Photo by Wayne Fotografias

FunTimes Magazine ‘Culture and Entertainment’ column, Week of July 17, 2023

FunTimes is hosting a mental-health wellness series serving communities of color. Its next event leads off our “Culture and Entertainment” column in time for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which is observed annually in July to raise awareness about the struggles of racial and ethnic minority communities experiencing mental illness in the United States. Check out FunTimes’ upcoming Shattering the Stigma Part II: Addressing mental health in faith communities, plus other topical area events, from an ice cream festival to underground hip-hop.

Mental-health support is a phone call, text or chat away

July 26, 2023. FunTimes will host Shattering the Stigma Part II: Addressing mental health in faith communities, part of its ongoing series focusing on mental wellness. The effort is aligned with the observance of July’s annual National Mental Health Minorities Month highlighting the challenges and solutions of our growing mental-health crisis in the United States. The foundation of FunTimes’ awareness campaign is the dedicated 988 crisis Lifeline/hotline. It connects you directly and instantly to compassionate, confidential professional care. 988 is a free go-to resource for those experiencing mental distress, particularly in the higher-risk African and African-American communities. Just call, text, or chat 988. Half of those struggling with mental issues do not get the assistance needed. Too many people do not even know that help is at their fingertips. FunTimes’ Lavonne Nichols will host the Shattering the Stigma online workshop, the third installment, and -- with the guidance of experienced clergy -- take a deep dive into specific mental-health matters confronting local faith communities. Participants are Dr. Garth Gittens, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, IMAN Mohommed Jomandy and Dr. Deshawnda Williams, a pastor, clinical social worker and educator, Free, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 EST. 215-954-6300, funtimesmagazine.com, FunTimes is streaming the event on Facebook Live and Youtube.

Wesley Lowery, Tracey Matisak 

Pulitzer winner Wesley Lowery reads the moment 

July 20, 2023. Award-winning journalist Tracey Matisak will host a book-reading/signing session by former Washington Post journalist Wesley Lowery, distinguished author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress. The book delves into the violence revealed in each “watershed moment of racial progress in this country, most recently evidenced by the resurgence of white supremacist movements during and following Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential election.” Lowery was part of a team of Post reporters who won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for national coverage of police shootings. He was a 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his project “Murder with Impunity.” His New York Times bestseller, They Can’t K*ll Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement won the Christopher Isherwood Prize for autobiographical prose by the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Pay as you wish at registration, 7:30 p.m. EST. Books from Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books are for sale at event. Parkway Central Library, 215-833-825-5357 or freelibrary.org.

Get the scoop…

July 22, 2023. Get the rainbow sprinkles and let out a big scream for everything ice cream! The Ice Cream Festival on Filbert is the perfect fix for the heat. One of America’s biggest ice cream festivals returns to the iconic Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market. Eight local ice cream makers will be part of a cool event featuring ice cream-eating contests, sweet treat specials and demonstrations and activities like and games such as ice cream juggling. Indulge in classic ice cream treats as well as new-school specialties including churros with ice cream, Affogato, Ice cream-topped bialys, Ube ice cream, lemon prosecco sorbet and Ice cream muffins. Outside of the Reading Terminal, enjoy Ice cream sandwich stacking, ice cream themed trivia, Ice cream taste tests and flavor guessing. Enjoy DJ music, games, arts and crafts like jimmie necklaces and temporary tattoos, kids’ entertainment from Silly Joe and more. Free entry, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST. Reading Terminal, 12th and Filbert streets in Center City. 215-922-2317 or readingterminalmarket.org.

Bebop over for jazz in Germantown

July 23, 2023. Khadijah Renee Enterprises hosts Germantown Jazz at the Nile Series 2023. Groove with one of the city’s great jazz vocal artists: Ms. Ella Gahnt and her trio: Aaron Graves (piano), Lee W. Smith (bass) and Harry Butch Reed (drums). Enjoy the best of vegan/vegetarian cuisine. The Nile Cafe, 6008 Germantown Ave. $35 (The promotional flyer incorrectly notes that it is $30), 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST. 215-843-6454 or alleventsin. 

 

Underground hip-hop smashes it!

July 23, 2023. If you love underground hip-hop and alternative music, this is your jam: The Eli Capella Jawn Vol. 3. In fact, the promo literature says this event is “a fire jawn of an experience.” That’s Phiilly-speak for must-see outrageous. The event will feature Eli Capella, as well as Chuck Acid, ReasonCanRap, SK8Z and DJ YngFu.. It’s billed as a night of music, culture, and creativity. Free, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST. Pentridge Station Pop-up, 5110-5120 Pentridge St. in Southwest Philadelphia. 267-225-7790, creativephl.org or  eventbrite.com.

 

Climate crisis is no game

July 20, 2023. Climate change is one of the world’s pressing “crisis issues.” In Philadelphia, just take a whiff of the polluted air from the smoldering Canadian wildfires. This is one more reason why Preempting Fate – Technology, Gaming and Climate Change is so timely. From shrinking shorelines to extreme weather events, climate change is real. Julie Hancher, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, will lead an in-depth discussion with Roland Wall, Executive Director of the Patrick Center for Environmental Research at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and Roger Turner, Curator of Instruments and Artifacts at the Science History Institute. Afterwards, enjoy Solarpunk Futures, a collaborative board game designed by artist collaborative Solarpunk Surf Club. Also, take part in a tour of the National Liberty Museum’s outdoor exhibit, Playing Dirty, exploring the intersections of environmentalism, education and fun in 1970s board games. $15, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST. National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 215-925-2800 or libertymuseum.org.

 

Storytelling closes the gender-wealth gap

July 26, 2023. Join the WOMEN’S WAY Change the Narrative Fellows and Love Now Media for a powerful online discussion about employing storytelling to help close the gender-wealth gap. It’s part of WOMEN’S WAY’s Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum series. The promotional information sums up the event: “Entrenched negative narratives about gender and economic insecurity play a major role in blocking efforts to close the gender wealth gap. How can storytelling be used to challenge these narratives, build solidarity and inspire action?” Alicia Atkinson will lead panelists Ellie Fiera, WOMEN’S WAY Change the Narrative Fellow, Nate Fireall, WOMEN’S WAY Change the Narrative Fellow, Syreeta Martin, Director of Programs and Communications, Love Now Media, Christina Tsan, WOMEN’S WAY Change the Narrative Fellow.  The nonprofit WOMEN’S WAY advances the rights and opportunities related to gender and racial equity of women and girls. Free but register; 4 p.m.to 5:30 p.m. EST. 215-985-3322 or womensway.org.

 

All the world’s a stage at Clark Park

July 27, 2023. Get your Shakespeare on with “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” as the famous writer’s play is adapted into a modern musical mash-up of pop, soul, rock, storytelling and social commentary. It focuses on discriminatory treatment and practices against the LGBTQ+ community. Directed by Shamus, the production features music by Galt MacDermot and lyrics by John Guare, The original was written in the 1500s and is recognized as Shakespeare’s first play. The musical is part of Shakespeare in Clark Park Celebrates a Summer of Love. Free, 7 p.m. Clark Park, 4300 Baltimore Ave., 215-764-5345 or shakespeareinclarkpark.org.