Office of Community-Engaged Learning

Summer Youth Empowerment Program: Queerwater
2025-07-18 - 2025-07-20
Applications are open for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s Youth Empowerment Programs! Young Women at the Helm, Young Men at the Helm, and Queerwater are no-cost three-day adventures on the mighty Hudson River, offering a one-of-a-kind experience of scenic beauty, bonding, and personal achievement. Their three unique multi-day programs connect youth 14-18 to the Hudson River as they sail aboard the historic sloop Clearwater and camp along the river’s shores.
Participants are immersed in leadership opportunities through a range of physical and academic activities, both in small groups and as a larger team. An intimacy with the river develops as they test the water quality, catch fish, navigate the ship, and help sail. Two nights are spent camping on shore, meeting with guest speakers, and relaxing alongside the beautiful Hudson River. Many past participants have later returned to the boat as volunteers and crew members.
In their 2025 season, they will run the following Youth Empowerment Programs:
Queerwater: July 18-20, 2025
Drop-off: Poughkeepsie
Pickup: Cold Spring
Young Women at the Helm: July 25 – 27, 2025
Drop-off: Cold Spring
Pick up: Poughkeepsie
Young Men at the Helm: August 22-24, 2025
Drop-off/pick-up: Dyckman
Learn more here.

CSA Weekly Vegetables at Poughkeepsie Farm Project (Every Tuesday)
2025-07-22 14:30 - 18:00, 2025-07-29 14:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
CSA is a SNAP is a USDA funded program that allows members to use their SNAP benefits to get a 50% discount on a CSA Vegetable Share from June-November. In addition to the weekly vegetables at distribution, and at no extra cost, all members have the opportunity for weekly Pick Your Own vegetables, flowers, and herbs on the farm!
CSA is a SNAP members pay weekly:
$12.50 for Half Share or $24 for a Whole Share.
*To remain in compliance with the funding for this program, SNAP members may only use their FNS/SNAP benefits and may NOT pay with cash or credit card.

For reference, the market value of our shares is:
$27/week for a Half Share (5-10lbs of vegetables/week)
or $45.50/week for a Whole Share (10-20lb of vegetables/week).

Apply here.

City of Poughkeepsie Planning Board Meeting
2025-07-22 18:00 - 19:00 | City of Poughkeepsie City Hall, 62 Civic Center Plaza - 3rd Floor - Council Chambers, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
View the agenda here

Art in the Park
2025-07-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm + Gardens, 49 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States

Family Day at the Preserve
2025-07-24 10:00 - 14:00 | Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve
rsvp here

2025 Arlington Farmers’ Market (every Thursday)
2025-07-24 15:00 - 19:00 | Vassar Alumnae Lawn, Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepisie, NY, 12604, United States
May 29th 2025 – October 30th 2025 Every Thursday from 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Located on the Vassar College Alumnae Lawn on Raymond Ave. Poughkeepsie NY 12603

Soundpainting at the Loeb
2025-07-24 18:00 - 19:00 | The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604, United States
Soundpainting at the Loeb
Thursdays in July (July 3, 10, 17, 24)
Loeb Galleries
“Biography” is an ensemble-based, improvised performance conceived and composed by Max Reuben and performed by members of the Training Company. It utilizes the gestural composing language of Soundpainting, a mode of gestural live composition with roots in the Hudson Valley, to depict the life and achievements of a spontaneously made-up person who is very, very real.

Performances will take place during Late Night from 6–7pm on July 3, July 10, July 17, and July 24. This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.

Summer Youth Empowerment Program: Young Women at the Helm
2025-07-25 - 2025-07-27

Invoke Open Mic
2025-07-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Womenswork.Art, 12 Vassar Street, 3rd floor, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Invoke: Open Mic Night
Date: Friday, July 25th, 6:30-8:30pm
Hosted by exhibiting artist Serena Domingues @serenasnature, the Invoke: Open Mic Night invites women and nonbinary individuals to share their poetry, music, stories, and spoken word in a safe and supportive environment. Channeling the divine frenzy of the Maenads, this night will center on themes of feminine rage, ancient mysticism, transformation, and unfiltered joy. Attendees who would like to perform or speak are encouraged to RSVP before the event to secure their slot and select their performance time. Wine and non-alcoholic refreshments will be provided.
Register here

