Belmar History + Art (BH+A) is a civic commemoration project that reveals community history, honors the former Belmar neighborhood at the Civic Center campus, and celebrates African American contributions to Santa Monica’s historical development and cultural life.

Artist April Banks and project historian Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson are conducting research and have begun community engagement to inform the creation of educational and art elements for the new Civic Center Multipurpose Sports Field. Community activities include workshops, discussions, community meals, one-on-one interviews with community members, school visits, oral histories and cultural tours. The work created may also serve as a reference for future social justice projects in Santa Monica. We hope you will join us!

 

Poetry Workshop this Saturday!

RE/CITE: Spoken Legacies, a Poetry Workshop with Natalie Patterson

Date: Saturday January 18, 3:00-5:30 p.m. 
Location: Santa Monica Main Library, Multipurpose Room 

Natalie Patterson, an award-winning poet and teaching artist, guides participants through collective and individual exercises that explore the importance of remembrance and legacy through words. Participants can choose to bring family photos to inspire their words, and are invited to support the performance of the group-created poem at the annual Greens Festival at Virginia Avenue Park on 2/29/20. Free RSVP  

Archive Talk next Saturday...

RE/SIGHT: Our Family History, a talk about archiving with Carolyne Edwards and Arianne Edmonds 

Date: Saturday, January 25, 3-4:30 p.m. 
Location: Santa Monica Main Library, Multipurpose Room 

Carolyne Edwards, a Santa Monica native who launched the Quinn Research Center, and Arianne Edmonds, a fifth generation Angeleno and founder of the JL Edmonds project, will share their personal journeys with family archives. Topics include the oral and written histories of African Americans in Santa Monica and how everyone can preserve their legacy. Free RSVP