Harbor View Plaza 600 East Greenfield Avenue
2023 event series lineup
July 16 Friday, 1:30 – 3 pm: Bembe Drum & Dance Bombazo en la Plaza
Bembé will host a summer community Bombazo and open batey, which is an open drum circle and dance space in the musical tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba. This event will consist of not only a cultural drum and dance circle open to the community but will also include performances by our Academia Bembé youth, teen and adult students and special guest artists. This event will be attended by our students and families and will be open to the general public. It will serve as an opportunity for the community to come play, sing, dance or watch and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with Bembé in an environment where improvisation and self-expression are encouraged and welcomed. It will also serve as a space for students in our Academia Bembé summer program to perform and engage with the greater community. Participants will enjoy live Afro-Latino music and dance in the plaza, in a beautiful setting right next to Milwaukee’s waterfront. We will also provide free Caribbean food sampling, snacks and refreshments for all performers and attendees.
July 1 Saturday, Noon – 2:30 pm: Your move mke – hip hop chess club
The hip hop chess club of WI is a community that provides and encourages education, unity, creativity and inspiration for underrepresented black and brown youth on the south side of Milwaukee. We use live upbeat boom-bap rap beats and hands-on production equipment for children to provide an organic hip-hop environment while playing the conscious game of chess. It is our goal to encourage young people to think ahead and game plan in their everyday lives. We mentor and guide youth while teaching them hip-hop is a lifestyle, the importance of kind acts, and offer them creative ways to conduct community service. We believe firmly in the hip hop virtue, “each one teach one” so we strive to build leaders within our community by being leaders within our community.
The outcomes we strive for are: higher level thinking skills like focusing, strategy, perspective, self-awareness, and memory skills while introducing and encouraging expression through elements of hip hop. We encourage a connection with others through community by providing intergenerational programming and a safe place for families to spend time together. We create a community where young people feel empowered and comfortable enough to create, play, and engage.
July 20 Thursday, 5:30 – 8 pm: Muskego Way Forward – Gone Fishin’
A celebration and showcase of Muskego Way, featuring food and refreshments from local restaurants, music or cultural activity from local artists and dance or movement from local instructors. Attendees can also choose to play loteria, which we are using throughout the summer to raise funds for a community-driven art and neighborhood improvement project.
July 21 friday, 5 – 8 pm: Alquimia Holistica artisinal soap workshop
Pre-registration will be requested. Check back soon for the sign up.
In this workshop you will learn everything to make your own handmade bar soaps and delve into the world of herbs and plants, where you will learn how to dry plants and macerate and how to incorporate their benefits into soaps, you will also learn how to color soaps based on herbal dyes and clays. We will be working with vegetable oils and butters that will nourish your body. Each ingredient is biodegradable which does not generate any negative impact on the environment.
It is a completely family workshop, with a lot of information, fun for everyone to leave with an expert in soap making. You will take the soaps you make with you
July 22 Saturday, 3 – 6 pm: Plants y Poesia / Plants and Poetry
Plantas y Poesía (Plants & Poetry) is a community celebration series which features a bilingual poetry and hip hop open mic with music provided by local DJ’s, artists and/or creatives. Two main components: Poetry & Plants. This series aims to provide a safe, green space where people can celebrate nature, poetry and culture. Local makers are welcome to set up their offerings, no fees charged. Family friendly.
There is a poet feature and open mic. Activities for families throughout the event duration. Chance to win raffle prizes provided by local vendors to gift away, no purchase necessary. Food/ light snacks and refreshments provided. Plants are also gifted to lucky participants from our local flower shop Unforgettable Moments.
August 5 Saturday, Noon – 2:30 pm: Your move mke – hip hop chess club
The hip hop chess club of WI is a community that provides and encourages education, unity, creativity and inspiration for underrepresented black and brown youth on the south side of Milwaukee. We use live upbeat boom-bap rap beats and hands-on production equipment for children to provide an organic hip-hop environment while playing the conscious game of chess. It is our goal to encourage young people to think ahead and game plan in their everyday lives. We mentor and guide youth while teaching them hip-hop is a lifestyle, the importance of kind acts, and offer them creative ways to conduct community service. We believe firmly in the hip hop virtue, “each one teach one” so we strive to build leaders within our community by being leaders within our community.
The outcomes we strive for are: higher level thinking skills like focusing, strategy, perspective, self-awareness, and memory skills while introducing and encouraging expression through elements of hip hop. We encourage a connection with others through community by providing intergenerational programming and a safe place for families to spend time together. We create a community where young people feel empowered and comfortable enough to create, play, and engage.
August 13 Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm: Mercadera market
Mercadera Market is a traveling pop-up market that supports small Latina owned businesses. Mercadera is an organization aimed to help Latina entrepreneurs in the State of Wisconsin. The word Mercadera was carefully created and selected by their co-founders and stands for “Female Merchant”. Mercadera at first glance may sound somewhat abrupt, but in reality it represents the powerful, brave and inspiring woman who makes the greatest effort to fulfill her dream of entrepreneurship. Our organization’s goal is to provide support to these women with the “door knocking” by creating Mercadera markets across the city to help them promote their businesses and expose their creations.
September 3 Sunday, Noon – 4 pm: Resilient joy and vibrant vida wellness sana sana celebration
The Sana Sana Celebration will be a community gathering curating BIPOC wellness providers and practitioners in Milwaukee. Driven by the BIPOC Wellness Directory, this community event will showcase and provide resources, and hands-on and active wellness activities for families such as yoga, zumba, massage, soap making, herbal education, and so much more! The hope of this event is to give more access and spark interest in new forms of wellness for the Latine community, while uplifting the incredible work that is already happening towards these efforts in Milwaukee. As a part of the Latine community, we know first hand that many times self-sacrifice and tireless work is at the forefront of families in everyday life, pushing self-care, rest, and joy to the backburner if considered at all. We hope that this event will serve as an opportunity for the Latine community and others to find an avenue of wellness that is fun, interesting, and something that they can continue beyond the event. As people come to learn about and try new avenues of wellness, families will leave with a new understanding, appreciation, and hopefully commitment to interweave wellness, self-care, and healing in their lives.
What is Summer en la Plaza?
Summer en La Plaza is a series of gatherings hosted by individuals, neighbors, artists, entrepreneurs, or community groups to bring the Harbor View Plaza to life, fully utilize the space, and introduce new people to the space.
Where is Summer en la Plaza?
All events are located at Harbor View Plaza, 600 East Greenfield Avenue.
Questions?
Email Nora Godoy- González, Harbor District Placemaking Director at nora@harbordistrict.org.
