By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

All listed events, and more, can be viewed online on The OBSERVER’s community events calendar at SacObserver.com. Be sure to submit your events two weeks in advance to have the chance to be featured on the list.

  1. Sacramento NCBW 2024 Memorial Scholarship – Deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, via online application submitted to sacncbwscholars@gmail.com. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior, current full-time community college student, or university student in good standing. Applicants must reside within a 50-mile radius of the city of Sacramento; have a minimum 2.5 overall GPA; submit their transcripts; submit at least one letter of recommendation; respond to the application package instructions; and demonstrate financial need.
  2. Policy Insights Conference – 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. Engage with California’s policy community and share innovative ideas and strategies for creating a more inclusive state. Tickets from $75. 
  3. Creativity Speaks: Terra Lopez & Bryan (Abs One) Washington – 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Urban Hive, 1007 Seventh St. Come out for a night of engaging conversation led by Bryan (Abs One) Washington, a small business owner and community activist, and Terra Lopez, a South Sacramento creative. Tickets are $15.
  4. The Gnarly & Friends Show – 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at 1414 16th St. Come out for a night of comedy and music presented by Kendrick Williams, Parker Newman and other guests. Three random attendees will have a chance to perform five-minute sets. Tickets from $5.
  5. Foster Youth Luggage Drive & Fundraiser – 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Cal Expo main gate. Join Myndz Resources Foundation in making a meaningful impact in the lives of foster children by providing them suitcases and bags for their belongings.
  6. Dance Theatre of Harlem – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, 523 Mrak Hall Drive, Davis. The 18-member, multiethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and new artistic director Robert Garland, and innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Tickets from $30.
  7. Say It Loud Comedy Show – 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club. Headlined by Ricco da Great, this comedy ensemble features performances from Javon Whitlock, Michael Calvin Jr., Sedric Drake and Marcian Evans. Tickets are $20.
  8. Mother’s Outlet Support Group – 10 a.m.-noon Friday, April 19, via Zoom. Mother’s Outlet is a support group for new (0-12 months) and soon-to-be mothers. Hosted by experienced educators and moms, this free, drop-in group allows you a time and space to connect with other new parents around all the changes and challenges of the first few months of your baby’s life. Free, please email SMCSChildbirthEd@sutterhealth.org for assistance.
  9. Reparation Conversations – 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, April 19, via livestream. This event aims to foster community engagement, provide valuable information, and collect surveys, with a primary focus on the active participation of Sacramento’s Black/African American community in discussions about city-level reparations. In line with this event, the mayor’s office would like to hear from you. Participate by completing this survey: bit.ly/SacReparationsSurvey. Watch the live broadcast on YouTube via Zion Utopia Media, Facebook via Zion.Taddese and Instagram via Taddesezion. Free and open to the public.
  10. A Motown Celebration with Chester Gregory – 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts. A musical tribute featuring some of Motown’s greatest hits by legendary artists such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, and many others. Singer and Broadway extraordinaire Chester Gregory also shares his experiences meeting Motown legends. Tickets from $30.
  11. Smokey Robinson – 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and 9 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Cache Creek Casino, 14455 Highway 16, Brooks. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson’s career spans over four decades of hits, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “More Love,” “Tears of a Clown” (co-written with Stevie Wonder), “I Second That Emotion,” “Just to See Her,” “Quiet Storm,” “Cruisin’,” and “Being with You,” among others. Tickets from $75.
  12. United Way’s United in Purpose Gala – 5-10 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Memorial Auditorium. This event raises funds toward United Way’s anniversary goal to raise $3 million to help 10,000 local children excel in school by 2025. The evening includes dinner, keynote presentations, fund a need, silent and live auctions, a raffle and more. This is a black tie event. Tickets from $175.
  13. Artist Workshop: Shonna McDaniels – Noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Crocker Art Museum. Create a mixed-media piece inspired by recent works from professional artist and founder and director of the Sojourner Truth Art Museum, Shonna McDaniels. Experiment with color mixing and practice techniques to learn the basics of acrylic painting, from complementary colors to tints and shades. Paint an acrylic work on canvas and use a variety of three-dimensional materials to transform your painting into a mixed-media masterpiece. Participants must provide some supplies. Tickets from $125.