Upcoming Community Events in the New Orleans Area

For the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Friday, WWOZ has compiled a special list of Katrina Remembrances.

Mos Def Headlines Benefit for Political Prisoners at Tipitina's

Thursday, August 28 at 9 p.m.

The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement presents a "Benefit for Black August" at Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Avenue, to celebrate resistance and survival in the Crescent City. This year's show highlights the case of the Angola 3, and the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3 is a proud co-sponsor. Proceeds go to help political prisoners nationwide.

Appearing at the concert will be Mos Def & DJ Gold Medal, Sess 4-5, Young Sino, DJ E.F. Cuttin, MC One-Eye & Truth Universal, Gabrilla Ballard, Sunni Patterson, and Venezuelan hip-hop group Elegguae. For advance tickets or to volunteer, please contact Truth Universal at truthuniversal@yahoo.com. The show is free for volunteers. Read more about the event on the Black August Hip Hop Project's website.

Sankofa Second-Line and Community Festival

Friday, August 29 from 1 to 7 p.m.

"Remembering Storms of the Past — Building a Brighter Future" is the theme for this day of remembrance, celebration and uprising to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The second-line celebration will feature music from the Rebirth Brass Band, and will go from Galvez Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. to the Tremé Community Center at 1600 Saint Philip Street. A rally and community festival will follow, with residents raising their voices on critical issues and community artists telling stories of triumph. Check out Sankofa NOLA's website for more information.

Volunteers are needed for various jobs like serving food, leading chants, and cleaning up. If you would like to get involved, please call Ursula Price at (504) 522-3949, extension 223 or email ursula@safestreetsnola.org. In addition, you are welcome to attend a prop-making party on Wednesday, August 27th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Redemptorist Gym, 940 Josephine Street.

Help the Kids Go Back to School

School Supplies Collection Drive at the Backstreet Cultural Museum

Sylvester Francis, executive director of Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Tremé, along with the Fi-Yi-Yi Spirt of Mandigo Warrior Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, sponsors a school supplies collection and distribution each year for neighborhood kids.

Mr. Francis will be receiving any school supplies you would like to donate at the museum, 1116 St. Claude (in the Tremé, across from St. Augustine Church) until August 30, when the distribution will take place. For further info you can contact Mr. Francis at (504) 287-5224.

"New Orleans Speaks" — Conference on Social Innovation

Saturday, August 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The New Orleans Institute for Resilience and Innovation presents a day-long symposium on social innovation in New Orleans. The conference, to be held at the University of New Orleans' Kirschman Hall, at 2000 Lakeshore Drive, will be followed by a screening of the documentary, Rising from the Ruins.

New Orleanians have been challenged to evacuate, resettle, reevaluate and rebuild. New networks have formed and a new generation of private sector, not-for profit and community leaders have emerged. This symposium will give them a chance to share their compelling struggles and successes. Visit www.theneworleansinstitute.org to learn more or to register.

PJ's Celebrating 30th Anniversary with Birthday Bash

Wednesday, September 3

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a two day celebration. The big Birthday Bash will be held Wednesday, September 3 with the Rebirth Brass Band, at their original Maple Street location.

Stop in from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to enjoy the soulful sounds of Rebirth while sipping a complimentary iced or hot coffee beverage. The celebration will continue on Thursday, September 4, at all participating PJ's locations, where customers will receive one free Anniversary Blend coffee.

Fall 2008 Auditions for the Heritage School of Music

Thursday, September 4 and Saturday, September 6

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s free after-school music program, the Don Jamison Heritage School of Music, is gearing up for another semester of jazz education for young people. The Heritage School of Music is named in honor of Don "Big Moose" Jamison, a beloved jazz authority and longtime disc jockey on radio station WWOZ, who died in 2003.

The Heritage School of Music is open to beginners and advanced music students ages 11 to 18 from the entire New Orleans area. Instruction will be offered in brass, woodwinds, piano, bass, drums and voice.

In addition to providing free music education to young people in the community, the Heritage School of Music creates employment opportunities for the musicians who serve as teachers. These include some of the city’s most respected performers, such as Edward “Kidd” Jordan, Kent Jordan, Germaine Bazzle, Jonathan Bloom, Edward Anderson, Leah Chase, Geoff Clapp, Brent Rose, Jesse McBride and others.

Registration, skills assessments and first classes will be held:

Thursday, September 4 at 3:30 p.m.
Lusher Charter High School
5624 Freret Street

Saturday, September 6 at 10 a.m.
The Cook Fine Arts Center at Dillard University
2601 Gentilly Blvd.

For more information, please see the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's website or contact the foundation at (504) 558-6100.

The Upper 9th Ward Farmers Market / Bywater Market

Every Saturday

The market takes place every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Holy Angel Convent’s parking lot at 3500 St. Claude Avenue. For more information or to participate as a food vendor, call Margery at (504) 343-3505 or the market office at (504) 482-5722. Good health begins with good food.

The market offers free Yoga classes from noon to 1 p.m. inside the Chapel. “We are excited to be the oldest of the ‘new’ markets to open after Katrina,” said the market manager. “We are here to serve the Marigny/Bywater Community along with the surrounding areas,” Margery added.

See an archive of recent previous community events