Friends of Silver Terrace First Community Meeting. Join your neighbors, fellow park users and park staff for food and conversation about recreation activities in the park, future park events you would like to have and other park interests or concerns. Snacks provided. 6:30-7:30 pm. Silver Ave. and Bayshore. Enter Clubhouse at Waterville St. from Thornton Ave. RSVP Chloe at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 415-621-3260.

The Commonwealth Club: Creating New Wealth in a Post-Carbon Economy with Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund and author of “Earth: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming.” $8 members, $15 general. 11:30am check-in, 12pm start. Blue Room, The Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., SF. 415-597-6705. www.commonwealthclub.org.

Thursday, April 24

Town Hall Forum “Are Peace and Impeachment Possible?” Prominent peace and impeachment leaders will discuss promising strategies. Peace and impeachment leaders, youth performers, honors for local activist heroes, information tables, door prizes. $10 at door, $8 advance tickets, sliding scale for unemployed, students, retired.. 7-9pm. Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA. 510-452-3556.

Nikki Giovanni will read from and discuss her most recent books, including “Acolytes,” “Rosa,” “On My Journey Now,” and “The Grasshopper’s Song.” This event is free, but seating is limited. Light refreshments will be served. KTOP-TV, the city of Oakland’s Cable station, will be taping this program for re-broadcast at a later date. Doors 6:45 pm, event 7:30pm.James Moore Theatre, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th Street, Oakland. www.oaklandlibrary.org.

Friday, April 25

Fr. Louie Embarks on National Speaking Tour to help build the movement for a torture-free world.Free. 7:30pm. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. 510-499-0537.

Saturday, April 26

Poets of the Library Celebrate National Poetry Month. Published poets will read selections from their poetry in a public celebration of American poetry. Free. 2-4:30pm. Oakland Main Library, 125 14th St., Oakland, CA. 238—7352. www.oaklandlibrary.org.

10th Annual People’s Earth Day Event, A Celebration of Life. Enjoy good food, listen to local musical artists, and celebrate health and life. Free. Super Save Market, 4517 Third St., SF. 415-282-6840.

3rd Annual Black Tie Illumination Ball, an Evening under the Stars, with official hosts John and Linda Burton and renowned jazz great Tony Saunders. $100. Reception 6:30-7:30pm, ball 7:30-11pm. The Bayview Opera House, Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre, 4705 Third St., SF. 415-647-5743.

Bayview Opera House renovation celebration. As part of the Neighborhood Arts Festival, the SF Arts Commission is will be unveiling the newly-restored exterior of the Bayview Opera House. There will be performances by Best Intentions Motown Review, The Brown Bombers Cheer and Dance Team and poet Janice Reaves. Supervisor Sophie Maxell and Mayor Newsom are scheduled to speak. I hope that you will join us for the event. 1-4pm. Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third St., SF. 415-897-5089. sfartscommission.org/CAE/NAP/.

Ancestral DNA testing workshop. Two-day workshop on the use of DNA to trace our bio-geographical origins. On April 26, participants’ DNA will be collected and the project will be introduced. On Saturday, May 17, from 12 to 3 p.m., test results will be returned and their significance discussed. $150. 12-3pm. College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda. 510-748-2352. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Discussion of role of left, feminist, labor and antiwar activists in the face of economic crisis and revolutionary upsurges throughout the hemisphere. Free. 7-9pm. Café El Cafetazo, 3087 16th St./Mission BART, San Francisco, CA. 415-664-1278.

Sunday, April 27

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Clarence B. Jones, former attorney and advisor to Dr. King, will discuss and sign his book, “What Would Martin Say?” $10 adults, $5 seniors/youth. 2-4pm. Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), 685 Mission St., SF. 415-358-7200. www.moadsf.org

Monday, April 28

SFMTA Seeks Public Input on Draft Proposals to Transform Muni. 6-8pm. Southeast Community Facililty, 1800 Oakdale Ave. at Phelps. 415-701-4485.
Families United Together in Support of our Kids and Teachers. Work to prevent funding cuts and teacher layoffs at our schools. 5pm. Sanchez School, 325 Sanchez St. (near 16th St.), SF. 415-724-4987.

