Happy Spring! We hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather that New York has to offer (for about 5 months but who’s counting?) We are happy to give you some updates on our project and let you know what we have going on this month and coming up this summer! A lot of new beginnings are in store for us and we are looking forward to all the abundance to be had and felt.

Our Paint for a Purpose was phenomenal! We had a blast with Art Diva who led the Painting session with her very own original painting! It is always beautiful to see all the very unique paintings and the art skills of our community.  All of the people who say “I’m not creative” or “I can’t paint” who end up leaving feeling more confident and with a painting that they actually feel good about is priceless. This was our last paint fundraiser of the summer so stay tuned for a fall Paint for a Purpose fundraiser!
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Maybe we have seen you already during our community gardening this spring? We have launched Project Backyard 2018 and it has been amazing! We’ve had so much fun learning how to grow food together with our community. We have also enjoyed bringing new people into our community and expanding our network. Folks have been really excited to get dirty, get in the ground, and start their process of growing food this summer. If you are interested in setting up your own vegetable or herb garden in your backyard…you have a week or so to complete the survey and schedule a date with us here.
Next up this month we have our Poetic Justice Spoken Word Showcase featuring Ahmel Williams! Ahmel is a Schenectady native who grew up in the Hamilton Hill Arts Center with his brothers playing the steel drums. He will be returning home on Saturday June 16th at 7pm to bless us with his presence and artistry. Tickets are on sale now for $15. There is a lineup of other amazing artists before the featured poet that night. Please come and celebrate community and the living word with us in two weeks!
Next month we have our annual Community Basketball League in Jerry Burrell Park on Saturdays from 12-5 July 7th-29th. This is a basketball league, participants are required to pay a $10 registration fee and attend every Saturday. This is a community basketball league that we started five years ago now to create a fun and family friendly event in the park and offer the opportunity for organized sports/athletics in our area for teenagers and young adults. We will have a live DJ, mobile book library, a yoga class, and food/organization/and activity vendors every week. If you are interested in vending or receiving more information please contact us at miracleoncraigstreet@gmail.com
Self Care Please!
We have started our Self Care Series with LCSW Chelle Pean in April and it has been an awakening experience. In our last workshop we explored boundaries and what it looks and feels like to have the right to tell someone else how to treat you. Building community and sharing space and vulnerability with other women has truly been a blessing. Our next Self Care Event is in August look out for registration in July! Registration fills up fast as we usually only have about 20 available spots. So when you see it come through don’t hesitate to register.
Check out the Hamilton Hill Arts Center’s 50th Anniversary Sankofa Celebration next month on July 14th from 10am-10pm. There will be many different activities and entertainment for the whole family! They will have a poetry slam, a play (for colored girls), fashion show, musicians, film festival, art exhibits, vendors and workshops and more. You don’t want to miss out on the festivities. For more information please contact Rachel Conn at (518) 346-1262.

Wishing you all much love and light and all the joy that the sun and earth have to offer you!!

Much Love,