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Welcome to "Afrofuturism: Curated", an avant-garde exploration into the universe of Black speculative fiction, science, technology, art, and music. This one-day event at the iconic Little Rock Cultural Center of Charlotte seeks to converge the lines between past, present, and future through an Afrocentric lens. Join us for a day of celebration, reflection, and projection. Your future awaits.

~Key Highlights of “Afrofuturism: Curated”

Pop Up Art Gallery: Featuring paintings, cartoon drawings, and visual artists that reimagine the specter of time and space

The Art Of Easing: Vinyl record DJ set by Cairo Black

Spoken Word performance by poet Jah Smalls

Hip Hop performance by Mason Parker

Excerpts from “Unpacking: Being A Black Woman In America, An Afro Futuristic Memoir Play” by Breana Venable

Food truck featuring traditional and futuristic cuisine, showcasing our rich culinary heritage

Film Screenings: Curated selections that transport audiences to imaginative worlds, challenge conventional narratives, and highlight the impact ofAfroFuturism on cinema and storytelling.

The Grammy Award winning Passion for Bach and Coltrane pairs Imani Winds, the poet A.B. Spellman, Harlem Quartet, and a jazz piano trio to synthesize classical and jazz styles, highlighting the gifts of all the performers onstage. Inspired by and featuring Spellman’s poetry, Passion interweaves orated poems with music, in a manner inspired by J.S. Bach’s Passion settings. Jeff Scott selected one masterwork by each composer — Bach’s Goldberg Variations and John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme — and used each as source material to construct a mosaic tapestry around the drama and imagery in Spellman's text. Pensive, ethereal moments are punctuated by Bach, while the tone for moody, dark passages is set by Coltrane's work. Winner of the 2024 Grammy for Best Classical Compendium Album.

rasAnubhavam - Spring Concert # 2 :

Padams & Javalis are synonymous with Smt T Brinda's and Smt T Muktha's style of music and the entire Smt Veena Dhanammal Bani as a whole. The grandson of T. Brinda, Thiruvarur Girish presents an evening filled with tradition and culture, a collection of padams and jaavalis on May 9, 2026. (5-7 PM)
Padams lend aesthetic beauty to dance whether Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi unfolding from within the nuances of emotions, transforming the art form into a visual feast. Some of the exponents from traditional families of dancers and musicians were renowned for their presentations of these bhava filled musical compositions.

Javalis are livelier than padams, usually sung in madhyama kaalam. Javalis may not have an anupallavi, but have a pallavi and charanams. They may not be as serious in nature as padams. Javalis are usually composed in popular ragas, and their lyrical quality is apt for the general setting of a lively earth mood.

Charlotte approves a new land-use map to guide the next 20 years of growth and gives preliminary approval to a new property tax for the SouthPark area. CMS leaders propose what they call a “significant investment” in struggling students. The man accused of killing CATS driver Ethan Rivera is indicted. And Duke faces UNC in the Final Four.

On the Charlotte Talks local news roundup, early voting for Charlotte city elections is underway. Public safety concerns escalate here following the July 4th shooting in Highland Park. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings defends police actions after a high speed chase, and the driver shortages at CATS continue. Those stories and more.

Northwest School of the Arts hosts the Westside Arts Festival March 18, 2023
The Underground, QC Family Tree, and Northwest School of the Arts are teaming up to create a collaborative visual arts event
Charlotte, NC— 3/2/2023 — In an effort to embrace diverse emerging artists and establish greater visibility within the Beatties Ford Corridor, NWSA is partnering with local organizations to bring a vibrant arts experience to the heart of Beatties Ford Rd. The state-of-the-art theater and gallery space is opening its doors for the community (free admission/parking) to get a sneak peek at NWSA's Spring Showcase and get a dose of some of Charlotte's emerging talent.
Local Emerging Artists
QC Family Tree has helped identify some artists with connections to the West Side to come display work in the NWSA Theater. We are excited to host guest artists: Tara Levy, La'Porscha Smith, Simone Atkins, Morgan Osburn, Melanee Marshall, Bunny Gregory, Hoan Rahlan, Katrina Cherry, Helms Jarrell, Little Muse Studio, and Amani Bostic-Arrington. They will be in attendance to sell and talk about their work in addition to NWSA students with their awesome Spring Showcase on display in the gallery. Artist applications to exhibit (free) are still being taken https://bit.ly/3ZOh4eT. This is a wonderful way to connect the students with the community and the talent that lives and operates in the vicinity.
Northwest is a CMS Magnet School that provides specialized arts instruction for students in grades 6-12 is situated between the Washington Heights and Lincolns Heights neighborhoods of Beatties Ford Rd. QC Family Tree is a neighborhood-based community organization, rooted in the Enderly Park neighborhood of West Charlotte, NC, working at the intersection of faith, culture, and social change. The Underground Mobile Art Studio brings the arts to youth in underserved communities for free.

