notesong

           2009-Black History Month Celebration , ECC San Diego Continuing Education             Thinking back on the speech I made at ECC a few years ago during Black History Month, the celebration's theme "I am because you are" holds a special place in my lived experiences . It is a cultural phrase that places each individual within their community-past, present, and future. The phrase continues to remind me that for the past decade, and now as we enter the second decade of the twenty-first century, many teachers whose positive impact has helped shape our school phobic and intellectually challenged--as well as brightest and best-- have endured hardships to educate our children.Today, teachers face an increasingly bleak future. Budget cuts across America will most likely send many teachers into the private sector, too bruised to return to education when the economic crisis su...

                                                               Delores Fisher blogger   So, as I was sayin' about later in the afternoon . . . Those who know where to go for alternative off the main street performances at the Adams Avenue Roots Festival usually head for two areas: the park or Lestats. This year, the park is set aside for a health fair. I long for the old park stage with what seemed a few years ago to be a really fun-filled venue for loud "funky" bands and equally odd funky fans. This year, struggling with a waistline  in pursuit of the "fried food American spread," a need to justify NOT pursuing the latest hard core work out exercise craze, and a desire t...

Pick up yo' feet and clap them hands 'cause the music is live from the people of our global village! The 38th annual music of the people event was one of the most enjoyable I've attended this year. From a block away, music greeted us and invited us in. Walking up from 30th Street to the festival,we spotted a small group of young men playing acoustic instruments.

Sleeping Giant Music is a highly appreciated resource for many musicians. It's postings are timely and community oriented. They posted an announcement for the Roc Race on May 21st. It was a charity  event that indeed rocked the city.  PRESENTED BY CHRIS CUTZ - FRESH ONE Ready for a new kind of race? Let's get Ridiculous! So... What is the ROC Race? Imagine a creative collision between a military style training course and wild and crazy game show inspired obstacles spread throughout a 5K course at the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds located on the Pacific coast! The common theme is ridiculous and challenging fun!

 Looking for an opportunity to interact with a well known published author in an informal setting? Come meet Daniel Widener!!!! Where: Malcolm X Library              Multimedia Area                                                      Address: 5148 Market Street San Diego, CA 92114 Sponsored by: Malcolm X Library Book Club 2011         Reviews: “Black Arts West knocked my socks off. Daniel Widener‟s exciting account of the "Watts Renaissance‟ fundamentally revises our picture of contemporary L.A. art and literary scenes, and adds a crucial new chapter to the history of Black cultural radicalism during the 1960s and 1...

Poets, prose writers, playwrights, musicians, educators, administrators, activists, painters, choreographers, dancers, journalists, photographers and friends gathered together at the City Heights Performance Annex on Saturday March 26 at 7:00pm to celebrate Jihmye's life in community. We, his extended family joined with his immediate family to note that a beautiful bright light will be missed on the too darkly lit terrain of our twenty first century culture sensitive socio-political battlefield. To accommodate the overflow and those who could not attend, our celebration was streamed over the Internet. He had mentored hundreds and shared his creative spark with thousands in various arenas over the years.This recurring common thread spun a colorful tapestry of memories. Jihmye was one of the first established San Diego artists to acknowledge and support my desire not only to teach the arts, but also to teach about the arts through music. He hired me almost twenty years ago as a gue...

Jihmye Collins was a remarkable man who could walk into a room with a smile that would calm agitated hearts and soothe  irritated spirits. He loved people yet detested inhumane irrationality that could devastate relationships in seconds. His spirituality was quiet, deep, lived, not a flashy fad-inspired covering discarded to suit the moment. A writer, visual artist, and poet warrior whose painted images and spoken symbols sailed into the miasma of conflated social issues clearly delineating his position for all who gazed, listened, or read, Jihmye's strength as an artistic man was known not only to the meek and humble, but also to the strongly stubborn and arrogantly erudite. And he was loved by so many . . . . .  An obituary is posted at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/23/artist-activist-jihmye-collins-dies-at-71/ On Saturday March 26 at 7:00pm at the City Height Performance Annex, Aglae Saint-Lot Events Manager invites Jihmye Collin's poet and artist family...

A heartfelt Thank you!!! to Dr. Shirley Weber and the San Diego State University Africana Studies Department for sponsoring the Arts Summit on Tuesday February 22nd. I enjoyed the opportunity to host the event as moderator. Students, staff, and faculty also enjoyed the very honest and insightful comments by panelist in attendance: playwright/musician Clarence Cutherbertson and choreographer/dancer Teran Brown.

Celebrate!!!!! Black History month is again here and many organizations have been offering a variety of events in the San Diego area. The Martin Luther King Community Choir of San Diego(also known as the M L K Choir-Director Pastor Kenneth Anderson) is in concert season raising money for scholarships to present to deserving young musicians across the county. This philanthropic choir, with a vast sacred repertoire, gives stellar performances both in the U.S. and in Europe. Their program "All 'Bout The Blues" with the San Diego Children's choir Neighborhood Choir was a standing room only event.1 This particular concert at the Logan Heights Branch Library allowed the public to enjoy a different facet of the MLK Choir's musical depth, flexibility and range. The performance included blues music by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith and Fats Waller. Pastor and professor Ken Anderson has been a source of inspir...

A new year of art, fashion, and creativity is unfolding here in San Diego. Although it's almost the end of January, the weather here feels like early June(without the gloom)and the city is pulsing with activity from East Village's writing circles to Little Italy's art galleries,South East San Diego's cultural celebrations, and City Heights dance festivals.(Sandra Foster King . . .you go lady!!   Foster-King Bio: http://theatre.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/SandraFosterKing/     )