Bulletin
CCC/CHA Partners in Education Information Session
Malcom X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., Room 1102. Wednesday, May 2, 10amânoon, noonâ 2pm, and 6:30â8:30pm. Free. (312) 553-2830. bit.ly/CCCandCHA
CHA and City Colleges are teaming up to host several information sessions on how eligible participants can attend City Colleges of Chicago at low or no cost. Learn about the program deadlines, requirements, and academic programs to put you on a path to a better career. To be considered for funding, you must attend an information session before registering for classes. (Maple Joy)Â
Black Women, Sex and the Lies our Mothers Told Us
Silver Room, 1506 E. 53rd St. Monday, May 7, 6pmâ8pm. Free. (773) 947-0024. thesilverroom.com
The Silver Room is inviting all mothers/daughters/aunts to come by and hear author and community psychologist Dr. Hareder McDowell read excerpts from her new book. The event will also give attendees the opportunity to discuss their own experiences around the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships within the Black community. Come with open hearts, and open stomachs as wellâwine and light refreshments will be served alongside the discussion. (Michael Wasney)
Young Entrepreneurship Summit
Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St. Saturday, May 5, noonâ4pm. Free. bit.ly/YoungESummit
Local creative professionals from the fashion, film, photography, radio, DJ, and graphic design industries are participating in a panel titled âCreating Opportunities with Your Passionâ. Creative minded youths ages thirteen to nineteen are invited to come learn about how to build careers in creative entrepreneurship. (Tammy Xu)
Cyber Security Bootcamp
Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave. and Kennedy-King College, 6301 S. Halsted St. Applications due Sunday, May 6, classes begin week of Monday, June 18. Tuition Free. (773) 265-5343. pages.ccc.edu/apply/techbootcamps
Looking to jumpstart a career in cyber security as a risk analyst or professional contractor? The City Colleges of Chicago is launching a bootcamp that will prepare students to pass the CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certification exams, both highly valued industry certifications. The program is tuition free and meets twelve hours a week, twice in the evenings and once on Saturdays. (Amy Qin)
Wurd Is Balm 2018
Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Dr., 2nd floor of the Student Union building. Sunday, May 13, 7pmâ10pm. Free. csu.edu
As has become tradition, Chicago State University will be holding its eighth annual Wurd is Balm open mic poetry jam to celebrate (the end of ) National Poetry Month. Whether youâre a poet or poetry lover, this will be a great space to meet Chicago writers, and to showcase your own writing if you have it. Regardless of the reason that motivates you to attend, rest assured that you wonât find a better event post-National Poetry Month. (Michael Wasney)
And She Still Succeeds
SARAH KUENYEFU collection, 1510 E. 63rd St. Saturday, May 12, 12pm-6pm, panel starts at 4pm. Free. (872) 356-1455. bit.ly/shestillsucceeds
Activist in You and the Sarah Kuenyefu Collection have partnered to bring you an afternoon of mixing and mingling and female empowerment. There will be small bites, drinks, shopping, and a panel of inspiring women in business and the fashion industry. (Amy Qin)
Music
Chris Murray, Cosmos Ray, DJ Chuck Wren
Reggies, 2105 S. State St. Thursday, May 3, 7pm. $5 in advance, $8 at door. 21+. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
To celebrate Jump Up Recordsâs twenty-fifth anniversary, singer-songwriter Chris Murray will bring his Chicago-by-way-of-Jamaica melodies to Reggies. He’ll be joined by Cosmos Ray, best known as the lead vocalist for reggae band Akasha, and and by DJ Chuck Wren, the head of Jump Up Records. (Christopher Good)
South Side African Dance Classes
Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave. Saturday, May 5, 11amâ12:30 pm. $15. (773) 241-6080. muntu.com
Muntu Dance Theatre’s dazzling live show was one of our top picks in last year’s âBest of the South Sideâ issue. Now, they’re sharing the magic with a series of drop-in dance classes at Gary Comer Youth Center. Regina Perry-Carr of Nunufatima Dance Company will guest-choreograph this Saturday’s lesson. (Christopher Good)
South Shore Drill Team Spring Show
Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave. Saturday, May 5, 5pmâ7pm. $20. (773) 752-7830. southshoredrillteam.org
Drum roll, please. This Saturday, the extraordinary South Shore Drill Team will hold an one-day-only showcase at its home base in Greater Grand Crossing. From the snare fills and flag twirls to the somersaults and rifle tosses, any performance from the group is a guaranteed adrenaline rush. (Christopher Good)
The Mothers of House
7421 S. South Chicago Ave. Saturday, May 5, 9pmâ3am. Free parking on corner of 75thth St. bit.ly/mothers-house
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we all have letters to write and calls to make. But first, mark your calendar for this excellent all-female lineup, featuring respected South Side DJs Celeste Alexander, Mz. Nicky, and Lora Branch. Get there early: promoters will have a gift bag for the first twenty-five mothers in the building. (Christopher Good)
