Dennis M. Walcott News

Queens Public Library (QPL) has announced it has partnered with more than 30 organizations around the country - including libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and archives - to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip hop.

For 125 years, Queens Public Library has offered free access to knowledge, information and opportunity for all, and on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 6 p.m., it will celebrate its long history and commitment to the people of Queens with a virtual gala at www.queenslibrarygala.org.

Queens Public Library (QPL) will present a virtual panel discussion on Monday, April 26 at 5 p.m. (ET) featuring experts who will examine the long history of discrimination and hatred against Asians, the dramatic increase in violence against them in the past year, and how advocacy organizations, law enforcement agencies and elected officials are responding to it.

The de Blasio Administration today announced the launch of the IDNYC renewal campaign, new and returning benefit partners, and the IDNYC Middle School Card. With the fifth anniversary of the IDNYC program approaching and the first set of cards set to expire beginning in January 2020, the program has also introduced a new card design and a comprehensive, citywide advertising and targeted outreach campaign to promote renewals. IDNYC is the largest and most successful municipal ID program in the country with over 1.3 million cardholders.

Throughout February, Queens Library will celebrate Black History Month with more than 100 free events and programs at all 62 of its branches. Inspired by Maya Angelou's works, this year's theme, "Black Migrations: Traveling Shoes," seeks to pay homage to the African-American diaspora, highlighting the movement and cultural contributions of people of African descent around the world.

Queens Library will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its increasingly popular Culture Connection program with five concerts at five library locations, featuring a number of Broadway and jazz artists, and showcasing various flavors of the genres, from Broadway standards to Afro-Cuban jazz. Performers will include stars like Alton Fitzgerald White, best known for his role of King Mustafa in 'The Lion King,' and internationally acclaimed Cuban pianist Dayramir Gonzalez, as well as rising artists, who have already become strong and recognizable voices in the New York City jazz scene.

Today, Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin announced “One Book, One New York,” an exciting citywide initiative that will bring book-loving New Yorkers together to read the same book at the same time. With quintessential New York flair, the program will feature five celebrity advocates – Bebe Neuwirth (Madame Secretary), William H. Macy (Shameless), Giancarlo Esposito (The Get Down), Larry Wilmore (Comedian), and Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) – each urging New Yorkers to vote for their choice. This evening, BuzzFeed and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment will host a book party for the launch of One Book, One New York in celebration of the five finalists and New York City's hometown book publishing industry. A city-wide public awareness campaign on subways, buses and LinkNYC also launches today advising New Yorkers of the program's launch and encouraging them to vote on the final selection. Videos produced in partnership with BuzzFeed featuring testimonials by the One Book celebrity advocates will be posted online and disseminated widely during the voting process.

Spend your summer at Flushing Town Hall, which is presenting a fun and dynamic lineup of performances and special events this coming season, providing global arts for a global community in Queens and beyond.

New York City public school students are set to present SHOW UP! 2012 for ENACT Dropout Prevention Programs on Thursday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the High School of Hospitality Management.

The Mountaintop stars Samuel L. Jackson as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Angela Bassett, and is directed by Tony Award® nominee Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun). The play features original music by Grammy Award®-winner and Tony Award® nominee Branford Marsalis. Yesterday, the company visited the Brooklyn Academy of the Arts to address 100 high school students on the challenges and payoffs of being a working artist. BroadwayWorld met up with the crew there after, and brings you full photo coverage of the event below!