CSA Weekly Vegetables at Poughkeepsie Farm Project (Every Saturday)
2025-07-26 09:00 - 12:00

The Rhythm of Nature - youth program
2025-07-26 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-08-02 09:00 - 15:30 | Beatrix Farrand Garden, 4097 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY, 12538, United States
This summer, the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association is launching a new free youth program called: The Rhythm of Nature
A creative, garden-based series blending African drumming, mindfulness, movement, and environmental learning.
Program Dates: Saturdays | July 12, July 26, August 2, August 23
Times: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Rain or Shine
Includes lunch and all materials
This program is made possible through a Dutchess County Youth Wellness Support Microgrant, part of a countywide initiative to promote well-being and prevent substance use by expanding access to positive, enriching activities.
What to Expect:
Participants will spend the day immersed in nature, rhythm, and reflection. Through group drumming, garden exploration, and guided movement sessions, the program nurtures confidence, creativity, and a deeper connection to the natural world. Each day ends with a family-friendly showcase to celebrate what’s been learned and shared.
Led by an incredible team of teaching artists and educators—Baba Kazi (African drumming), Nick Jackson (movement and rhythm), Katie Cuthbert (youth education + garden design), and Pamela Brown (hands-on garden education)—Rhythm of Nature offers a joyful, grounding experience rooted in music, creativity, and community.
Join for one Saturday or attend the full cycle
Small group format, space is limited
Each session ends with a 3 PM performance open to family and friends
MORE INFO AND REQUEST A SPOT

Clay Workshop
2025-07-26 12:00 - 14:00 | A.J. Williams-Myers African Roots Community Center, 43 Gill Street, Kingston, 12401
Joy as a Revolutionary Act: Polymer Clay
In a world that tells us to always be moving, and pushing, and going, there is power in slowing down. In this workshop, we will make polymer clay art!!
Clay to me feels very symbolic. It starts off hard, and with a little holding, and love, it softens to build up to be anything we want it to be. And somewhere along the line, we may decide to smush it all down, and turn it into something completely different.
All materials included. Here we focus on the process, not the product. All participants will go home with a finished clay piece or directions to bake it in your oven at home.
AJ Williams Myers African Roots Center
Registration is required to ensure we have enough materials. Register here
Questions email: mxcalliemackenzie@gmail.com

Eleanor Roosevelt Center's Children's Book Event
2025-07-27 10:00 - 15:30 | Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

City of Poughkeepsie Local Planning Committee Meeting regarding the Poughkeepsie Downtown Revitalization Initiative
2025-07-28 17:00 - 19:00 | City of Poughkeepsie City Hall, 62 Civic Center Plaza - 3rd Floor - Council Chambers, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
The City of Poughkeepsie was awarded $10 million in funding as the Mid-Hudson Region winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Poughkeepsie will begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) will examine local assets and opportunities to identify economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with Poughkeepsie’s vision for downtown revitalization and that are poised for implementation. The Plan will also guide the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will advance the community’s vision and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s $10 million investment. This webpage provides information on the DRI program and how to participate in the public engagement process.

Special Town of Poughkeepsie Town Board Meeting
2025-07-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Town of Poughkeepsie Town Hall, 1 Overocker Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
View the agenda here
Join on Zoom here

Frederick Douglass Celebration: A Meeting with Kevin Douglass Greene
2025-08-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Family Partnership Center, 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Event Details
“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”
– Frederick Douglass
Legendary abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass visited Poughkeepsie in 1858. This extraordinary man was the great-great-grandfather of Kevin Douglass Greene, who we are honored to present for a talk about Frederick’s substantial influence. Mr. Douglass Greene is a senior advisor with FDFI, an abolitionist and anti-racist non-profit organization founded by himself and direct descendants of Frederick Douglass. He is an Army veteran, whose travels have allowed him to serve communities, gain diverse experiences, impart knowledge, and ignite a passion for education and history. There will be a presentation along with conversation and Q & A.
Registration required. Register here!

