North Troy Peoples’ History Museum explores the changes and evolution of families in the North Troy neighborhood. It is sited in the former home of the family Brenda Ann Kenneally chronicled for her project “Upstate Girls.” After the family was forced to leave, the building was left vacant and fell into disrepair. It was acquired […]
The Sanctuary for Independent Media’s 6th annual outdoor fall event, cultivating community through arts activities, free food, stories and music. This year the event, held in Freedom Square, will feature Breathing These Words, with poets Danielle Colin, Nancy Klepsch and others, Chill Smith DJ Collective, and community arts projects as a continuation for the Weekend […]
10^32K. The Planck temperature; the temperature at which matter ceases to exist, and conventional physics breaks down. According to Nova, at this point, “strange things, unknown things, begin to happen to phenomena we hold near and dear, like “space and time.” Also an apt description for what happens when you mix the cerebral flamboyance of […]
Join longtime activist/educators Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn in an engaged conversation. In an era defined by mass incarceration, endless war, economic crisis, catastrophic environmental destruction, and a political system offering more of the same, radical social transformation has never been more urgent. Bill Ayers, author of the new book Demand the Impossible, and fellow […]
Tour Collard City Growers, Troy's first permaculture food forest project, and witness this cultivated abundance. The tour will be followed by a discussion regarding the future of the project. Join the brainstorm and get involved in sharing the bounty, starting with samplings of our pickles and honey! These once-vacant lots are now beacons of urban […]
Financing, selecting and purchasing a home requires hard work and personal commitment, especially a vacant building that requires extensive improvements. This workshop will help people determine whether a building in need of repair is the right choice in relation to their budget, schedule and skills. Learn how to determine what you can afford and about […]
Multiple Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands and recordings into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the U.S, and Cuba. Her exploration of Afro-Cuban melodies expresses the universality of music and her ability to embrace and showcase the rhythms and culture of Cuba has been groundbreaking. She has toured the […]
Trio Da Kali is a group of outstanding musicians from the Mande culture of southern Mali who come from a long line of distinguished griots (hereditary musicians). The group features Hawa Kasse Mady Diabaté, Lassana Diabaté, and Mamadou Koyaté. Formed of voice, ngoni, and balafon, the Trio aim to bring a contemporary twist to ancient […]
A community event to view compelling films around the theme of urban struggles and hopes, culminating in a celebration of youth media makers from across the Capital Region: Youth FX in Albany, TBU Productions in Schenectady, and Youth Media Sanctuary in Troy. Youth media mentors Jamel Mosely, Prince Sprauve, and Bhawin Suchak will lead a […]
Join us for tours of the North Troy Peoples' History Museum, an exhibit of work by Brenda Ann Kenneally, which explores the evolution of Troy through the history of families in the neighborhood. Then, enjoy a reception hosted by the North Troy Community Network, and a community conversation about reclaiming our history! This project is […]
Brenda Ann Kenneally will share strategies for participatory community art practice, including the process behind her scrapbooks, North Troy Peoples’ History Museum, and the Story Candles project. This project is supported by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A passionate advocate for social justice for over 40 years, Medea Benjamin, whose new book is Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connections, co-founded the women-led peace group CODEPINK and the human rights group Global Exchange. Benjamin and other CODEPINK activists are known for their ability to make media spectacle in settings from Presidential […]
Join us in a community potluck. We are recognizing the Sanctuary’s 10th year Celebration, and we are honoring the creative resistance of Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the women-led peace group CODEPINK and the human rights group Global Exchange. This is also a celebration of Women Against War’s 10th years of anti-war events at the Sanctuary. […]
Come learn the basics of propagating from hardwood cuttings & leave with some new plant (and hopefully, human!) friends. Bring a pot or vessel for carrying transplants home or any cuttings you would like to share.
Learn how to find the right property and establish a realistic renovation budget. City and Land Bank representatives will explain how to submit purchase proposals and qualify for special grants or loans. Learn about the cost impacts of hazardous materials common in older buildings. Understand the basics of building codes and zoning regulations, how they […]
Back by popular demand! Join us for the fifth annual North Central Holiday Peace and Justice Celebration, North Troy’s working peoples’ alternative to the Victorian Stroll. We'll have free portraits by internationally recognized photographer Brenda Ann Kenneally, a coat give-away, a Troy Bike Rescue bike give-away, Toys for Tots, arts activities, and tours of the […]
The Egg, in cooperation with The Sanctuary for Independent Media, presents a fundraising concert for radio station WOOC 105.3 FM, a double bill of African music that is sure to lift your spirits and satisfy your soul! This show takes place at The Egg in downtown Albany, one of the Capital Region's most intimate and […]
Congratulations! You purchased a building and you have a plan for financing the work it needs. Learn about home repair education courses available in the region and the process for obtaining building permits, zoning variances and site plan approvals. Get guidance on working with contractors and technical professionals, and what to do if an agreement […]
Rensselaer Land Trust’s Stream Team needs help to find out if the streams of Rensselaer County are safe. This project will recruit and train citizen scientists to collect water samples from 18 sites along 5 tributaries of the Hudson River to check enterococcus levels. Volunteer time commitment is approximately 2 hours per month during May […]
Salif Keita, known as the “Golden Voice of Africa,” is undoubtedly one of the most influential and important artists in African music. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the Golden Voice of Africa in a small listening room—one of the world's most extraordinary singers, Afropop pioneer, and a direct descendant of Sundiata Keita, founder of the […]
We use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression.
Learn More
