Friday 4/16 – Thursday 4/22
The unrelated Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays’ Unity V conference also takes place this weekend, with workshops, seminars, a dinner dance, and keynote speakers Reverend Carol Johnson, Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones, and writer and activist Barbara Smith. It begins tonight with a reception from 6:30 to 8, followed by a “people of color poetry slam” at 9. Admission to the slam is $5; the weekend conference is $40 to $140. All events take place at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. King. Call 312-409-4917 to register.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
The National People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement Convention kicks off today too, with a demonstration to free Fred Hampton Jr., who’s serving time for aggravated arson. It’s at noon at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph; the film Free Fred Hampton Jr. premieres at 7 at Uhuru House, 5409 S. Halsted. Tickets are $5. Saturday and Sunday bring workshops on police containment, housing rights, and economic justice. Registration is $10, which includes breakfast. Lunch is an additional $3; dinner is $5. Call 773-924-7072 for more.
19 MONDAY On Friday Barbara Smith will speak at the Unity V conference, and tonight she’ll head over to 57th Street Books to discuss her latest book, The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender and Freedom. The collection spans two decades of Smith’s literary criticism and her essays about race, gender, sexuality, power, and social change. Smith talks at 7 at 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th (773-684-1300).
22 THURSDAY Today, the 29th annual Earth Day, is also the anniversary of the founding of Arcosanti, the “organic city” in central Arizona. Created by Paolo Soleri, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, it demonstrates the principles of arcology, a method of building cities in balance with nature. Today Soleri’s former apprentice Rafael Pizarro will lead a free slide lecture called Arcology: 50 Years of the Visionary Urban Designs of Paolo Soleri. It’s from 5 to 7 in the Harold Washington Library Center auditorium, 400 S. State (312-747-4050).
