January 15: Martin Luther King Celebration
Join author Antje Ulrike Mattheus for a special reading of her new book to discover the story of Creshiem Farm. An American history of conquest, privilege and struggles for freedom and equality, the book cites research by Ena Veronica Linder Swain, a former board member, author, and Germantown activist. Cresheim Farm, a work of political archaeology, shows how one mostly unknown but strategically placed piece of land – home to an extraordinary array of people, including anti-slavery and racial justice activists – can tell, affect, and lend insight into the history of a nation. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue FREE RSVP: [email protected]
February 3: Celebrate Germantown & Mt. Airy Jazz: featuring Lee Morgan, American Jazz Trumpeter & Other Great Jazz Artists
Bring your Memorabilia, Take Photos with Lee’s Nephew Darryl with his uncle’s famed trumpet! This event will be packed with info and historical facts, some you may know or might not know about in the Germantown and Mt. Airy neighborhoods. It will focus on the history of Black jazz musicians, their lives, the spaces that supported them and the community that supported and loved them. To illuminate their musical talent and contributions, participants are encouraged to share their memories and to learn about new historical facts. 2:00 pm – 4 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue FREE RSVP: [email protected]
February 25: Liberation Through Afrofuturism
This workshop will help you to gain a foundation on the theory and history of Afrofuturism. It will explore strategies for teaching the importance of dreaming and seeing identify in the future as a means to resist and celebrate joy through the creation and curation of art. Educators, Karen M. Williams, Shaquita Smith and Dr. Angela Crawford explain the ethos behind including Afrofuturism in education. Four short films feature visions of African Americans past, present and across the Diaspora. 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Germantown Mennonite Church, 21 West Washington Lane FREE
March 23: Meet The Tiberino Family: A Continuing Legacy of Art
You are invited to join us for an exciting event in celebration of Women’s History. The late Ellen Powell Tiberino was an African American artist who was figurative and expressionist in her pastels, oils, pencil drawings and sculptures. Her works were infused with the experiences and history of Black people, women in particular, whom she most often painted in dark and haunting hues; and a prolific artist, working against time as she battled cancer for the last 18 years of her life. Daughter, Ellen Tiberino is a mosaic artist born and raised in West Philadelphia. She works with stained glass in a method of mosaic that is equated to painting with glass. Ellen comes from Philly’s First Family of Art, the renown Tiberino Family. Known as “The Wyeths of Philadelphia” the Tiberino family legacy lasts over 50 years, but Ellen’s work stands on its own. The event will include an exhibit, discussion, purchase of art for sale and food and beverages. | 6306 Germantown Avenue RSVP: [email protected]
April 20: Advocacy for Nonspeaking Autistic Children & Adults
Over 500,000 nonspeaking autistic children and 1.6 million nonspeaking autistic adults live in the United States. Join a panel of experts who will share facts about this community demographic. Who they are, what their talents are, and what their challenges are. Learn to demystify an outdated framework of understanding which prevent autistic individuals from receiving proper education, securing good jobs, and exercising agency and autonomy in their own lives. Learn how you can increase awareness of families of non-speakers, change the minds of educators, physicians and other professionals. 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue RSVP: [email protected]
April – May TBD: Mother’s Day Memory Quilt Workshop
Do you like or want to learn how to quilt? An experienced quilter will be your teacher for a three session workshop series. This is an opportunity to honor a significant other on Mother’s Day. Participants use their photos to create personal narratives to craft small quilts suitable as a wall hanging and meaningful gift in time to celebrate Mother’s Day. Space limited! 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue $45 RSVP: [email protected]
June 15: Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival
Celebrate Juneteenth and the passage and ratification of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution that commemorates African Americans as free and slavery ended. Features all-day family-oriented activities: social issue panel discussion, reenactments, food trucks, performance arts, exhibits, vendor marketplace, resource tables, and historic tours. 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm| 6300 Germantown Avenue FREE
July 5 – August 9: Underground Railroad & Ashay Club Cultural Literacy Summer Camp
This program highlights the importance of the UGRR in the struggle for freedom for enslaved Africans. Through lessons, readings, discussion, films, music, arts and crafts, drama, and dance students learn about the UGRR. Space limited! 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue RSVP: [email protected]
December 12: Holiday Carol Sing & Food Basket Give-a-way
No musical expertise is required! Lend your voice, stroll along 6300 Germantown Avenue. Sing carols with businesses and neighbors. Embrace the joy of the season and distribute food baskets to area families. Enjoy hot cider and cookies after the stroll! 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | 6306 Germantown Avenue FREE