Supported by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, Haleh Liza Gafori has created a cross-media performance piece based on her acclaimed book "Gold," featuring translations of poems by Rumi. Her performance will weave translations, original text, and musical compositions sung in Persian and English.

Don't miss out! Here's what you'll experience:
- a pre-event catered reception,
- Haleh's uplifting presentation,
- Q&A, connection & conversation,
- book signing and post-event mixing & mingling.

Reception: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Program: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

About Haleh Liza Gafori:
Haleh Liza Gafori is a translator, vocalist, poet, and composer born in NYC of Persian descent. Her acclaimed book, Gold (New York Review Books Classics/Penguin Random House, 2022), features her translations of poems by Rumi, the 13th century sage and mystic. Gafori’s work has been published by Columbia University Press, Harvard Review, Literary Hub, Hyperallergic, The Marginalian, and elsewhere. She has presented lectures, workshops, and performance pieces at universities and festivals across the country and abroad, including Stanford University, Swarthmore College, Lincoln Center, the New York Public Library, and Bradford Literary Fest.

About the Charlotte Ideas Festival:
The Charlotte Ideas Festival is a multi-day exploration of today’s pressing ideas and issues through the lens of the humanities. This year’s conversation-packed events feature a range of thinkers, innovators and community members engaged in connection and conversation. A program of The Charlotte Center for the Humanities & Civic Imagination (The Charlotte Center), the Charlotte Ideas Festival is part of the three-week Charlotte SHOUT! festival celebrating Food, Art, Music, and Ideas.

You’re invited to kick off the Charlotte Ideas Festival with a special evening with David Pogue.

Don't miss out! Here's what you'll experience:
- a pre-event catered reception,
- David's enlightening presentation,
- Q&A, connection & conversation,
- book signing and post-event mixing & mingling.

Reception: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Program: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

From autonomous vehicles and delivery drones to unmanned grocery stores, we’ve seen a rise of people-replacing technologies within the last few years. As these changes continue, it’s time to start thinking about the post-robot, post-AI world. In this talk, New York Times bestselling author and futurist David Pogue explores where we are on the road to automated employees, preparing audiences practically and emotionally for the very near future.

About David Pogue:
David Pogue is a full-time correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning who covers the technology, science, and language beat. He’s a six-time Emmy winner for his stories, a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS, and creator/host of the CBS News/Simon & Schuster podcast Unsung Science.

About the Charlotte Ideas Festival:
The Charlotte Ideas Festival is a multi-day exploration of today’s pressing ideas and issues through the lens of the humanities. This year’s conversation-packed events feature a range of thinkers, innovators and community members engaged in connection and conversation. A program of The Charlotte Center for the Humanities & Civic Imagination (The Charlotte Center), the Charlotte Ideas Festival is part of the three-week Charlotte SHOUT! festival celebrating Food, Art, Music, and Ideas.

This virtual event, will honor World Mental Health Day with the theme “Creating Safe Spaces for Young Voices to Be Heard.” Building on the success of the 2023 Black Youth Wellness Summit and the rescheduled “Let’s Talk Youth Mental Health” event, this summit promises to offer a vital platform for young people to discuss their mental and emotional well-being.

The summit will engage participants aged 14-21 from a broad spectrum of racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in a dynamic and interactive dialogue. Experts in youth mental health, including a school-based practitioner, will be present to address questions and provide insights.

