neighborhood community day: interactive music & theatre performance

Saturday, April 6, 2024, 1:00 PM
Presented by Rothko Chapel and Menil Collection

Enjoy a bilingual interactive music and theatre performance co-produced by Ars Lyrics Houston and Express Children’s Theatre in celebration of our vibrant neighborhood. "Maria's Magical Music Adventure,” directed by Tim Fried-Fiori and adapted from Emma Kent Wine's children's book of the same title, follows the journey of a young Latina girl named Maria as she and her hip-hop loving brother Carlos embark on a time-traveling trip back to 17th century Italy and learn about the power of music and the importance of finding one's voice. A cast of multi-talented actors and musicians bring this story to life with a fusion of amusing storytelling and live classical music, creating an entertaining, inspiring, and joyous experience for children and adults alike. Learn more and register here.

the phillip hall singers at grace episcopal church

Sunday, April 7, 4:00-5:00 PM

The Phillip Hall Singers are a vibrant choral ensemble in Houston that have been performing a wide variety of musical styles throughout Houston since 2015. Their mission is to provide an avenue for talented young vocalists in the Houston area to use their musical gifts to connect the minds and hearts of their audiences through a versatile choral repertoire. Join us at Grace on April 7th at 4:00pm for this energizing concert! Learn more here.

Evolving Love: Intentionally Growing our Capacity to Connect

Saturday, April 13, 1-4 PM
Presented by the Jung Center of Houston

Join us as we explore awareness and communication strategies that can help us move from passive loving to active, committed loving. Integrating concepts of Loving Kindness, compassionate communication, and perspective-taking, this workshop will help participants grow a love for others, whether the current relationship is strained or already flowing well. Through discussion, brief meditations, and experiential exercises, we'll learn how to expand the capacity to love. This a hybrid program being offered both in-person and online. 
> Learn more and register here.

sandeep das: delhi to kabul - transcending borders one note at a time

Saturday, April 20, 8:30 PM at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center
Presented by the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern USA

With a focus on the arts of India and Afghanistan, Delhi to Kabul is a kaleidoscopic journey of music, dance, and storytelling that showcases the shared heritage of two countries that are as ancient as they are modern, and as diverse as they are captivating. A Grammy winning-musician and Guggenheim Fellow, Sandeep Das, a world renowned tabla maestro whose original compositions have been performed in over 50 countries, is accompanied by Suhail Yusuf Khan (sarangi), Qais Essar (rabab), and Jay Gandhi (bansuri). > Learn more and register here.

Earth Day: Sustaining Climate Justice Action & Community Health with Youth Organizers

Saturday, April 20, 2024, 11:00 AM | Presented by Rothko Chapel

This year's observance will provide space for learning, restoration and renewal through a conversation and meditative moment on sustaining action focused particularly on youth organizers working for climate justice and community health. Inspired by the 2023 ruling in the Held v. Montana case on the state’s constitutional rights to health, representatives from Our Children’s Trust including staff attorney David Schwartz and youth plaintiffs will share the development and success of this case, and how their methods can be applied across the country. A community discussion will follow with Texas-based youth and grassroots activists including Chanté Davis (Sunrise Houston) and Armon Alex (Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit) about the links between environmental and climate justice and community health, moderated by Andre Segura, VP of Litigation at Earthjustice. Reflection time will be facilitated by Tiffany Jin, Co-Director of Houston Climate Justice Museum.
> Learn more and register here.

Nature-Based Mindfulness (In-Person)

Saturday, April 20, 9-10:30 AM at Bell Park

Presented by the Jung Center of Houston

Join Michele Pola with The Jung Center of Houston, Texas, for a Saturday morning of silent meditation in nature. Explore mindfulness, embodiment practices, and connect with the beauty of the outdoors. Discover the joy and wonder of practicing mindfulness in the midst of a busy city. > Register here.

meditation mini-retreat: tools for opening the heart

Saturday, April 27, 1-5 PM | Presented by The Jung Center Houston

Discover how the Tibetan understanding of well-being can enrich our mind-body practices, and our everyday lives. In the face of difficulties – a decision we don't want to make, a conversation we might be dreading – it's natural to feel threatened, and to want to feel safe. Sometimes, we accomplish this by hiding our deepest needs from ourselves and others by closing our hearts even when the changes we want mean we need to bring those needs into the light. Join Alejandro Chaoul of The Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute as we learn tools for opening our hearts using different methods, including awareness of breath, visualization, sound, and movement. Together, we will take time to integrate the sense of completeness developed through these practices through group practice and discussion. > Learn more and register.

