Sankofa Hosts Black History Art Shows
To commemorate Black History Month, the Sankofa Arts Alliance will present A Celebration of Black History Month, an art show at The Other Side Arts gallery (1400 Dallas St. in Aurora) Feb. 9-28. There will be a reception/fundraiser on Feb. 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. This show will display local artists who will compete for a Best of Show prize. Sankofa will also present “Self-Titled,” a show of new mixed media portraiture art by the artist Reggie Jones, aka ‘Piss Off Picasso,’ at the Blair-Caldwell Library (2401 Welton St. in Denver) Feb. 1-28. A reception will be held Feb. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information, call 303-861-7710 or the library at 720-865-2401.

One Woman Exhibit Of Quilt Art
"Woman's Work," a one-woman exhibit of quilts by Dawn A. Williams Boyd will be at the O'Sullivan Gallery at Regis University, located at 52nd and Lowell, through Feb. 23. An artist’s reception will be Thursday, Feb. 1, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. An artist talk will be Thursday Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Gallery in the Fine Arts Building.
For more information, call 303 296-0914.

Webb Hosts Forums For Autobiography
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb will discuss his autobiography, The Man, the Mayor and the Making of Modern Denver, at several public events during its release in February. The events, which include a book discussion followed by a Q and A session and book signing, will be held at several metropolitan locations, including the Bemis Library (6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, 303-795-3961) on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.,; the Denver Press Club (1330 Glenarm Place, Denver, 303-571-5260) on Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. (lunch at this event is $20); the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library (2401 Welton St., Denver, 720-865-2401) on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. (also including a book launch and community celebration); the Tattered Cover Book Store in LoDo (1628 16th St. at Wynkoop, Denver, 303-436-1070) on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.; and the Denver Central Library (10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, 720-865-1111) on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
For more information, call the numbers listed above.

Black Nativity Reschedules Shows
The Montbello High School production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity will be performed during Black History Month, Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 24 at 3 p.m. Black Nativity was rescheduled due to the weather. However, the message is still relevant regardless of the time of the year. Come experience and celebrate with us as we uplift the Birth of the Savior through song, dance and spoken word. Montbello High School is located at 5000 Crown Blvd. in Denver. The box office will open one hour prior to show time. All tickets are $5 (children ages five and under are free).
For more information, call 720-423-5700.

Brother Jeff’s Initiative To Host HIV Conference
Brother Jeff's Community Health Initiative will be convening a one day HIV/AIDS conference on Feb. 7 in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day . The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, located at 3203 Quebec St. in Denver. There will be five dynamic plenary sessions and lunch will be provided. Several leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention and care will present, including Illinois Department of Public Health Section Chief Andre' W. Rawls, J.D., PsyD. Participation is limited to the first 125 registrants. Admission is $25.
For more information, call 303-293-0024 or visit www.brotherjeff.com.

Mercury Cafe Holds African Film Screenings
The Mercury Cafe, located at 2199 California St. in Denver, will be holding film screenings for Liberian Democracy: A Journey Back Home and Black Gold on Sunday Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Liberian Democracy, a 30-minute documentary focusing on post-civil war Liberia, was produced and directed by Sia Nyorkor, a Liberian living in the United States who was unable to visit her homeland due to decades of violence and devastation. Black Gold, a 78-minute film produced by Marc and Nick Francis, is a documentary exposing the adverse working conditions of Ethiopian coffee growers and workers. Ethiopian coffee beans are popular in Europe and in the United States, but the coffee workers are the lowest paid in the world.
For more information, call 303-294-9258.

Aurora Fox Repeats Amistad For Black History Month
The Aurora Fox presents a Black History Month production of Amistad Friday Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 10 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The story of Amistad, the famous slave revolt recounts the legal status of Africans hijacked on the high seas and brought to America on a Spanish slave ship in 1839. This year’s production of Amistad is a return from last year’s highly successful run, with new directorial talent from Chris Tabb. The Aurora Fox Theater is located at 9900 E. Colfax Ave. in Aurora. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and students; advance seating is available since space is limited.
For tickets, directions or more information, call 303-955-2724 or visit www.grandbydesign.com.