In North Carolina, the need for such a platform is particularly pressing. Recent data reveals that approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 12-17 experience a mental health disorder, while 30% of high school students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. Alarmingly, North Carolina ranks 6th in the nation for youth suicide rates, underscoring the urgent need for accessible mental health resources and open dialogue.

The summit, held during a school day to accommodate students who face social and economic barriers, will see students from selected schools in designated rooms with their teachers or administrators. This approach ensures that students who might otherwise be unable to join the conversation have the opportunity to engage meaningfully. Several high schools have already committed to participating, and attendees are expected to join from surrounding counties, other states, and even internationally.

The Summit Will Provide:
A safe space for young people from diverse backgrounds to have their say – share what’s on their hearts and minds about their mental and emotional wellbeing
Open Forum / Q & A concerning what works and does not work to support youths and their families of diverse cultures though their journey of healing
Topics Include
Violence and Abuse
Grief and Loss
Self-Harm
Social Media
Pressure to Succeed
Nutrition and Mental Wellness
Youth Peer Support

The NoDa Bizarre Returns August 2nd with Art, Music, Makers & More! A one-day festival reviving the creative spirit of NoDa’s All Arts Market!

The NoDa Bizarre is back—and bolder than ever! On Saturday, August 2nd, from noon to 8 PM, the lawn of the Johnston YMCA will come alive with creativity, community, and culture. Presented by the NoDa Neighborhood and Business Association’s (NoDa NBA) NoDaRioty committee, this all-arts festival is a modern revival of the beloved All Arts Marketthat once defined the neighborhood’s creative heartbeat.

This year’s Bizarre features an open-air artist market with 75+ local vendors, live music,
interactive art, and more. Enjoy performances by Maggie Lowe, Greg Steinfeld, and Ellie
Morgan as you browse handmade goods, original art, and curious creations from Charlotte’s
most inventive makers.

This year visitors will also enjoy the talents of ten youth artists, from ages 6-18 that will be participating!

In partnership with Charlotte Studio Artists, the festival will feature a silent auction showcasing
donated pieces from 10+ local artists, giving attendees a chance to take home unique works
while supporting the local arts community.

Come hungry—Chutney Cat, King of Pops, and VJ’s Chicken Inasal will be on site serving up bold flavors, sweet treats, and street food favorites to keep you energized all day.

Cool off with nonalcoholic handmade sodas and seltzers from Divine Barrel Brewing, crafted just for the occasion.

As you explore the market, don’t miss the raffle featuring free prizes from 15+ local NoDa
businesses—a fun and easy way to support the neighborhood and win something unique.

Admission is FREE and open to all. For more information, visit noda.org/nodabizarre

You're invited! Join us and our new friends at Hearts United for Good (HUG) at our final 2024 Charity of the Month event!
Hearts United for Good is dedicated to addressing and identifying gaps and needs within Mecklenburg County and its often overlooked and marginalized populations.
On Tuesday, December 17 from 6-9pm, come out to the brewery and meet the HUG organization and their resident DJ Bethany as she spins some groovy tunes. There will be a food truck, a raffle with some huge prizes and a clothing drive you can participate in!
Clothing drive details:
•Drop off any new or gently-worn cold-weather items (coats, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, etc.) to the brewery beginning December 1st through the 17th.
•In return, donators will receive a $5 Pilot Brewing gift card AND a raffle ticket to use at the December 17th Chug for HUG charity event!
•The raffle winner(s) will be announced at the Chug for HUG charity event on December 17th (winner does not have to be present to win) and take home an amazing prize!
Raffle/prizes details:
•Purchase a raffle ticket(s) (or donate to the clothing drive to receive a raffle ticket for free) to win some amazing prizes such as a HUG/Pilot Brewing swag gift basket, a 55” TV, an electric scooter, a DJ package and MORE!
•We will call the raffle winner(s) during the Chug for HUG charity event on December 17th (winner does not have to be present to win)
Proceeds from the raffle and $1 from every featured charity drink sold will be directly donated to HUG:
•Tart Hearts: A sour ale conditioned on pomegranates. 4.9%
•Cranberry Paloma: Tequila, cranberry & grapefruit, splash of soda
•Watermelon Lemonade (N/A): Zero-proof Amethyst watermelon/lime, sour mix & dash of grenadine
We hope to see you there!
Cheers!

