OMNI’s Celebration For The Earth

April 22, EARTH DAY, 6 p.m. — 8 p.m. at the Global Campus, 2 Center St. on the Fayetteville Square.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we celebrated Earth Day like a real holiday? I’m talking about the actual day. It seems the 22nd of April always falls on a weekday and all the wonderful Fayetteville Earth Day festivities get scattered before and after the actual day.

This year, the Omni Center has assembled a fabulous Earth Concert for the whole family on Earth Day, April 22. The evening will include great musical performances focused on taking care of our planet, along with an art show with many hundreds of picture/letters drawn by area school children to be sent to President Obama.
Kicking off the evening concert are two after-school music programs from Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville — The Ukulele Club and the Singing Club. Then, Fayetteville’s favorite songstress/humorist, Emily Kaitz, and friends will perform a brand new song about Rain Barrels.

The popular kids act, Toucan Jam will host the concert and perform special selections for Earth Day. Most folks know this duo better as Kelly and Donna of “Still on the Hill” but kids all over NWA have seen Toucan Jam perform at their schools. This year, their favorite puppet, Emily Emu will grace the stage with a lesson about recycling. They have some other exciting surprises up their sleeves that you won’t want to miss.

Finally, to bring the eve to a grand finale, we are thrilled to have Al “Papa Rap” Lopez! Al’s purpose in life is building bridges; his goal is to help people develop a deeper understanding of Latino and other cultures in our region. He has received many prestigious awards throughout the state for his work. He is currently employed by Springdale School District as the school/community liaison. We are excited to bring his energy and Earth Day message to the stage. The concert will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (being a school night we plan to keep it short and sweet!)

Before the concert you won’t want to miss the art show. From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. there will be an art exhibit in the Global Campus lobby/gallery. Elementary schools and homeschoolers in Springdale and Fayetteville were invited to participate in this exhibit. Students were asked to write a letter to President Obama asking him to make every day Earth Day,  because…(fill in the blank). Under that heading they drew an Earth Day picture. These works will be mailed to the White House after the event!

The idea for the exhibit was based on a similar project that musician Donna Stjerna started over a month ago called the Obama Letters. She has been creating a one-of-a-kind collage and a letter to go with it every day until Earth Day. The theme is climate change. Donna signs the letters “One Worried Mom” and mails them to the White House in large manila envelopes. You can visit her Obama Letters Blog at http://stillgreenonthehill.blogspot.com/ Copies of up to 50 of these collages will be on display at this event.

This Earth Day Event is FREE for kids and only $5 for adults. Refreshments will be served before the concert during the viewing social hour, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Everyone will have the opportunity to write their own Earth Day letter to be sent as well. Come join us for this special event FOR THE EARTH!
— Kelly Mulhollan, Fayetteville