Contrary to what crotchety, aging conservative pundits claim on FOX News and talk radio, there are Black people doing their part to revitalize their communities across the country.
One non-profit organization in particular is Lincoln Park/Coast Cultural District. The organization’s mission is to plan, design and build a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the Lincoln Park/Coast area of New Jersey. The group emerged out of meetings between area residence, civic leaders, local business people and city administration officials in the late 1990s. In 2002, LPCCD submitted a redevelopment plan to the City of Newark for creating a cultural district. LPCCD is presently transforming Lincoln Park, an 11-acre, four-block site in which they plan to include sustainable mixed-income housing units and establish annual music festivals. Additionally, LPDCCD is looking to promote urban agriculture and green job creation within the community.
LPCCD’s founder is Baye Adofo-Wilson, an attorney who just secured a fellowship at Harvard University based on his successes as an urban planner. This spring alone the organization has received nearly $1 million in grants to execute its arts and urban farm projects.
Over the weekend, LPCCD will celebrate its 8th annual Lincoln Park Music Festival. Established in 2006, the festival attracts over 50,000 attendees during its three-day celebration. The event includes a wide arrange of multicultural entertainers performing various sounds from the African Diaspora. The event also includes the “Newark Idol” Youth Showcase, arts and crafts vendors, meals provided by local restaurants and vendors as well as an organic farmer’s market. Other family oriented activities include games, storytelling, golf, basketball and skateboard clinics and a host of family oriented activities.
Since its inception, the Lincoln Park Music Festival has remained a safe, family-friendly event for Newark residents and its growing number of regional and national guests.
A full list of events:
Thursday, July 25, 2013
FunkFest 5:00pm-9:00pm
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)’s Sounds of the City featuring Bernie Worrell Orchestra will be presented in conjunction with the Lincoln Park Music Festival. NJPAC is located downtown Newark at One Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Friday, July 26, 2013
Afternoon of Jazz 12noon-3:00pm
Hosted by Amiri Baraka; Featuring an All-Star presentation featuring Musical Tribute to Wayne Shorter “The NewArkestra” featuring Adegoke Steve Colson, Alfred Patterson, Rudy Walker, Rene McLean, Gene Ghee, James Stewart, Carlos Francis, and Calvin Hill
9th Anniversary Newark Idol 3:00pm-6:00pm
Hosted by ButtaFly Soul; Tribute to Motown | YOPAT’s “Newark Idol” featuring City Wide Youth showcase of dancers, rappers, singers, and spoken word and celebrity judges.
Evening of Gospel 6:00-9:00pm
An evening featuring local, regional and national recording gospel artists featuring Revival Temple Center of Deliverance, Paradise Baptist Church, Galilee Baptist Church, Elder Linell Andrews & One Voice, Will Brown & Another Level, KGT (Keeping God’s Trust-Quartet), Chrystal Atmosphere Turner, Dawn Tallman, Pastor Deneen Jones with special guest Jules Bartholomew featuring JudaCamp
Celebration of Hip Hop 1pm-8pm
Hosted by Do It All and Redman; Featuring Black Thought of The Roots, Redman, Lords of the Underground, Hit Squad (Das EFX, K-S olo, EPMD, Redman), Rah Digga, Artifacts, Sugar Hill Gang, Kwame, Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boys, and, and many surprise guests.
The Lincoln Park Music Festival will take place in Lincoln Park, located at 1035-1071 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
