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| #WeAreNeighbor  |  January 10-26, 2025   |  Exchanging Ideas  |  Inspiring Discussion  |  Igniting Change

| #WeAreNeighbor  |  January 10-26, 2025   |  Exchanging Ideas  |  Inspiring Discussion  |  Igniting Change

| #WeAreNeighbor  |  January 10-26, 2025   |  Exchanging Ideas  |  Inspiring Discussion  |  Igniting Change

| #WeAreNeighbor  |  January 10-26, 2025   |  Exchanging Ideas  |  Inspiring Discussion  |  Igniting Change

Monthly Archives

January 2023

Commemorate MLK Day 2023 with DreamWeek events in San Antonio

Commemorate MLK Day 2023 with DreamWeek events in San Antonio

By NEWS

DreamWeek offers more than 200 programs during its 17-day citywide summit

SAN ANTONIO – In addition to Monday’s MLK March and Celebration, there are a number of ways to commemorate the MLK holiday and honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

DreamWeek has more than 200 programs during its 17-day citywide summit focusing on tolerance, diversity and equality, as well as civil and civic engagement.

Here is a list of the 2023 DreamWeek events:

DWSA2023 Schedule of Events by Julie Moreno on Scribd

 

Freedom Walk to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in its own way

Freedom Walk to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in its own way

By NEWS

Saturday’s event will depict civil rights milestones

SAN ANTONIO – Following the same route for Monday’s MLK March, the Freedom Walk this Saturday will cover a lot of ground over those nearly two miles.

“From Proclamation to Legislation to Manifestation” is the theme of the -second-annual Freedom Walk, a Dreamweek event depicting civil rights milestones.

“The whole point of the Freedom Walk is to focus on (King’s) life and his message,” said Bishop Charles Flowers of Faith Outreach Center International.

Flowers also leads San Antonio in Black, White and Brown, the nonprofit that organized the walk last year.

He said it began after the MLK March went virtual due to COVID-19.

“We just felt like we needed to express our desire to see that dream continue last year,” Flowers said.

Yet he also said having taken part in the MLK March each year, it seemed to him the march had become too political and left-leaning.

“Not only heard it — I’ve seen it. I’ve seen that it has taken on those kinds of characteristics,” Flowers said.

But Dwayne Robinson, chair of the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, said, “Everyone has a right to their own opinion. The size of our march speaks for itself, and it is growing.”

“Those who want to keep doing what they were doing, they’re free to do it,” Flowers said. “Our intention is just to refocus on the life and on the message of Dr. King.”

Flowers said the Freedom Walk would do it by stopping along the way to re-enact four milestones in the struggle for civil rights.

The first will be a re-enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation at Lincoln Park, then proceed to Second Baptist Church.

“It was churches that were bombed. It was spiritual leaders who were lynched and assassinated because the church had a voice,” Flowers said. “It’s time for the church to reclaim its voice, take its moral position to be both the language of light and love to and in the culture.”

The third stop will be near the Commerce Street Bridge to remember the Bloody Sunday confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Flowers said the San Antonio Police Department will be represented “to give what I believe to be healing statements about the relationship between the police department and the general population.”

He said the Freedom Walk would conclude at Martin Luther King Jr. Park with religious and community leaders addressing the manifestation aspect of the Freedom Walk.

“It’s our time now just to manifest what others have died to achieve,” Flowers said. “This is our moment. We’re going to step into it.”

From 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday, Flowers said buses will leave from Freeman Coliseum and St. Philip’s College to Lincoln Park for the Freedom Walk from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

MLK Jr. March returns after two years. Here’s what you need to know.

MLK Jr. March returns after two years. Here’s what you need to know.

By NEWS

More than 400,000 people are expected to fill the streets of San Antonio’s East Side Monday for the in-person return of what is said to be the nation’s largest Martin Luther King Jr. March.

