These informal community meetings will be held on the last Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southside Interfaith CDC, 500 W. Newell St. Neighbors in McKinley Community and friends in other Syracuse neighborhoods and surrounding areas welcome. They provide the hot coffee; you provide the hot topics.

Can you build a “Peeps” nest out of jellybeans and toothpicks? Or make a car using only a balloon and a plastic egg? Come find out. For ages 5 and up.

A screening of Anthony Bourdain’s documentary “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 4. Light refreshments and finger foods will be served starting at 6 p.m. and the film will start at 6:30 p.m. A Q&A discussion will begin at 8 p.m. Sponsored by Sustainability Management at Syracuse University and OCRRA, the panelists for the evening will include: Shewa Shwani, formerly profiled in The Stand and who is president of the Food Recovery Network at ESF and SU; Melissa Cadwell,  sustainability coordinator for SU’s Sustainability Management, and Greg Gelewski, recycling operations manager for OCRRA. The screening will be held at Syracuse University’s Watson Theater; park at Booth Garage.

Participate in Days for Girls sewing/assembly event April 7 to help girls in Ghana — and around the world — stay in school. No sewing skills required. Training provided. You will be making quality sustainable feminine hygiene kits for girls living in poverty in Ghana and over 100 other countries, including the United States. Donations of fabric and supplies welcome. If you have a sewing machine, please bring it. For information about the event, contact Susan Keeter at (315) 439-0743 or keeters@upstate.edu For information about Days for Girls visit www.daysforgirls.org.

Joanne and Diane Shenandoah along with Joe Driscoll will come together for a musical fundraiser to benefit Joanne's medical expenses. A tax deductible donation of $20 is suggested. Concert will also include raffles and artwork for sale. 

Imani Winds, a  wind quintet, will perform newly-commissioned music and culturally-diverse works penned by its own members. Tickets are $25 regular, $20 seniors (65 and older), $15 under age 30, free for full-time students and holders of EBT/SNAP cards. Tickets available online or can be purchased at the door.

The Syracuse Poster Project will unveil its 17th annual poster series from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. The unveiling is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jim Emmons, project coordinator, at jim@posterproject.org, (315) 424-8099 or visit www.posterproject.org.

Thelikeminded Experience (formally known as Thelikeminded Launch Party) is a conglomerate of artistry and inventiveness geared towards entrepreneurs, creatives and revolutionaries to showcase their talents, products and services. This event connects vibrant artist and the small business community through expressions of music, art and wellness but most of all will spotlight good vibes and togetherness. Admission is $5.

The final Police Chief Search Community Input Session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 30th, at the CNY Philanthropy Center Ballroom. If you are not able to attend, you can take the Police Chief Survey at bit.ly/spdchiefsurvey.

Moving People Transportation Coalition will present a session on how the Community Grid will improve “traffic flow” for Syracuse drivers. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the program to start at 7 p.m. Topics to be discussed: Enhanced features of the Community Grid that will surprise you, The Myth of Massive Congestion & Other Mis-information and How to get from one place to another as easy or easier than before the Viaduct comes down. Presenters will use Official DOT “Big Boards” to display features and information.