Posted March 14, 2016

Five free, community-friendly programs at Temple

Resources and entertainment at Temple aren’t only for students. Here are five public events worth knowing about in the coming weeks.

 Pedestrians crossing Broad Street near Temple’s Main Campus.
Ryan S. Brandenberg
Temple is hosting a number of free, public-oriented events at Temple this semester, including a neighborhood job fair and tax preparation assistance.

There’s no shortage of bustle at Temple, and it isn’t only for Owls. From discovering jazz music to finding jobs, here are five free things for Temple, its neighbors and the public at large to do on campus in the weeks ahead.

  • Listen to live music at the Rite of Swing Jazz Café.
    Take in live jazz music and meet new people at this weekly event, free and open to the community, in the lobby of Temple Performing Arts Center (1837 N. Broad St.). This Thursday, March 17, will feature a performance by the Hailey Brinnel Quintet. The recurring series is hosted by the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Learn more about this week’s 4:30 p.m. show and read about other upcoming events.

  • Attend the neighborhood job fair.
    The 10th Annual Neighborhood Job Fair will put job seekers in front of employers on May 12 in Pearson and McGonigle Halls (1800 N. Broad St.). Coordinated by Temple’s Office of Human Resources, this free event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to the public. A mobile computer lab will be available for participants to apply for employment opportunities onsite. Job seekers must wear business attire and bring copies of their résumé.

    Some of the employers participating include Allied Barton Security, Philadelphia Police Department, Raymour & Flanigan, Sodexo, Sunoco, and Temple University Hospital.

  • Check out an event at the Blockson Collection.
    The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection in Sullivan Hall (1330 Polett Walk, 1st Floor) alone is worth the visit. Consisting of more than 500,000 items, the collection is a leading research facility for the study of the history and culture of people of African descent.

    Temple University Libraries’ Beyond the Page public event series also brings a host of speakers to the collection. On Friday, April 8, at 2 p.m., Paxton K. Baker and Charles L. Blockson will talk about the importance of collecting rare and unique items that represent African American culture.

    There are many more events at Blockson, including a talk by winemakers about the history of African Americans in the wine industry and a Juneteenth celebration with Philadelphia’s first poet laureate and Professor Emerita Sonia Sanchez, HON ’98.

  • File your taxes.
    Volunteers at Temple University Ambler (580 Meetinghouse Rd., Ambler, Pennsylvania 19002) have helped area low- and moderate-income families claim millions of dollars in state and federal tax returns in recent years, and they’ll continue doing so every Saturday through April 9. The assistance is offered in Ambler Campus Learning Center (view a map of campus). Participants must meet certain criteria, including a household income of $53,000 or fewer. Learn more about the program and the remaining opportunities, then request an appointment online.

  • Watch movies from budding filmmakers.
    The best films from previous years of Temple’s annual film festival will be on display once more on March 28 at the Diamond Screen Film Series: Best of The Diamond Screen Film Festival. This free event, held in Temple Performing Arts Center (1837 N. Broad St.), is open to the public and will include hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m.; the screenings start at 6 p.m.