Soul-Frica Sundays
Renaissance Bronzeville, 4641 S. King Dr. Sundays, 7pm. No cover charge. (773) 690-5416. renaissancebronzeville.comÂ
End your week right and dance the night away in Bronzeville. Resident DJs Terry Hunter and Greg Winfeldââeach one a formidable figure in the history of Chicagoâs house sceneââwill spin soul, R&B, and whatever else gets the people moving. (Christopher Good)
Stage & Screen
Grown Folk Stories
The Silver Room, 1506 E. 53rd St. Thursday, May 17, 8â10PM. Suggested $5 donation. (773) 947-0024. info@thesilverroom.com
Join âGrown Folk Storiesâ on the third Thursday of every month for two hours of an eclectic collection of unrehearsed, five-minute stories told about the experiences we have in our everyday lives. (Soulet Ali)
Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards 2018 Submissions
Submissions due Sunday, June 17, 11:59pm. (312) 374-1555. bit.ly/2hwGhH2
Students across Illinois in K-12 are invited to submit their original works of poetry to the second annual revitalized Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. Winners will be honored at a ceremony at the Poetry Foundation on August 25. (Tammy Xu)
Quiet Room Open Mic: Chicago
The Revival, 1160 E. 55thSt. Saturday, May 19, 9pm artist sign-up, showtime 9:31pm sharp until 11pm. $10, ages 18+. bit.ly/quietroomopenmic
This open mic hosted by poet extraordinaire Brandon Alexander Williams, formerly known as Re@l Talk, will be a night for anyone ready for all bars, with no phones, no intros who loves spittin or wanting to juslisen. (Nicole Bond)
Spotlight: A.J. McLenon
Black Cinema House, 1456 E. 70th St. Friday, May 11, 7:30pmâ10pm. Free and open to the public, no RSVP required. rebuild-foundation.org
Two short films by multimedia artist A.J. McClenon will be screened, anda conversation with McClenon follows. Â First in the double feature is Black Water: Polarity, which explores the relationship between Black people and water, using dance, historical accounts and personal experiences, followed by Sharks, Adolescence and Being the Darkest Girl in the Pool, a coming-of-age story encompassing such topics as the sport of fishing, grief and the politics of sexual identity. (Nicole Bond)
Spring Opening
Smart Museum of Art. 5550 S. Greenwood Ave. May 7, 7pmâ8:30pm. Free. (773)702-0200. smartmuseum.uchicago.edu
Get smart and head to the UofCâs art museum to see the âvastly opened gallery spaceâ and get a first look at the work of Thai artist Tang Chang. Graduate students will give talks on the works on display, including the atmospheric prints from âThe Multiple Sorceries of Felix Behot.â As always, itâs free and open to the public. (Joseph S. Pete)
Comfort Stew
eta Creative Arts, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Friday, April 20âSunday, May 20. Friday through Sunday, 8pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm; Sundays. $15â$35. (773) 752-3955. Etacreativearts.org
Playwright and poet Angela Jackson weaves a tale of a missing child ripped straight from the headlines. Her play, directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, concerns how parents love their children in an evening of âmemory and hopeâ and the âactions of the spirit.â (Joseph S. Pete)
Visual Arts
Kimski 2-year Anniversary Jam
Mariaâs Packaged Goods & Community Bar, 960 W. 31st Street. May 5-May 6, 3pm May 5 to 3am May 6. (773) 823-7336. http://kimskichicago.com/
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the, um, non-traditional way by marking the two-year anniversary of a Korean-Polish restaurant attached to the beloved Bridgeport haunt Mariaâs. A 12-hour bash will feature booze, DJs and bands, such as Panda Riot, the rapper Serengeti, and the dance/electronic group Dar Embarks. In addition to Kimskiâs pork belly bowls, scallion potato pancakes and other fusion faves, there will be food from the pop-ups Hungry as F*ck and Slow Motion for Meat. (Joseph S. Pete)
Yollo Spring 2018 Exhibition
Yollocalli Arts Reach, 2801 S. Ridgeway Ave. Friday, May 4, 5:30pmâ7pm. Free. (773) 521-1621. yollocalli.org
Yollocalli is holding a showcase for the work of all its wonderful and talented youth artists. No matter what medium youâre into, there will be a little bit of something for everyone: photography, written work, graffiti and mural painting, and much more. Yollocalli is a kid-friendly space, so bring the whole family. (Michael Wasney)
It Takes a Village
Studio 71 Art Gallery, 1834 E 71st Street. Sunday, May 6, 1pm-6pm. Accepting Donations. For more info, e-mail Dionne Victoria at butterflycommunitychicago@gmail.com or Kwynn at kwynnriley@gmail.com.
In celebration of the life of David Kwynton Flynn Jr., âIt Takes a Villageâ is an event promoting life and the appreciation of community. This event will feature a great line of performers such as Christian JaLon, Brittney Carter and Kwynology, and there will be various venders selling crafts and gifts, along with free food. Make sure to bring a donation for an expecting parent and youâll get entered into a special raffle. (Roderick Sawyer)