The march, which went virtual in 2021 and was canceled in 2022 amid COVID-19 concerns, is the first since the murder of George Floyd and the racial reckoning that rocked the U.S. that summer.

This year’s march, the 36th, is considered an essential San Antonio experience by many residents; some people travel across the country to walk the Eastside route from MLK Jr. Academy to Pittman-Sullivan Park, where Negro League professional baseball teams once played. The march comes amid the citywide DreamWeek celebration of San Antonio’s Black communities; those events run through Jan. 29.

Marchers will step off at 10 a.m. at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, at 3501 Martin Luther King Drive and head straight down to Pittman-Sullivan Park, where the celebration will officially go until 3 p.m.

At the park, the main stage will host multicultural performances by local artists Cherray Clifton, R&B artist Big Al and The Experience and saxophonist BillyRay Sheppard. There will also be a health and wellness area, youth area with activities, food and merchandise vendor booths.

This year’s celebration is attracting more community support than previous years, said Dwayne Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr. Commission chairman.

The 8th annual Martin Luther King Jr. citywide art contest had over 200 submissions, the largest number the commission had ever had, Robinson said.

IDEA Burke College Prep student Shelby Henderson won the art contest with her digital artwork entitled “No Matter Race Everyone is Equal.” Her entry is being used to visually represent this year’s march.

In 2020, the last in-person MLK march, an estimated 300,000 people participated, according to news reports. Robinson is expecting many more this year.

“My expectations are that if the weather is going to be like this, we’re gonna have over 400,000 people marching,” he said.

This year’s theme for the march, “Together We Can Be THE Dream,” was pitched by Shaunda Hopkins Lohse, who submitted her entry into the theme contest the commission hosted in the fall. Her theme was selected from more than 220 submissions.

“The great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and it is time we work together to be ‘The Dream,’” wrote Lohse in her application. “His dream begins with wanting the nation to hold up to its creed, injustice and oppression to be transformed into an oasis… By voting and being active in our community we can make a difference together to help make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream a reality.”

Robinson said seeing a diverse group of people of all ages and ethnicities come together for the march is “phenomenal” to see.

“I could feel [Martin Luther King Jr.], but I certainly can feel the presence of my forefathers and foremothers that participated in the sacrifice,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the murder of Floyd and other Black people, including Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, who was jogging when he was chased down and killed by two white men while another recorded video of his slaying, had a profound effect on him and the Black community in San Antonio.

A jogger himself, Robinson said at the time he was working as then-County Judge Nelson Wolff’s constituent services director, and he would get up before the sun came up to jog around his neighborhood. His fear, he said, was that if he was stopped by law enforcement, he would be treated not as a community member but as “a Black male” at risk for mistreatment — or worse.

While he marches, Robinson said he thinks about future generations and that all human beings are created with certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Robinson expressed gratitude to Councilman Jaylen McKee-Rodriguez (D-2), who serves the East Side, Mayor Nirenberg and the rest of the city council for increasing funding for the event up to $300,000 to help pay event costs and cover scholarships for Bexar County students. That money, he said, “will go right back into our community.”

One of the biggest expenses for the march is the main stage, which costs about $120,000, said Robinson. This year, the contract for stage and electrical operations was granted to a local Black, female-owned company headquartered in District 2, Straight Line Management.

Robinson described that achievement as a boost to San Antonio’s Black community, who he said often feel overlooked.

The Black community in San Antonio is unique, Robinson said, because while nationally, Hispanics are considered a minority group, in San Antonio, Hispanics make up almost 66% of residents, while the Black community, at less than 7%, is roughly half of the nationwide average.

“I think African Americans, we feel like we’re a double afterthought. It’s tough,” he said, citing low numbers of Black businesses and homeownership in San Antonio as examples.

How to get there and where to park

Traffic on the East Side will be congested due to the throngs of people making their way to the march.

