'Black is Back' Confrence, Martial Arts Classes and More This Week

You can be a Join the volunteers at St. John’s Parish, 22 Mulberry St., at 9 am Aug. 18 to help feed the several hundred people who benefit the church’s soup kitchen.

The Black is Back annual conference will be held Aug. 18 from 10 am to 5:30 pm , and Aug. 19 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Alanon Club, 384 7th Ave., Newark. The topic of the conference is “Obama, the Elections and the Struggle for Justice, Peace and a Better Life.” Speakers include Lawrence Hamm of the People’s Organization for Progress and Glen Ford, senior editor of the Black Agenda Report.

City budget hearings continue this week. The Newark Municipal Council will meet with various department heads at city hall to discuss their individual spending plans. On tap Aug. 13, neighborhood services at 5 pm and child and family well-being at 6; on Aug. 15 the fire department at 5 and the mayor s office at 6; and on Aug. 16 the police department is discussed at 5 and the engineering department at 6pm.

The YMWCA of Newark, 600 Broad St., is offering classes in the martial art of aikido for kids aged 6 to 12 twice a week through the end of the year. Classes are held Wednesdays and Fridays. There’s also classes for persons aged 13 to 65. Call 973-624-8900 for more information.