Frederick Douglass Day
2025-08-02 12:00 - 15:00 | College Hill Park, 149 North Clinton Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States
The City of Poughkeepsie issued a Proclamation that August 2nd of 2021 will be Frederick Douglass Day. To continue promoting Douglass’ work, Celebrating the African Spirit hosts an annual Frederick Douglass Day event at College Hill Park to educate and encourage his abolitionist spirit through music, food, and uplifting community.

Caribbean Festival
2025-08-02 12:00 - 20:00 | Waryas Park, Waryas Park Promenade, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Hudson Valley Caribbean festival, Jerk + costume contest, music from The Big Takeover, and more! It’s going to be a night full of rhythm, soul, and nonstop good energy—you don’t want to miss it!

La Guelaguetza 2025
2025-08-03 12:00 - 19:00 | Waryas Park, Waryas Park Promenade, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Celebrate and share Oaxaca’s culture, dance, music and flavors. Join us at this gathering full of tradition, joy and community. We are waiting for you to enjoy an unforgettable day together! A free, family-friendly event, full of culture, taste and traditions. Rain or shine. Alcohol is not allowed. Come with your family and friends to celebrate our roots and share the spirit of the Guelaguetza: to give and receive with love.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is excited to be tabling and hosting Flexible Fare ($10) sails at the Poughkeepsie La Guelaguetza on Saturday, August 3 from 12–7pm! We’ll be sailing from Waryas Park at 1pm and 5:30pm, and will have Spanish-speaking crew and volunteers onboard. Click here for more sail details!

La Guelaguetza
2025-08-03 12:00 - 19:00 | Waryas Park, Waryas Park Promenade, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States

National Night Out
2025-08-05 17:00 - 20:00 | City of Poughkeepsie City Hall, 62 Civic Center Plaza - 3rd Floor - Council Chambers, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Come celebrate National Night Out with an evening full of fun activities! Free to attend and participate. Family entertainment, Petting Zoo, Bouncy House, Free books, Food, Touch-a-Truck, Emergency vehicles, and Vendors!!

On Museum Time: Historic Collections, Twenty-First Century Audiences, and Contemporary Museum Practice
2025-08-06 17:30 - 19:00 | The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604, United States
Brooklyn Museum curator Stephanie Sparling Williams shares insights into the process of creating Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art, a highly innovative reimagining of how contemporary audiences experience historic American art. This program is presented as part of an ongoing Loeb initiative, generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, to reinterpret and reinstall the museum’s significant collection of Hudson River School art.
Learn more here

Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education Meeting
2025-08-06 18:30 - 20:00 | PCSD Jane Bolin Administration Building, 18 S Perry Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601

Town of Poughkeepsie Town Board meeting
2025-08-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Town of Poughkeepsie Town Hall, 1 Overocker Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
In between, on Wednesday August 6, the Town Board will meet to set public hearings on some zoning enforcement and take next steps toward possible acquisition of IBM’s North 100 property (stay tuned for more details soon). We’re also voting on a major engineering study for the Joint Water Plant that the Town co-owns with the City of Poughkeepsie. The study will explore long-term water needs, options for system expansion, and potential backup supply sources. Full agenda for August 6 is here.
Attend in person at the Town Hall or on Zoom here

Just Transition Primer
2025-08-07 13:00 - 14:00 | GWI Greenhouse, GWI Greenhouse, 65 St. James St., Kingston, NY, 12401, United States
Just Transition Primer (In-Person)

Let’s come together to align understanding and action in support of effective, collective responses to the moment we are living in.
Soaring prices for living expenses make it increasingly difficult to secure our basic needs. Natural disasters are on the rise. Our entrenched political divides are laced with conflict and create a sense of insecurity. How do we make sense of these realities? Where can we glimpse the kind of possibility worth coming together to work for? This workshop provides an opportunity to connect, explore a shared vision of Just Transition, and consider the question: What will it take to build systems centered on care for each other and our shared home? What would it mean for many of us in the Mahicantuck (Hudson) Valley to be focused on social and ecological well-being? Join us, in community, to deepen your understanding of the Just Transition framework, principles and practices. Through video, reflection, story sharing, and small group discussion, you will:

See people from across the country describing aspects of Just Transition
Hear how other participants respond to the framework
Connect your own experience to extractive and regenerative economic paradigms
Gain a sense of the framework, principles and practices, and where they come from
Discuss ways you are drawn toward weaving one or more Just Transition principles and practices into your Good Work

** This workshop will be held in-person at The GWI Greenhouse

Facilitators
FACILITATORS
This offering will be co-facilitated by a combination of these GWI Workers, whose fuller bios are available here.
Aja (she/her) is an Afro-Latina raising 3 daughters with her partner of 20+ years, growing food and medicine, creating art, loving hard and strengthening connections in her beloved communities throughout the Mahicantuck River Valley. The Just Transition is central to her work, both personally and professionally, because she strongly believes that a successful community is made up of individuals working collaboratively on all fronts to create avenues to build a healthier, thriving, more sustainable environment.
Micah (he/him) is of mixed race (black and white) and mixed religion, and grew up in two different socio-economic homes. He is a cisgendered, working/middle class parent of two living on Munsee/Lenape land in the Mahicantuck Valley, commonly referred today as Kingston, NY, working to prove possibility and to liberate the imagination in order to see a Just Transition.

Registration
Deadline:
We will close registration by or before noon on July 29. Register early to save your spot!

Fee:
Fee: In lieu of a set registration fee, we are requesting $25 to help underwrite the cost of offering this workshop. GWI does not want your current access to financial resources to impede your participation. We don’t know whether your current access to financial resources is ample or limited. We are grateful to receive an offering aligned with what you can give, which may be more or less than $25.

Click here to register

ABC Latino 20 Year Celebration - Art Exhibit Opening
2025-08-08 17:00 - 19:00 | ABC Latino, 356 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601
ABC Latino believes in the power of community and the vibrant spirit of collaboration. As we come together to commemorate GET/ABClatino’s remarkable 20-year journey, we invite you to immerse yourself in the cultural richness of our local Latin artists.
Creemos en el poder de la comunidad y en el vibrante espíritu de colaboración. Al reunirnos para conmemorar los 20 años de trayectoria de GET/ABClatino, te invitamos a sumergirte en la riqueza cultural de nuestros artistas latinos locales.
From April to August, witness the creativity of 20 talented artists through 5 captivating art exhibits, all offered at no cost to you!
De abril a agosto, sé testigo de la creatividad de 20 talentosos artistas a través de 5 cautivadoras exhibiciones de arte, ¡todas gratuitas!
Join us for the opening and closing receptions, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to engage with the artists themselves, exchange ideas, and celebrate the artistic expressions that unite us all.
Acompáñanos en las recepciones de inauguración y clausura, donde tendrás la oportunidad única de interactuar con los artistas, intercambiar ideas y celebrar las expresiones artísticas que nos unen.

Lights Across The Hudson
2025-08-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Walkway Over the Hudson, 61 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation invites the community to Walkway Over the Hudson for Lights Across the Hudson, a luminary event celebrating those we have lost.
The World’s Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge will shine brightly as thousands of glowing luminaries light the way in memory of loved ones. This event will feature:
Luminaries – Each luminary will represent a life remembered. You can dedicate a luminary to honor your loved ones and contribute to this stunning visual tribute.
Inspirational Readings – Hear beautiful readings and music that celebrate life and healing from a number of local spiritual leaders from various faiths and music provided by: Hudson Valley Voices in Harmony, the Mid Hudson Chapter of the Threshold Choir, and Mary Doherty, LMT, Hudson Valley Hospice Team Lead for Dutchess County.
Special Moments – Reflect, connect and share memories with others in a serene, supportive environment.
Food Trucks – Savor delicious offerings from local food trucks, including Lemon Love, Mercurial Coffee Co., From the Ground Up, Moose Scoops, and Loaded Kitchen.
This event is FREE and open to all who wish to join. Whether you’re honoring a loved one or simply looking to be a part of this community remembrance, everyone is welcome to attend and share in the spirit of togetherness.
Come celebrate life, remember those we’ve lost, and be a part of something truly meaningful.
Learn more here

Italian Conversation at Gallery 40
2025-08-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Gallery 40, 40 Cannon Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601
Come, practice and become fluent in Italian…. while having fun !