Marchers can access free bus service courtesy of VIA Metropolitan Transit from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. from two locations, the Freeman Coliseum at 3201 E. Houston St. in Lot 1 or St. Philip’s College at 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. in Lot 22, at the intersection of Montana and Mittman streets.

The drop-off point will be on MLK Drive, just west of Upland Drive.

Return service from the march to the two pick-up locations will be from noon to 3 p.m. from Pittman-Sullivan Park.

 

As San Antonio’s DreamWeek kicks off, ‘there’s something extraordinary that’s happening’

As San Antonio’s DreamWeek kicks off, ‘there’s something extraordinary that’s happening’

By NEWS

SAN ANTONIO — DreamWeek is no longer a diverse celebration known only to San Antonio.

It’s gone global. The summit’s reach has grown beyond San Antonio to more than 45 countries that have streamed 200 events.

As the 11th annual event centered on “Identity and Representation” kicks off this week, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said an important part of the city’s international legacy is helping people understand that having difficult dialogue across cultures can solve society’s problems.

“This is a great demonstration of who we are as a compassionate community that reaches across to cultures locally and across the world to help us understand and to live more in harmony with each other,” Nirenberg said.

READ MORE: San Antonio’s MLK march — one of the biggest in the country — returns Monday

The city-wide summit runs Friday through Jan. 29, with more than 200 events at more than 50 venues across San Antonio. The events will include art exhibits, concerts, debates, film screenings, mixers, panel discussions, and symposiums.

“It’s every member of the community who is responsible for DreamWeek,” said founder and CEO Shokare “Sho” Nakpodia. “There’s something extraordinary that’s happening here.”

Author Cynthia Gibbs hosted a showcase featuring Nirenberg and Nakpodia at the Irma & Emilio Nicolas Media Center at Texas Public Radio headquarters. She said each guest could find something they could identify with and feel fully represented.

“That’s the joy about DreamWeek,” Gibbs said. “Not only is it a jewel in San Antonio, but it has extended beyond the walls of this city and gone across the country. Believe me when I say it will have a global impact one day.”

Iranian singer Gola is scheduled to sing at the Mayor’s Ball.

“I’ve always lived my life, but no one else’s life,” she said. “I would love to know everyone’s story, dream and how we can make it come true together.”

DreamWeek 2023 officially starts Friday at 7:30 a.m. with an opening breakfast ceremony at the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe, 210 W. Market St. Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai will be the featured speaker. The Mayor’s Ball will take place Jan. 28, a day before the celebration closes.

Nakpodia is creative director of the Mighty Group, a local marketing and design firm. He founded the summit in 2013 in response to a challenge then-Mayor Julían Castro posed to advertising agencies — find a way to highlight San Antonio’s MLK march. The teachings of the late civil rights leader inspired Nakpodia’s vision.

RELATED: Alamo staff will walk in MLK March to honor African American scholar from San Antonio

Donations, sales of branded merchandise and scholarships solicited by the DreamVoice team pay for the event.

 

As Seen on SA Live - Thursday, January 12, 2023

As Seen on SA Live – Thursday, January 12, 2023

By NEWS

Soup, coffee, chamoy, MLK Day crafts, Miss Black SA beauty pageant + upcoming concerts in 2023

SAN ANTONIO – Today on SA Live, a local author talks soup cookbook, Corner Coffee, Miss Black San Antonio, Chamoy Y Mas promotes their valentine’s day boxes, Jada Rashawn does MLK crafts and we preview the big events for this year.

Author Clifford Edwards stops by to talk about his soup cookbook “Soupernatural,” inspired by a 30-day soup challenge.

It’s another Java Jen segment and she takes us to Corner Coffee located on San Antonio’s South Side. Jen tries their signature coffee Canela Loca.

In honor of DreamWeek, we had Glenetta Bierria promote Miss Black San Antonio. A beauty pageant to promote the awareness of her African American Heritage, to provide personality development training for pageantry competitions, and encourage higher academic or vocational goals.