AALI Hosts Jazz Garden Benefit Show
In celebration of Black History Month, the African American Leadership Institute (AALI) will host an evening of comedy with traditional and smooth jazz on Feb. 22 at Jazz At Jack’s (16th and Welton St. in the Denver Pavilions). Instructors of the Jazz Garden along with prominent local musicians will be featured. The fundraiser will benefit the Jazz Garden, AALI’s educationally based music program sponsored by Fidelity Investments and Smooth Jazz 104.3. Stand up comic, AD, will perform. Tickets are $25 per person and $40 for a couple.
For tickets or more information, call 303-299-9035.

BAWM Celebrates Black History Month
In February, Black History Month will be celebrated at the Black American West Museum (3091 California St. in Denver) all month long. The celebration begins with their new exhibit, “How The West Was Fun”, “We Tell It Like It Was” guided tours, “How the West was Fun” family days, “Colors of the West” film fest, “A Day In A Life of a Cowboy” children and adult programs, BAWM lecture series, free days and Member’s Only activities. BAWM will present the history and the stories of Black men, women and children who helped settle and develop the great American West. The Museum’s unique collection of Black western artifacts illustrates the many contributions of Black pioneers, cowboys, buffalo soldiers, miners, homesteaders and city founders. BAWM has been the only Black West museum in the country since 1971.
For museum hours or more information, call 303-292-2566.

Tru ‘Dat’ Presents Two Trains Running
In honor of Black History Month, Tru ‘Dat’ Entertainment presents the Shadow Theatre Company’s production of Two Trains Running by August Wilson, directed by Jeffrey Nickelson. Set in a Pittsburgh coffee shop during the turbulent 1960s, this drama explores the effects of an “economic development” movement that threatens to destroy an old neighborhood. Part of the late Pulitzer Prize playwright’s monumental ten-play cycle depicting African American life in the 20th century, the play creates a microcosm of an era and a community on the brink of change. Performances are at the Ralph Waldo Emerson Center, 1420 Ogden St. in Denver, Feb. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, and 22-24, with the shows on Feb. 1, 8, and 17 already sold out.
For tickets or more information, call 303-837-9355 or visit www.shadowtheatre.com.

Oscar Brown, Jr. Movie Airs On Channel 12
KBI Channel 12 PBS will air the documentary Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistress: The Story Of Oscar Brown Jr. on Saturday Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. This award-winning film focuses on the career of playwright, poet, musician, composer, writer and social activist Oscar Brown Jr., who used his art as a forum to create awareness and focus on the civil rights movement, rights for the meatpackers union in Chicago, women’s rights, gang violence and political discourse. Brown was a key player in the groundbreaking “Destination Freedom: Black Radio Days” series by Richard Durham, which aired from 1948 to 1950 on Chicago’s WMAQ Radio. Brown’s musical explorations included his work with such greats as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderly. His appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and The Today Show were groundbreaking. His lyrics touching on every subject from human dignity and childhood wonder to marijuana and cockroaches, Brown emerges as a kind of Black Everyman.
For more information, visit www.pbs.org or www.musicismylife.info.

Brooks Center Arts Features Local Playwright
During February, Brooks Center Arts, housed in the historic First Divine Science Church at 1400 Williams, will be running the play As Above So Below by local mixed-race/ African American playwright David McClinton. As Above So Below is about a college professor who is marked for death by a nefarious agency of the government for the subject of his lectures. This comedic drama infuses conspiracy theories with many of today's modern legends and features performances by several talented and capable actors, including Moyo N'Guvo's Cerise McCaston, who plays a psychic who's particularly dark on the outside—and all about the light within. The play previews Thursday Feb. 1 and runs every Friday and Saturday through February at 8pm. Tickets are $10 to $17.
For reservations or more information, e-mail BrooksCenterArts@yahoo.com.

Black History Worship Celebration
Join the United Church of Montbello, located at 4879 Crown Blvd., on Sunday Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. for a special Black History Worship celebration. Event special guests include minister Rev. Benjamin Reynolds, City Council President Michael Hancock and vocalist Mary Louise Lee-Hancock.  A soul food feast will be provided after service.