Photo: takingrootfilm.com
Wangarí Muta Maathaí was a community-based environmentalist and freedom fighter. She showed the world how one woman’s actions could impact global change. The New York City Dept. of Parks and Recreation is hosting a free screening of “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangarí Maathaí” at Marcus Garvey Park.
Details:
When: Thursday, December 29, 2011 7:00-10:00pm
Where: Pelham Fritz Recreation Center, Marcus Garvey Park, 18 Mt. Morris Park West, Manhattan
Did I mention this was a free screening? 
To learn more about Wangarí’s life and the film, click here. For more details on the screening, click here.
CUNY School of Law is hosting this very cool and very FREE Food Justice Panel tomorrow evening. I’ve seen Anna Lappé speak before and am interested in seeing her as moderator. Come learn about who controls our food supply and how we can take it back!
Tonight Professor Robert Gottlieb, co-author of Food Justice, will be speaking at Parsons The New School For Design. Come here about the movement that works to end low wages and exploitation for farm workers, get fresh food in low-income areas and save the environment. This event is free, admission is on a first come, first-served basis. Wollman Hall, Eugene Lang Building, 65 West 11th Street, 5th floor (enter at 66 West 12th Street), 6pm.
Brooklyn Public Library is hosting a series of financial empowerment workshops each week at serveral different branches, all for free! Did you know that financial troubles are at the top of the list of marital disputes? Learn how to build your wealth, plan for retirement (remember, time flies) and keep a smile on your honey’s face in today’s workshop: “Growing Dollars and$ense: Financial Workshop & Counseling”. After the workshop you’ll have a chance to meet one-one-one with an advisor. This workshop is being held at 5:30PM at the Central Library, Second Floor Meeting Room. Click here for other financial workshops happening at BPL.
For three Saturdays this summer (August 7, 14 & 21), NYC streets will be all about free, fun, and pedestrian-friendly recreation. Summer Streets NYC provides dance, music, yoga & fitness classes, swimming in Dumpster Pools (sans trash, of course), and miles and miles of car-free bike riding. You can register for races, a joy bike-ride set to music or enjoy theater perfomances. I biked this route last year and have to say it was one of my favorite NYC summer moments to date. Get out and enjoy some exercise!
Dance classes, films, walking tours, concerts, rumbas and sunset jams, oh my! All for FREE this summer all across the island of Manhattan brought to you by the River To River Festival. What more can I say? It’s still summer, so enjoy the moment! Click here for R2R schedules and event information.
Legendary NYC Samba dance instructor Quenia Ribiero is teaching a free dance class tomorrow (7/22) at Columbia University. You will probably NOT be wearing the fabulous Carnival getup featured in this photo, but maybe next time. Quenia is a wonderful, patient and energetic instructor and you WILL get your sweat on in this class, so dress appropriately. This class is being offered as part of Columbia’s “Shall We Dance” series. The class begins at 7:15 at the Low Library at 535 West 116th Street. Click here to see other free dance classes at Columbia. Beijos!
Photograph by David Atlas
Summerstage has historically taken place in good, old Central Park. Each year brings free and benefit concerts with musical artists ranging from opera to hip-hop. This year they’ve diversified and brought acts to other parks in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx AND Staten Island!. Salsa heads are going to love all the live acts this year! So get fresh, call a friend, pack a lunch and enjoy summer at its best. Click here for all lineup details.
The New York Open Center is hosting an open house on Thursday, May 20th. The Open Center is a place for holistic education and body & energy treatments. At the open house, you can attend free workshops and lectures and enjoy a special discount if you register for a course. There will also be free mini-life coaching sessions available and $15 mini body/mind/spirit treatments. The New York Open Center is located at 22 East 30th Street, between Madison and 5th Ave.