Valentine’s Day is coming up this small local business wants you to forget the traditional sweets and try something sour. Chamoy Y Mas comes on to promote their Valentine’s day boxes to celebrate this year’s holiday.

Jada Rashawn, a nanny expert is here to talk about MLK Day crafts and activities for kids.

It’s a start of a new year and we preview all the big concerts and events around the city:

SA Live airs weekdays at 1 p.m. on KSAT 12. Stream the show anytime from the KSAT+ app on Roku, smart TV, or smartphone.

You can watch the full show below.

San Antonio's DreamWeek returns with variety of events honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

San Antonio’s DreamWeek returns with variety of events honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

By NEWS

This year’s DreamWeek festivities will take place across the city from Jan. 13-29.

From Jan. 13-29, the 11th annual San Antonio DreamWeek will provide a series of civic-engagement events scheduled around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Founded by Shokare Nakpodia, a Nigeria native and San Antonio advertising executive, the 17-day series provides plenty of food for thought about race, social justice and empowerment — and it kicks off with an opening ceremony breakfast ($65, 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., dreamsecured.org/dwsa-opening). Additional information and a full calendar of events is available online at dreamweek.org.

DreamWeek Gallery Talk: Representation & Identity in Pierre Daura’s Good Henry (1947)

Catalan American artist Pierre Daura left his native Spain to live in Virginia — a formerly segregated state — after he sustained injuries fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Daura painted Black staff members at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg to the dismay of his employers at the school. American art curator Regina Palm of the San Antonio Museum of Art tells the story of Daura’s struggle to paint his fellow human beings in the divided American South. $5, 6-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org

‘Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: Perspectives from Black Contemporary Artists of San Antonio’

“Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: Perspectives from Black Contemporary Artists of San Antonio” presents art related to Black history and identity, family dynamics, social connections and spirituality. Curator Barbara Felix has included drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, digital media, sculpture and quilting by artists including Calvin Pressley, Don Stewart, Naomi Wanjiku and Angela Weddle, among many others. After a Jan. 19 opening reception, the exhibition will be on view through Nov. 17. Free, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, Culture Commons Gallery, 115 Plaza De Armas, getcreativesanantonio.com.

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

 

 

Black contemporary artists share culture, life experiences at new art exhibit in downtown San Antonio

Black contemporary artists share culture, life experiences at new art exhibit in downtown San Antonio

By NEWS

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio artists are sharing their stories and experiences at a new exhibit called “Between Yesterday & Tomorrow: Perspectives from Black Contemporary Artists of San Antonio.”

The exhibit is located at Culture Commons Gallery behind City Hall at 115 Plaza De Armas.

“This exhibition is about African Americans coming together to tell their stories through visuals which is great because each artist has a different story and creates visuals differently, which is great to see them in one space,” said Kaldric Dow, artist.

Themes include Black History and identity, family dynamics, social connections and personal human experiences.

Local artist Kaldric Dow created collage pieces with various patterned materials.

“It’s made of a bunch of different pieces but it’s all representing one thing which is skin tone. The hair that I wanted to focus on, it’s waves that are specific to African American culture. So that’s one thing I wanted to emphasize with this piece. As well as this strong look in the face; real humble but with a strength there,” Dow said.

Artworks include drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and quilting.

The exhibit curated by Barbara Felix and presented by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture is free and open to the public starting January 19 through November 17, 2023.

There will be an opening reception on January 19 from 6-9 p.m.

The event is part of DreamWeek San Antonio 2023.

Dreamweek 2023

Dreamweek 2023

By NEWS

Dreamweek 2023 kicks off this week, which means so many inspiring events on civil issues and more. Dreamweek founder Shokare Nakpodia is here to tell us more. Take a look for details!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Dreamweek
1142 E. Commerce St. Suite 200
(210) 444-2315
Dreamweek.org