This captivating program weaves together the timeless beauty of string quartet music, performed by the Poiesis Quartet, with the powerful poetry of Junious Ward, the Poet Laureate of Charlotte. Blending old and new compositions with world premiere poetry, it creates an immersive experience where sound, space, and language intertwine. Through the harmony of light, melody, and verse, this performance invites you to discover new ways of experiencing the beauty of nature through music.
The Poiesis Quartet is one of the hottest young chamber ensembles in the US, recently winning the pinnacle of chamber music competitions, the Fischoff Competition. Constantly commissioning, performing, touring, and recording, these young musicians bring pure energy and vitality to the stage.
Known for his honest, conversational, and raw style exploring identity, place, history, and more, Junious "Jay" Ward is the 2022 Poet Laureate of Charlotte and an in-demand speaker and educator across the US. His spoken word performances have garnered awards and recognition by many organizations. He is a National Slam champion (2018), an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019), author of Sing Me A Lesser Wound (Bull City Press 2020) and Composition (Button Poetry 2023). Jay currently serves as Charlotte's inaugural Poet Laureate and is a 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow. Ward has attended Breadloaf Writers Conference, Callaloo, The Watering Hole and Tin House Winter Workshop. His work can be found in Columbia Journal, Four Way Review, DIAGRAM, Diode Poetry Journal and elsewhere.
You’ll enjoy an intimate concert, up close to the performers, in our warm and welcoming space under a canopy of lights. Light refreshments and parking are always complementary! Doors open at 6:30 for a pre-concert reception.

🎬Community Impact Film Series: Environment
📅Saturday, April 12, 2025
⏰8:30am-8pm
🆓FREE event
🌍Charlotte’s largest annual Earth Day celebration brings together community members to celebrate our environment, engage families with fun educational activities, foster lifelong connections with nature, and connect attendees with environmentally conscious organizations and businesses from the Charlotte area.
🌏Charlotte Earth Day is open to all members of the community, including children and their families, young adults, educators, and everyone passionate about sustainability.
🌎The event will feature dozens of exhibitors representing Charlotte-based organizations and businesses.
📜Schedule of events:
🚗☕8:00am – 11:00am: EV Cars & Coffee at "Eighty Eights"
✨10:00am – 5:30pm: Exhibitors Fair
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦11:00am – 12:30pm: PBS NC – Rootle Roadster Program
The Rootle Roadster Tour is one of the ways PBS brings its mission to educate, engage, and inspire individuals to life by traveling to communities across North Carolina to provide families with PBS KIDS resources and Playful Learning opportunities.
As part of the April 12 event, PBS NC will join as a community partner to provide a fun, family-friendly event featuring hands-on activities, interactive learning stations, and PBS KIDS-themed experiences. This program will empower families in the Charlotte community with tools to support children’s development. 👶👧
🌊1:00pm: Coastal Carolina University Theatre Presentation
🐳2:00pm: “Mission BLUE” with talkback panel.
This award winning film inspires action to explore and protect the oceans.
📖4:00pm: "Protectors of The Endangered" Clip and Presentation
♻️6:00pm: "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste" with Talkback
🥙🚛11am – 5pm - Carolina Farm Trust Food Truck

The Pop Culture Happy Hour host shares his favorite albums and songs of 2022.

Six officers were shot in an incident in North Philadelphia that started with a narcotics unit serving a warrant and went on for hours. Two officers trapped at the site were later evacuated safely.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Raphael Cohen, an expert in military strategy at Rand Corporation, a nonpartisan think tank, about whether Israel is winning the war against Hamas.

This year, the NBA welcomed several elite prospects who skipped college to play for a new minor league team. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim about the team, Ignite.

The convictions come amid a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and just days after Chinese officials approved a major overhaul of the territory's electoral system that tightens Beijing's control.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., about leading an impeachment effort against President Trump. Raskin was inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Channing Tatum plays a real armed robber who hid out in a Toys "R" Us. Daniel Craig returns for the next Knives Out mystery. And Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler gets a gorgeously rendered adaptation.