Join in the celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life as Greater Newark Conservancy honors the late Nobel Peace Prize winner with a birthday tribute on Friday, July 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Judith L. Shipley Urban Environmental Learning Center on Prince Street in Newark. The event will take place rain or shine.
Participants will enjoy live performances of African dancing and drumming at 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. by the Zawadi Dance School, plus tours of the Conservancy’s Nelson Mandela Freedom Garden and other gardens at the Outdoor Learning Center lead by Newark Youth Leadership Project (NYLP) interns. Sample South African foods from the Madiba (Mandela’s nickname) Restaurant in Brooklyn like peri peri chicken and chakalaka, known to be two of Mandela’s favorites.
Face painting and crafts will be available for the kids including turning recycled clay flower pots into drums as a remembrance of the tribute. All of the activities and the food samples will be provided free of charge for those who register for the event.
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“As Mandela loved and cared for his small garden during his 18 years in prison at Robben Island, we hope to inspire a love for and understanding of the importance of a green and healthy environment in Newark and other urban communities,” noted the Conservancy’s Executive Director, Robin Dougherty. “Our Mandela Garden and lessons about his life that we share with Newark’s schoolchildren through the educational programs we provide are day-to-day reminders of our shared vision. We hope to welcome people of all ages from the greater Newark area to join us as we honor Mandela’s memory with this birthday tribute.”
To register for the Nelson Mandela Birthday Tribute or for more information about the event, other Conservancy programs, services and volunteer opportunities or to make a donation contact Greater Newark Conservancy at 973-642-4646 or visit CityBloom.org. You can also follow news from the Conservancy through social media at Facebook.com/GreaterNewarkConservancy and Twitter at @Citybloom87.
