What's Happening: Veterans for Peace Poetry Contest, Next Generation showcase and more
MAY 6
PUBLIC READING AND RECEPTION OF THE VETERANS FOR PEACE POETRY CONTEST AND VFP SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY: On May 6, 26 students from Alachua County schools will read their peace poems aloud at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship as winners of the 2023 Peace Poetry Contest. The 13th annual Peace Poetry Contest began in January, inviting all K-12 students of Alachua County schools, both public and private, to submit one poem on what peace and social justice means to them. A team of community writers and poets judged more than 200 poems submitted, according to age group. From those poems, 26 students were chosen to perform their pieces on May 6 and will have their winning poems published in the 2023 Peace Poetry booklet. Winners also will receive a certificate of accomplishment and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. Though this contest holds no formal position on the current state of world affairs, organizers say they still want to honor the ideal of peace through the perspectives of young people. Peace, organizers say, is a uniquely human conception that affirms the human spirit, and it is especially important to remember that peace is not merely a goal but a human right. Veterans for Peace also will be awarding four $1,500 peace scholarships at the Peace Reception. VFP created these scholarships to give financial support to students who are planning careers in pursuit of a more equitable, peaceful and just world. The scholarship winners have demonstrated commitment and leadership activities involving peace and social justice, conflict resolution and nonviolent social change. One scholarship will be awarded in honor of John A. Penrod, a veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Republic, and a lifelong social justice activist in Alachua County. This year’s reading will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4225 NW 34th St. The event will include inspiring poetry readings by the student poets and music by Alivia Regan Hunter, a young singer/songwriter. Refreshments will be served after the program. The program is free and open to the public. For more information on the 2023 Peace Poetry Reading and Peace scholarships, contact the organizers at vfppeacepoetrycontest@gmail.com, 831-334-0117 or vfpgainesville.org. Masks are optional but recommended.
MAY 6
NEXT GENERATION’S SPRING SHOWCASE: Dance Alive National Ballet’s student group, The Next Generation, is set to take the stage with a wildly varied concert beginning at 4 p.m. May 6 at Eastside High School Theatre, 1201 SE 43rd St. Directors Rachel Ridley and Tales Ribeiro will take dancers and audience on an exhilarating ride from classical to contemporary dance, and introduce new choreography and new choreographers. Traditional classical works include the “Garland Dance” from “Sleeping Beauty” as well as “Lilac Fairy Variation” danced by Anna Gleim, and “Sleeping Beauty Pas De Deux” danced by Julia Ambrosia and DANB’s Nathan Fernandez. DANB’s Roberto Vega will join the program performing “Spirits Pas De Deux” with Gleim. Graduating senior Julia Ambrosia has created a contemporary work for advanced dancers. Graduating senior Lily Eyman will be featured in a new work by Ridley that features the talented Eyman and Victor Mancuso in “Hit The Road Jack.” (Yes, it’s tap!) Next Gen’s Bryana Robinson has created her first work, a jazz piece, “Survivor,” for intermediate dancers. Alison Tucker, a former Next Generation member hired for the professional company Dance Alive National Ballet, has created a contemporary work, “Vienna,” for advanced students. Riberio staged “Disconnected” for the company while Ridley staged “Danse Macabre” for the youngest dancers. Audience members will enjoy a few more works from the repertoire, including “Joplin,” with the youngest dancers. The finale, “Let’s Get Loud,” choreographed by Gabrielle Luna and Madeleine Gurka, will fill the stage with the energy and talent of 20 dancers. This performance by Next Generation provides support for DANB’s educational programs. The Next Generation is a group of 32 student dancers who present numerous programs and activities for community service projects in support of Dance Alive National Ballet’s mission and programming. Tickets to the performance are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, visit pofahldancestudio.com/schedule.
MAY 7 AND MAY 14
WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific Sundays during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 7 and May 14. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16.50 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include May 21, May 29, July 9, Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.
MAY 10 THEN ONGOING
“WE ARE HERE: STORIES FROM MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA”: Immigrant inclusion requires us to think about languages other than English, and to listen to the stories that people carry through their languages and their cultures. “We are Here” — the newest exhibition set to premiere May 10 at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. — highlights stories from 60-plus people who speak multiple languages in North Central Florida. Through visual collages that centralize cultural images, “We Are Here” illustrates the immigration journeys of the North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages. These stories include examples of successes, struggles, hopes, injustices, and dreams of a more inclusive and just community. The goal is to showcase these stories, make visible the language diversity present in the community, and advocate for all neighbors’ right to access information in their preferred languages. The Matheson has partnered with curators and designers Valentina Sierra Niño and Laura Gonzales, the Rural Women’s Health Project, Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, Language Access Florida, and UF’s Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere with support from the Humanities Fund for this original and exciting exhibition. The opening reception is planned for 7 to 9 p.m. May 19 at the museum. Museum members will enjoy early access to tour the exhibit at 6:30 p.m. The evening will include refreshments and a brief program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Registration for the opening reception is free and can be done online at bit.ly/3Vg0jrX for an in-person experience or bit.ly/3L32CJT for the Zoom version.
ONGOING THROUGH SEPT. 4
“SPIDERS ALIVE!”: Take an eight-legged walk on the wild side with “Spiders Alive!” at the Florida Museum of Natural History. This exciting exhibit dives into the world of spiders, scorpions and their relatives with more than a dozen live species from around the world on display. Discover the unique traits and characteristics of this diverse group of animals at this interactive, family-friendly experience! Live arachnids (spiders) highlight the ecological importance of these animals that include black widows, orb weavers and bird eaters. Large, touchable models reveal more about spider anatomy and their differences from insects while rare fossils display species from the past — including one that is 100 million years old. Videos showcase a variety of unique animal behaviors, such as a diving bell spider living underwater and a southern black widow spinning silk. Separate fact from myth and learn about ancient spiders, conservation, venom and more. “Spiders Alive!” will be on display through Sept. 4. The museum is located at 3215 Hull Road. Tickets are $8 for adults; $7.50 for Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $5.50 for ages 3 to 17; and free for ages 2 and younger, UF students, and museum members.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Water Park Community Day, 'We Are Here' and more
