The Cora A. Thomas Gospel Extravaganza will be held Sunday, April 19, at Bethany Baptist Church. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event starts at 4:30 p.m. The concert will welcome Fred Hammond, a solo artist and founder of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned. Hammond has sold over 8 million albums and he has frequently been on the top of Billboard's Gospel Charts. Event is co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, The Thomas Family, The Gifford Foundation, WAER and Power 620. For more information, contact Cedric Bolton at (315) 443-9676 or email ctbolton@syr.edu.

Jubilee Homes Entrepreneur Workshop Series will kickoff its first workshop, "Is it time to start a business?" Tuesday, April 21, presented by Carolyn Evans-Dean. This two-day workshop will help individuals to determine if they are ready to start a business and what they need to have a chance at operating a successful business. Participants will have the opportunity to receive referrals for business plan assistance, microloans, commercials space for lease or purchase, business credit start up and much more! Participants also will have first option to pre-register for upcoming workshops in this series. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call (315) 428-0070.

Jubilee Homes Entrepreneur Workshop Series will continue Thursday, April 23, presented by Carolyn Evans-Dean. This two-day workshop will help individuals to determine if they are ready to start a business and what they need to have a chance at operating a successful business. Participants will have the opportunity to receive referrals for business plan assistance, microloans, commercials space for lease or purchase, business credit start up and much more! Participants also will have first option to pre-register for upcoming workshops in this series. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call (315) 428-0070.

Comedy for a Cure will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Palace Theatre. Cost is $15 in advance; $20 at the door; ticket proceeds go toward American Diabetes Association. Opening act is Justin ‘Chocobear’ Jackson, winner of Syracuse Funnybone’s Clash of Comics; with headliners CJ Burney, voted ABC’s “The View” Funniest Person Contest 2014, and KD the Comic, a Syracuse native and NASCAR host. For mature audiences only. For more info., call KD Productions Entertainment at (804) 482-0537.

8th annual Crawfish Clam Fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 2 in Clinton Square.

Music Schedule for the fest:
11:15 - 12:15 Slow Train
12:30 - 2 :00 Los Blancos
2:15 - 3:30 C'est Bon Cajun Dance Band
3:45 - 5:15 Soul Risin'
5:30 - 7:00 The Fabulous Ripcords

Bethany Baptist Church Youth Activities Team and Pretty Girls Rock, Simply Because They Have Mentoring Program, are organizing a bus trip to Roy Wilkins Park in Queens for the 20th UniverSoul Circus on Saturday, May 9. UniverSoul Circus is a circus for all ages. Learn more at www.universoulcircus.com and click on "Our Show." Cost is $75 per person. Cost includes a seat on a coach bus and admission ticket to the circus only. For more information and to reserve a seat, call (315) 391-6592. A Non-refundable deposit of $50 is due by Friday, April 3. Final $25 payment is due by Friday, April 24.

Big Rig Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 at Burnet Park. Admission is free. Slated to be on hand that day will be the Wienermobile, the GameTruck®, a Humvee from the 174th Attack Wing, trucks from the City of Syracuse fleet and other companies throughout the area. Other activities; refreshments for sale. Sponsored in part by: Price Chopper, C&S Cos. and Total Care. Call (315) 473-4330 for more information.

Join the Center for Court Innovation for an open house at the Near Westside Peacemaking Center. Come see the group's new space in the heart of the Near Westside neighborhood. Enjoy food and music, and see what the neighborhood is talking about. To RSVP, email halleronk@courtinnovation.org or call (315) 266-4330.

The NAACP's 2015 Awards Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 14, at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool. Keynote Speaker will be the former Police Chief Dennis Duval. Reception & Silent Auction at 6 p.m. followed by ceremony at 7 p.m.