by Juliana Birnbaum Fox
Café Rumba. Community participatory event.
The Afro-Cuban folkloric drums, dances, and songs of rumba. Rumba is the word used for a group of related, community-oriented, musical and dance styles in Cuba. Rumba developed in rural Cuba, with strong influences from African drumming and Spanish poetry and singing. 3:30-6 p.m. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley. 510-849-2568. fena@lapena.org.
“What’s Your Excuse?” S.F. Public Library offers amnesty period for overdue materials
San Francisco Public Library is encouraging patrons to return their overdue books and other library materials and restore their borrowing privileges without penalty or fine during an amnesty period in May. Overdue materials can be returned to any branch or the Main Library during the amnesty period. Patrons are encouraged to share their cleverest excuses about why their materials are overdue at sfpl.org/fineamnesty and the best excuses will be highlighted on the Web site. For more information on the library overdue materials amnesty from May 3 – 16, please call (415) 557-4277.
Discover the Rumba with John Santos at the Museum of the African Diaspora
La Rumba No Es Como Ayer (The Rumba is not Like Yesterday) is a seven part lecture series taught by four-time Grammy nominee John Santos that delves into the evolution, anatomy, and relevance of the Cuban rumba, one of the most important and influential musical/dance genres in the history of the Americas. The rumba is an indispensable expression of Afro-Latin culture, from the seductive, satirical choreography of the Yambú and the Columbia to its influence on modern jazz and beyond.
The series will be held on Tuesdays, May 5 through June 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Museum of the African Diaspora at 685 Mission St, San Francisco. Sign up for the entire series, or on a class-by-class basis. For tickets please visit sfjazz.org or call the SFJAZZ box office at (415) 788-7353.
Unity Council offers free bilingual budgeting and financial education workshops
The Unity Council announces their workshop series on Financial Fitness, Homebuyers Education, and Foreclosure Prevention. In this current economic downturn of massive layoffs, the mortgage pandemic, investment losses, and record high unemployment benefit rolls, the Unity Council offers services to assist families in maintaining their credit and saving their homes.
Classes include: Homebuyers Education on Saturdays, 9 – 5 p.m. (Spanish – May 2, English – March 21, April 18, May 16); Financial Fitness, a 5 week series on Tuesdays, 6 – 8:30 p.m. (Spanish – April 21, 28); Foreclosure Prevention: Wednesdays, 6 – 9 p.m. (English & Spanish: April 15, May 6, 13, 20). At 3301 East 12th Street, Suite 201, Oakland, CA 94601. A limited number of the classes will be held at the Fairfi eld Community Center in Fairfi eld, California. Pre-registration is required.
For information contact Sandra Velazquez, program assistant, svelazquez@unitycouncil.org at The Unity Council, (510) 535-6943.
State terrorism in Argentina: a survivor’s eyewitness account
Over 1,500 people were murdered, kidnapped and disappeared in Argentina between 1973 and 1976 for their political beliefs and activism. After 30 years, some of those responsible are finally being brought to trial. One of the key witnesses in this court case, and a survivor of three assassination attempts, is Carlos Petroni, well known in the Bay Area as the former editor of Frontlines newspaper, a popular left progressive paper in the 90s.
He is making a presentation about the case including photographs, evidence and a shocking account of the crimes committed by the death squads known as the Triple A (Argentinean Anticommunist Alliance). On Friday, May 8th, a 6 p.m., at 522 Valencia Street in San Francisco. For further information, contact or interviews: (415) 867-5174.