Tuesday, April 29

Mumia, A Case for Reasonable Doubt. A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition Activist Meeting, film screening and update on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. 7:30pm, 636 9th St. near 12th St. 510-435-0844.

The Commonwealth Club: Michael Eric Dyson, author and professor, speaks on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. $15 members, $30 non-members. 6:30pm reception, 7pm program, 8pm book-signing. Bentley School, Student Performing Arts Center, 1000 Upper Happy Valley Rd., Lafayette. 415-597-6705. www.commonwealthclub.org.

Wednesday, April 30

Poetry Reading at Richmond Public Library in Celebration of National Poetry Month. An evening of poetry featuring poets Cesar Preciado-Cruz and Raymond Nat Turner. Open mic readings will follow featured readers. Free. Light Refreshments. 7-9pm. Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza (near Macdonald Ave. and 27th St., Richmond, CA. 510-620-6561.

Acclaimed public intellectual and best-selling author Michael Eric Dyson examines our progress in carrying out King’s dream, measuring the distance Black folk from the Promised Land that King envisioned 40 years ago. 6:30pm. East Bay Church of Religious Science, 41st and Telegraph Ave., Oakland.

Thursday, May 1

Port Workers May Day Organizing Committee announce that Cynthia McKinney, Danny Glover, and Cindy Sheehan will be among the featured speakers at the “March with Longshore Workers to Stop the War.” 10:30am. Longshore Hall (ILWU), Mason & Beach Sts., SF. 510-333-4301.

Defend Immigrant Rights! Stop the War! In SF, assemble 2pm in Dolores Park, march to Civic Center, 5pm rally in Civic Center. In Oakland, assemble 3pm Fruitvale BART, march to City Hall, 6pm rally and community celebration at City Hall.

Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4

Shipyard Trust for the Arts Celebrating Local Arts. Artists of Hunters Point Shipyard will open their doors to the art-loving public. 160 participating shipyard artists. Free. Lunch menu. Open Studios at Hunters Point Shipyard., SF. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, May 3

Living and Dying in San Francisco. Join the discussion on the current state of African American health in San Francisco and learn how you can make a difference. Free. Breakfast and lunch served. 9:30am-6:00p.m. University of California, Mission Bay, 1675 Owens St., SF. 415-615-9945.

4th Annual African American Breast Cancer Conference. “Each One Reach One: Working Together to Make a Change”. A community conference for and about African American women addressing break cancer risk, treatment options, exercise and nutrition, survivorship, emotional/spiritual health and financial resources. Free. 7:30am-2:30pm. 510-569-8855.

The Troublemakers Union Performs International Music for Human Rights.Celebrate the San Francisco Neighborhood Arts Program’s 40th anniversary. Free. 3pm. SomArts Cultural Center, 8th & Brannan St., SF. 415-252-2598 or sfartscommission.org.

Glide Memorial Church and Com-Cycle Recycling Fundraiser. Drop off unused and/or obsolete electronics. You can be certain your electronics will be responsibly recycled. Accepting computers, monitors, televisions and all types of electronics. 9am-3pm. Delores Park, 19th and Delores St., SF. 530-210-7171.

Sunday, May 4

Back Street Sunday Jazz Series. The afternoon will include a concert and a screening of vintage jazz films. Light refreshments. $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under 18. 4-7pm. Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. 510-870-8712

Thursday-Saturday, May 8-10

Eastside Arts Alliance presents World Premier of “The Sisyphus Syndrome” a new commissioned jazz opera by poet and playwright Amiri Baraka. $20, $10 students.

Friday, May 9

Glide Memorial Church and Com-Cycle Recycling Fundraiser. Drop off unused and/or obsolete electronics. You can be certain your electronics will be responsibly recycled. Accepting computers, monitors, televisions and all types of electronics, 9am-3pm. Hamilton Playground, Geary & Steiner St.., SF. 530-210-7171.

Saturday, May 10