World Labyrinth Day By Various Partners

Saturday, May 4, Various Times
Presented by Unity Church, St. Pauls’ United Methodist Church, Sarah Gish with Body, Mind &Soul

World Labyrinth Day is an annual event, observed on the first Saturday in May. Thousands of people around the world participate in this moving meditation to promote peace and celebrate the labyrinth as a symbol, tool, passion, and practice.

Walk with our partner organizations and community friend Sarah Gish. Join fellow Houstonians and thousands of people around the world in this beautiful practice, and walk as one for peace!

• 11:00 AM-1:00 PM Unity of Houston, co-facilitated by our friend, Sarah Gish. > Link for details and location.

• 1:00 PM-2:00 PM St. Paul's United Methodist Church. > Link for details and location.

• 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Body Mind & Soul Houston, facilitated by Sarah Gish. > Link for details and location.

the other path: a workshop for women without children

Friday, May 10, 6-8:00 PM & Saturday, May 11, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Presented by the Jung Center Houston

Being a woman without children is a significant experience that often goes unnamed or marginalized. Perhaps you find yourself on the Other Path because of a decision your body made, one you forgot to make, one you made freely, or one you are struggling with today. Whatever the circumstance, being a woman without being a mother in the "traditional" way evokes its own unique feelings, considerations, and experiences that deserve to be named and shared in the company of like women. Join other childless or childfree women on this Other Path as we tell our stories, explore our challenges, grieve our losses, ask our questions, discover our fertile gifts, and birth our creative desires. > Learn more and register here.

birmingham bombing and beyond: living a life of love after hate

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7:00 PM | Presented by Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

Join Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston for “Birmingham and Beyond: Living a Life of Love after Hate” to hear Lisa McNair’s story of triumph over evil, resiliency, and forgiveness after her sister was killed in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Now an author, speaker, and bridgebuilder, Lisa has chosen a path of love over hate, and will share why at IMGH’s IMpower Lecture 2024. Learn more and register.

operation impact | presented by interfaith ministries for greater houston

Saturday, June 1 - Houston (serving Harris County)
Saturday, June 8 - LaMarque (serving Galveston County)

Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels Program delivers meals to homebound seniors in the Greater Houston/Galveston area who struggle to safely prepare a meal for themselves in their homes. Imagine what happens to these folks when a storm causes a loss of power or flooded roadways, making it dangerous or impossible for their Meals on Wheels deliveries to get to them. To prepare for this possibility, we have created Operation IMpact. During this annual event, drivers deliver a five pack of shelf-stable meals and emergency information and supplies to over 5,600 Meals on Wheels seniors – some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Your support will ensure that our seniors are prepared if our Meals on Wheels program has an interruption in deliveries due to a storm. We’re calling on you to step forward and register as a Volunteer Delivery Team. Please note, only the designated driver of the vehicle needs to register. All drivers must be 18 or older, but feel free to bring the younger ones along. The more volunteers we have, the better!
> Learn more and sign up to volunteer

summer solstice observance | presented by rothko chapel

Friday, June 21, Morning and Afternoon Observances:
8:00 AM - Contemplative Performance by Apollo Chamber Players
7:30 PM - Evening Performance by Kaminari Taiko of Houston

In observance of the longest day of the year, the morning contemplative music experience inside the Chapel will feature local string quartet Apollo Chamber Players. Kaminari Taiko of Houston, a Japanese drumming ensemble, marks the end of the longest day of the year with an evening performance outside on the plaza. > Learn more and register here.

Heroic Self-Care: Impact Your Life - A Restorative Retreat for Veterans, Veteran Caregivers, and VSOs

Saturday, June 29, 2024, 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Presented by Institute for Spirituality and Health

Join us for a day of self-care, introducing you to Mind-Body Skills to assist in stress reduction and trauma relief. As a participant, you will learn and experience valuable ways and techniques to enrich your life while enjoying a time of relaxation and healing. The skills we will learn may include breathing, movement, guided imagery, and biofeedback to help you regulate your nervous system and generate your own relaxation. These mind-body skills are drawn from the world-renowned Center for Mind-Body Medicine program model and were brought to Houston after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. These evidence-based skills have been implemented for communities worldwide to help them heal from the impacts of war, natural disasters, or other community-wide trauma. > Learn more and register here.