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Join us for the Charlotte premiere of The Changebaker — a heartfelt documentary short that follows Manolo Betancur, the Colombian immigrant and visionary behind Charlotte’s beloved Manolo’s Bakery. After escaping the violence of war in Colombia, Manolo rebuilt his life in Charlotte with one goal: to serve others. His bakery has since become a hub for activism, compassion and opportunity — proudly carrying the message, “Made in America by the Hands of Immigrants.”

This inspiring evening will feature a live dance performance by El Alma de la Luna, a musical performance by ÚltimaNota, the screening of The Changebaker and, following the film, a conversation with Manolo Betancur and director, Courtney Dixon.

Celebrate the power of resilience, art and community through this unforgettable night of storytelling and cultural expression.

Experience Shakespeare as it was meant to be told in The Winter’s Tale, presented by Davidson Community Players and Charlotte’s Shepherd Shakespeare Company. The New York Times describes it as “a tale of jealousy, loss, and healing that feels remarkably contemporary” and “one of Shakespeare’s most haunting and profound late plays.”

Part tragedy and part comedy, this timeless masterpiece will be presented at the intimate Armour Street Theatre from January 22 -February 1, 2026

This double bill features two of Puccini’s beloved works: Suor Angelica is a deeply moving spiritual drama set to Puccini’s most beautiful music. Gianni Schicchi offers a comedic take on family rivalry and greed.

Speaker: Dr. Larry Leamy

Dr. Leamy will explain the origin and classification of the three groups of amphibians. Participants will also learn the characteristics and adaptations of frogs and be introduced to the nine frog and four toad species found in the Carolina Piedmont. Dr. Leamy’s presentations are always fun and approachable. Just for the Wing Haven audience, Leamy will share about the characteristics of the Red Earred Slider Turtle in honor of Wing Haven's resident turtle, Ruby.

Photo credit: Betty Thomas

Discover the foundational principles of sustainable landscape design and planning with Clemson Cooperative Extension Agent Abigail Taylor. This session also includes a hands-on activity where attendees apply design concepts to small growing spaces. Held as part of the Cultivating Connections Garden Program Series, this new initiative is designed to be a unique living classroom, bringing the community, faculty, staff, and students together to learn hands-on skills while exploring traditional Indigenous ecological knowledge.

Tools and materials will be provided for all activities, but participants are welcome to bring their own small hand tools such as gloves, trowels, clippers if they prefer.

To register, contact us at (803) 313-7172 or email usclnasp@mailbox.sc.edu. Please direct any questions or comments regarding the series to program organizer and facilitator Professor Claudia Y. Heinemann-Priest at chpriest@mailbox.sc.edu.

Free and open to the public; reservations are strongly encouraged!

TreesCharlotte will distribute free trees and educational resources to Charlotte residents living in the West Charlotte ZIP Codes 28217, 28273, 28278, 28208, 28214. Register and choose your tree species beginning at 10am Friday, February 20 and pick up your trees Saturday, February 28. Registrants receive a hands-on demonstration of planting techniques before taking their trees home to plant in their own yards.

TreesCharlotte will distribute free trees and educational resources to Charlotte residents living in the South Charlotte ZIP Codes 28202, 28203, 28204, 28209, 28207, 28211, 28210, 28226, 28277, & 28270. Register and choose your tree species beginning at 10am Friday, January 23 and pick up your trees Saturday, January 31. Registrants receive a hands-on demonstration of planting techniques before taking their trees home to plant in their own yards.

Midland's own Dawn Anthony leads an exciting ensemble of the region's top musicians in a vibrant celebration of Motown's legacy and founder Berry Gordy Jr. This engaging show invites you to sing, dance, and experience the timeless hits that made Hitsville USA legendary.

GRAMMY-winning musician, historian, and storyteller Dom Flemons brings to life 100+ years of American roots music with banjo, bones, and deep soul. A founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, he delivers a rich, rollicking journey through folk, blues, country, and beyond.

French-Chinese-American chanteuse Jessica Fichot blends French chanson, gypsy jazz, and 1940s Shanghai swing into an unforgettable global sound. With accordion in hand and a four-piece band, she invites you on a musical journey that's both vintage and visionary.

Trailblazing singer Rissi Palmer made country music history with her debut single "Country Girl" and continues to shine in both the Country and Americana scenes. From the Grand Ole Opry to The White House, her powerful voice and presence have captivated audiences nationwide.

