• Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohr: “Demand the Impossible”

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Collard City Growers Tour, Think Tank, and Community Potluck

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Reclamation Clinic: No Place Like Home

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • There Goes the Neighborhood Film Fest

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Celebrating 200 Years: North Troy Community Network- North Troy People’s History Museum Event

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Be The Media! Workshop with Brenda Ann Kenneally: Participatory Art and Action

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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.

  • Medea Benjamin

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Sanctuary Sustainer Reception with Medea Benjamin

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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. […]

  • Collard City Growers: Fruit & Berry Propagation

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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.

  • Reclamation Clinic: The Home Stretch

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • North Central Holiday Justice and Peace Holiday Celebration

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • WOOC Benefit with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars and Vusi Mahlasela

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Reclamation Clinic: Home Sweet Home

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • NATURE Lab Workshop with Fran Martino: Citizen Science Training- Stream Sampling in Rensselaer County

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    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 […]

  • Meklit

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    Meklit’s music is imbued with poetry and multiplicity, from hybridized sounds of Tizita (haunting and nostalgic music) drawing from her Ethiopian heritage, to jazz, folk songs, hip-hop and art rock. She aptly describes her music as emanating from “in-between-spaces.” Listening to Meklit transports us to the post-national space of Africa and America, inspiring us to […]

  • Be The Media! Workshop with Sonia Kennebeck: Safeguarding Sources- Encryption and Trauma Protection

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    This workshop offers a general overview exploring the ethics and challenges of investigating and documenting high-stakes, dangerous, and traumatic situations and events. Sonya will share strategies for preparing for a high-risk project, including assessing the risk of a project. From Standing Rock to Ferguson, filmmakers and journalists work in increasingly dangerous conditions. Many documentarians may […]

  • “National Bird” with Filmmaker Sonia Kennebeck and Panel

    The Sanctuary 3361 6th Ave, Troy, United States

    National Bird follows the story of whistleblowers who, despite possible consequences, are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial issues of our time: the "secret" U.S. drone war. The film will be followed by a talk back with the filmmaker and local and regional activists. This Indie Lens Pop-Up event is […]