Join us to celebrate Earth Day with a little Magic in East Harlem with Moroccan tea and music!

Let’s stay curious about each other, be mindful of the way we live, and stay hopeful. It is our fortune to connect as human beings on this one EARTH we have.

The gathering features Odes to Common Things poetry writing led by Robin Lampman, Moroccan Tea by Nizar Gartit, and music by Innov Gnawa.

Free event. All are welcome.

The garden will be open from noon. Stop by to say hi and join the sustainable ups-cycled art workshop hosted by Maggie founder of Maggies Magic Garden.

Meet Maggie:

Maggie, founder of Maggie’s Magic Garden, immigrated from Bolivia to the United States over 35 years ago. Since then, she has cultivated a community in East Harlem around the premise of nature and health. A passionate advocate for green spaces across the city, Maggie continues her work with unwavering dedication—as a tribute to the earth she has been deeply connected to through her life.

Meet Innov Gnawa:

Innov Gnawa at Summer Tea 2021, Photo by Kristina Clark

Based in New York, Innov Gnawa carries on the ancestral heritage of the musical tradition in Morocco. The Grammy-nominated group is led by Maalem Hassan Benjaafar along with Amino Belyamani, and Ahmed Jeriouda. Guembri, a three-stringed African bass, is played and accompanied by the qraqebs, metal castanets that represent the shackles and chains of slaves, and also singing chorus responses.

Gnawa music is a spiritual tradition rooted in Morocco’s ancient history. Often referred to as “Sufi Blues”, Gnawa’s African influence originated from West African slaves brought to Morocco centuries ago. Not unlike blues music in the American South, Gnawa music is revered throughout Morocco as treasured indigenous soul music.

“ The spirit of Gnawa is people.” - Maalem Hassan Benjaafar

Meet Nizar Gartit:

Nizar Gartit at Spring Blossom 2023. Photo by Katie Gee Salisbury

Nizar is a Moroccan culture advocate and the founder of the Women's Museum of Marrakech, the first institution in Morocco and North Africa dedicated to showcasing the history, culture, and creativity of Moroccan women.

His passion for preserving Moroccan heritage goes beyond museum walls. Nizar brings traditional practices to international audiences, notably through Moroccan tea ceremonies he leads in New York City. These gatherings offer a sensory experience rooted in ritual and hospitality, allowing people to connect with Moroccan culture in a deeply personal way.

In the contemporary art world, Nizar has emerged as a significant curator, with a portfolio that spans photography, painting, and multimedia installations. His exhibitions provide platforms for both emerging and established artists, encouraging artistic dialogue and celebrating diversity in expression.

Through his wide-ranging initiatives—blending tradition, innovation, and social impact—Nizar reflects a blend of vision and rootedness, all driven by a deep belief in the power of culture to connect and inspire.

Meet Robin Lampman:

Robin Lampman at Spring Tea 2024. Photo by Katie Gee Salisbury

Robin is a published poet and an educator with 35 years of experience teaching in universities, high schools, and elementary schools. She has a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education and has taught literature in two languages in the public schools in New Mexico, Texas, and New York as well as at the University of Monterrey in Mexico and the American School of Madrid in Spain. She has also taught English as a Second Language to adults at the University of Texas in Austin and at the El Paso Community College in El Paso. Texas.

She produced a volume of poetry by eighth graders in East Harlem which was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and published by the Big Read. For the last several years she has been teaching writing classes for The Noble Maritime Collection. She developed and taught an adult class on Poetic Forms and taught classes on the reading and writing of literature in two languages.

Robin

is Editor in Chief of Unspoken Word, an online international literary magazine, and she is Director of Poetry and Tea for Tea Arts and Culture.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Poster designed by Vaughn Nicholds