Hosted in The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council

Founded in 1970 by seven local artists, the Cabarrus Art Guild has grown to more than 100 members representing a wide range of mediums, from painting and sculpture to fiber arts, glass, and weaving. Based in the historic Clearwater Gallery and Studios, the Guild fosters creativity and community through workshops, demonstrations, and exhibitions. This show celebrates the diversity and talent of artists from Cabarrus and surrounding counties, inviting visitors to explore original works and connect with the thriving local arts scene.

Artist Talk: April 25, 2-3 pm
Workshop: April 30, 6-8 pm

Through the Ether is a group of mixed media works deeply influenced by and connected to film editing. April collects and stores unrelated images from different modalities and mediums—3D modeling, photographs, paintings, advertisements. She removes the color, texture, and context from which they originate. These elements form a visual depository or footage bin, from which she uses the montage process to construct a new landscape independent of their source. This reconstruction process resembles building a scene in a film. However, it creates an emotional landscape unto itself, devoid of the requirements of narrative and story—nullifying the necessity of a beginning, a middle, and an end.

About April Simmons: April received her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in film. She worked as an experimental non-narrative filmmaker and as a film editor for both nonfiction and fiction films. Her films have screened at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center (Views), Anthology Film Archives in New York, the Rotterdam Film Festival, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) in Chicago, among others. April taught film production, theory, and history at the university level for nearly two decades. She began working in digital photo collage and mixed media in 2022. Her work has been shown at The Galleries at Cabarrus Arts Council (“Liminal”) and at The Mint Museum (“Coined in the South”) in Uptown Charlotte.

Registration is now open for Civics 101 - our signature mini-series about Local and State government! Please register to secure your spot today - there is a 70-person class limit.

Never before has it been so important to be informed about local government and to understand how it works in North Carolina. Over 7 weeks on Wednesday evenings, we will deliver in-depth information about all areas of local government and how you can get engaged and connected.

Learn more & register at the link below.

Sessions include:
1. Mecklenburg County Board of Elections
2. City of Charlotte Government
3. Mecklenburg County Government
4. State Government
5. NC Courts (26th District)
6. CMS Board of Education
7. Local Media

Spread the word to your friends, colleagues, and family. Grab a friend to join you for this essential program!

Any questions? Please send them to: civics101@goleaguego.org

This dynamic jazz musical tells the story of pioneering pianist Lillette Jenkins-Wisner, whose 85-year career spanned clubs, USO tours, and the Broadway stage. With vibrant choreography, live jazz, and stunning visuals, Born to Swing celebrates an icon of American music.

Real-life Broadway couple Libby Servais (Glinda- Wicked) and Stephan Stubbins (Mary Poppins) dazzle with show-stopping songs, humor, and heart. Featuring hits from Phantom of the Opera, Frozen, Jersey Boys, and more, this romantic concert brings the magic of Broadway to the stage.

Join Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center for a complimentary lunch and an eye-opening conversation about hearing health!

What to Expect:
-Short presentation: How Hearing Affects Your Overall Wellbeing
-Hearing aid product demos
-Q&A with our audiology experts

Why Attend?
Discover how hearing impacts your mental, physical, and social health. Learn about the latest hearing solutions and how they can transform your life.

Reserve Your Spot Today! Limited seating available. Call (704) 523-8027

The final Personally Speaking series event of the year explores how down-on-their-luck messiahs and wandering poets in the sixteenth-century Afghan highlands challenge us to rethink what we know about Afghanistan, the history of Islam, and our relationship to the past and to language. Using research from the recently published Singing with the Mountains: The Language of God in the Afghan Highlands, William E. B. Sherman explores a remarkable Muslim movement known as the Roshaniyya—or the ‘illuminated ones’—who believed not only in following the word of God, but in making their own words divine and revelatory. │religiousstudies@charlotte.edu


5:15 p.m. with a reception at 4:15 p.m.

Celebrate Día de los Reyes Magos (Epiphany) at the Mint Museum Randolph in conjunction with the exhibition Art of Devotion: The Santos de Palo Tradition of Puerto Rico. Enjoy exhibition tours, along with an afternoon of music, dance, storytelling, arts and crafts, a traditional Pastorela performance, and a taste of Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread). Fun for all ages!

Immerse yourself in unseen worlds with scientist and photographer Jennifer Hayes and underwater photographer David Doubilet. These globetrotting partners in work and life have produced stories together about every topic under the sea, from endangered coral reefs to what lies below polar ice. Known as the “Audubon of the Sea,” David’s photography brilliantly captures life above and below the water’s surface. Onstage, these two master storytellers combine decades of knowledge, passion, and experience into a remarkable visual odyssey that tells the unique story of our ocean like never before.