Downing will not be stopped! Flexing on his international appeal, the lead single ”What Part of My Love” shot to the top of the UK Soul Chart Top 30 and parked there. Those who no longer listen to new releases as the collective work it was intended to be, should make an exception in this case. Although not a “concept” album, the pieces of Soul Rising fit together beautifully as a single statement and should be enjoyed as such. We all know the about the smoothness, but there’s a brand-new kind of…dare I say…”Funkiness”, that I think is here to stay! Make no mistake…Will Downing didn’t forget the “smooth” that made the Man the Myth the Legend! Nor did he abandon his world-famous knack for what he affectionately calls “interpretations” of classic hits.
Shea Center for Performing Arts
300 Pompton Road, Wayne , NJ 07470
June 1, 2025, 3pm
Sonia Sanchez: This Is Not a Small Voice
Celebrate one of the most important writers and scholars of the Black Arts Movement, Sonia Sanchez. Throughout a distinguished career of 70+ years, her poetry has rocked the spoken-word scene and our nation. Join us as we give well-deserved flowers to this revolutionary voice of activism, Black identity and social justice. Sanchez herself will take the stage, along with special guests Mayor Ras. J Baraka, Mahagony L. Browne, Saul Williams and the Christian McBride Trio.
Location: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102