Elizabeth Hernandez has devoted her personal time to volunteerism in Greater Lansing in the past 15 years with Lansing Kiwanis Club, Greater Lansing Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, NorthWest Initiative, Do1Thing, the Lansing Old Newsboys and others. Hernandez, 50, was born in Lansing as one of 11 children and grew up in Detroit before returning. She is a process improvement adviser in strategic planning and development at the Lansing Board of Water & Light. She has three adult children. more

Ozay Moore, 42, is a hip-hop artist, DJ and founder and executive director of All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides hip-hop-related classes, workshops and performance opportunities for local youth. He also co-founded 2019’s Below the Stacks mural festival, which resulted in the creation of 11 murals on buildings throughout Lansing. He grew up in Seattle and lived in Portland, Oregon, for a short time before moving to Lansing to start a family in 2006. more

Next month, Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. will mount a production of “How to Defend Yourself,” a play about a group of sorority sisters who gather for a self-defense class after one of them is raped. Written by Liliana Padilla, the play premiered off-Broadway last year after winning the Yale Drama Series Prize in 2019. more

It’s a safe bet that in the last 20 years, few Michigan authors have been more prolific or involved in more writing gigs than Anne-Marie Oomen. She has likely won more writing awards than any other living Michigan author, including four Michigan Notable Book awards, and she recently added the 2023-2024 Michigan Author Award to her credentials. more

For more than a decade, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers has been a fixture in Michigan’s indie music scene and beyond. The group’s dynamic new LP, “Pursuit of Wonder,” … more

Lansing Roller Derby is holding orientations for its adult basic skills boot camp 7 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 4) and 5 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 7). The first orientation will be virtual, and the second will be … more

The Punk Art Collective, a club that meets once a month at The Avenue to allow artists of all skill levels to work on projects or create new pieces, is celebrating its first anniversary 9 p.m. Friday … more

Sandra Seaton is the winner of the Mark Twain Award from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature. The author of 14 plays, opera librettos, a spoken-word piece and short fiction, her best … more

Lansing-area residents can welcome in the new year this weekend with events ranging from dances, drag shows and concerts to a masquerade party and a magic show. If you’ve already made plans for Sunday, there are also art exhibitions, kids’ activities and concerts to enjoy in the days prior. more

In the first week of November, I got an email from an angry Lansing culture lover. “I need to clone myself,” the reader complained. “I can’t go to all of these things.” more

If you were one of the lucky ones who got a gift card from a local bookstore this holiday season, here are some ideas for books to spend it on. more

Father Time is about to spank the first cries out of Baby New Year 2024, which means it’s time to celebrate some highlights of the 2023 theater scene in Greater Lansing. more

Greater Lansing will come alive Sunday evening (Dec. 31) with events for all ages and interests to help ring in the new year. This year seemed to fly by, but there’s still time for one more night of debauchery or family-friendly fun to send 2023 off with a bang. more

For those with kids ages 5 to 11 who are looking for some winter break entertainment, Impression 5 Science Center is hosting day camps Wednesday through Friday (Dec. 27 through 29) and Tuesday (Jan. … more

Betty Baxter, a breezy jazz vocalist with a winning, lowkey presence and an encyclopedic knowledge of the Great American Songbook, died Thursday morning at 91 after fighting off several health problems. more

With Christmas coming up on Monday, many will be traveling to visit family or departing for winter break vacations this weekend. For those celebrating in town, however, there are a variety of holiday events to enjoy, including free ice skating, dance parties, a 5K run/walk, a blues concert and much more. more

Every December, City Pulse invites local poets to join a year-end celebration of their art, accompanied by images of holiday lights. more

Local historian and retired Williamston High School teacher Mitch Lutzke tells some intriguing stories about Williamston’s history in his new book, “Stories from Williamston’s Past: Volume 2.” more

  Okemos retailer Playmakers’ charity arm, the Playmakers Fitness Foundation, will host its annual Holiday Classic 5K Run/Walk 9 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 23). Participants will begin at … more

FRIDAY, Dec. 15 — The Historical Society of Greater Lansing has issued an open call for poetry and artists as part of its “Origin Stories: How You Got Here” exhibit. more