India Arie speaks

India Arie uses the power of words to express her deepest thoughts. And, once again the multi-platinum and multi-Grammy award-winning artiste visited South Florida to speak her mind through music. The neo-soul icon headlined “Jazz in the Gardens” at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens Saturday, March 25.

Before taking the stage the singer/songwriter shared some of her private thoughts. “If someone were to ask me what do I do, I would say I write stories about my opinions, my life, my experiences. That’s why I started writing songs, because I wanted to just express myself vocally and lyrically. I just wanted to express myself,” said Arie.

Arie’s latest experiences are detailed in her new album Testimony vol.1 Life and Relationship and Testimony Vol. 2 Love and Politics. “I want to sing what I feel to heal and educate myself,” said Arie.

Arie is a down to earth, lyrical Diva, who says like many women she is trying to find her way through this journey we call life. And, while she does not see herself as a role model, she says she accepts the responsibility. “If you are ever on television or radio someone will look at you and say, oh, she looks like me. I wonder what she is going to say.” And make no doubt about it, what she says will move you, if not inspire you in your life’s journey. “Maybe that’s why God would trust me to be able to talk to people that my music speaks to,” she said.

Jazz in the Gardens’ second Annual music festival attracted close to ten thousand guests for the two-day event.

Local high school band heads to D.C.

News of a prestigious invitation to the Nation’s Capital was music to the ears of some local High School students. The Mater Academy Charter School band in Hialeah Gardens was selected to perform in the National Anthem Project’s spring concert series in Washington D.C. 

In just three years the Mater Academy band has blossomed into a well-respected and recognizable musical group under the direction of Mr. Alexander Cuenca. “We started off playing in the building and my colleagues would laugh at us because the band sounded horrible. Now, it’s great because they are playing beautiful music. I feel proud,” said Cuenca.

From very humble beginnings to becoming a superior group, the band, 30 strong, will join other top groups from around the country. The students will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the WW2 Memorial on April 27.

And the invites keep coming! The band has also been selected to participate in the next Cotton Bowl taking place New Year’s Day in Dallas, Texas.

Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve announced the release of a trilingual Junior Ranger program for young visitors. At first the program was only offered in English. Now it is available in Haitian Creole and Spanish. While the children work to earn the title of “Junior Ranger”, they will be encouraged to explore and learn about how to protect our national treasures. Successful participants will also earn a souvenir badge at each park they visit. Junior Rangers who earn a badge at all three parks will be eligible to receive a newly designed Junior Ranger patch in the shape of a water drop.

Organizers say the parks’ Junior Ranger program was produced in three languages to encourage participation by families from the local community.