SOMA Living December 2022

SOPAC

SOPAC SOUTH ORANGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

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A SEASON FOR CIVILITY

NEFESH MOUNTAIN The Hanukkah Show wed, deC 21 At 7:30PM

What does this December holiday season bring for you and your family? For some, this season is about gratitude. It’s about supporting causes aligned with the kind of positive impact we want to make in the world. For others, it’s a season of celebration with family and friends, faith holidays and traditions, or simply celebrating life with an exceptional meal together at one of our terrific SOMA restaurants. I encourage you to shop locally owned businesses and also include a night out with a transformational live cultural experience at SOPAC or the Burgdorff Cultural Center. This season is always one for reflection: reflection that leads to setting intentions for the new year to come. And this holiday season, I’m reflecting on a hope I find myself harboring more and more - The hope for a collective embrace of civility. I don’t recall exactly when civility began to leave the public square. But somewhere along the way, our collective ability to disagree respectfully and have healthy civic conversations declined. Social media hasn’t always been especially helpful, nor has national political debate. Twitter may flame out and our democracy may be imperiled; social media may provoke bad behaviors while simple disagreements escalate into rapid fire cancelling – but only if we allow it to do so. This holiday season, as we support SOMA small business and culture, come together, and celebrate, I hope we also take a moment to commit ourselves again to practicing civility. It’s up to each of us, as individuals, to practice a kind of civic engagement. One that centers respect, curiosity, kindness, and care, to build the kind of SOMA community and culture we want and need.

SONS OF SereNdiP Christmas: Beyond the Lights wed, deC 7 At 7:30PM A rOCkAPeLLA hOLidAy A Legendary tradition Fri, deC 9 At 8PM ANN hAMPtON CALLAwAy & Liz CALLAwAy Broadway the Calla-way! SAt, deC 10 At 8PM

CheriSh the LAdieS A Celtic Christmas SUN, deC 11 At 7:30PM Sweet hONey iN the rOCk holiday Show SAt, deC 17 At 8PM rUSSeLL thOMPkiNS Jr. & the New StyLiStiCS Fri, JAN 20 At 8PM

SOPACnow.org (973) 313-2787

Visit SOPACnow.org/Covid-19 for all Covid-19 Precautions & Policies

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Stephen Beaudoin is Executive Director of SOPAC, the South Orange Performing Arts Center, and a proud Maplewood resident. His twenty-plus year career focuses on democratizing art and fostering revolutionary creativity. He can be reached at stephen@sopacnow.org.

DECEMBER 2022 | SOMA LIVING 21

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