City elder Rev. Gil Caldwell is most known as a civil rights activist; marching along Rev. Martin Luther King Jr who he first met in 1958, having been jailed for publicly supporting equal rights, and being turned away from a Pennsylvania hotel during his honeymoon with wife Grace. The retired United Methodist Church minister, who […]

Saturday’s Universal African Heritage Festival marked the return of a cultural celebration that left the city close to 20 years ago, said founder BiBi Bennett, a special needs educator in the Asbury Park School District. “This was something I felt needed to come back to the community, especially for the children,” Bennett said. “I find […]

Feed Your Soul Konscious Youth Development and Service [KYDS], a holistic youth support nonprofit, will host an information session from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Monday at Kula Café, located at 1201 Springwood Ave. The event is being held to garner volunteers and support for program facilitation, events, marketing, administration and social media. The event […]

KYDS June Events The Konscious Youth Development & Service [KYDS] monthly lineup of events are aimed at nourishing the body, mind and soul. The 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday June 12 & 19 Mindful Meditations offer a place to reset peace and balance. This month’s 5:30 to 9 p.m. June 24 One Mic One Soul […]

A couple local legends, burgeoning talents and performing artists from across the Garden State turned out Saturday night for KYDS Soulful Showcase benefit at Danny Clinch Transparent gallery in The Asbury on Fifth Avenue. “Thank you for welcoming me,” local blues man Stringbean said before performing a couple folk and reggae based songs. The event […]

Unsung heroes of throughout Monmouth County were honored Friday during the 32nd annual Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner, held at the Sheraton Eatontown hotel. The Brookdale Community College distinguish is given to professionals, community leaders, volunteers and activists for their often selfless and unheralded work. Named in honor of the late Wilbur Ray [at right], former […]

Konscious Youth Development and Service [KYDS] has quickly established itself as a city staple, growing its holistic youth programs organically. In the two years since Monmouth University graduates Mychal Mills, 29, of Neptune [below left] and Rodney Salomon, 29, of Marlboro [below right], launched the nonprofit’s open mic night entitled ‘One Mic One Soul’ at Kula […]

One year ago Monmouth University graduates [shown above] Mychal Mills and Rodney Salomon, both 28, set out to combat some of the things that can plague urban neighborhoods. Be it poverty, crime, gangs, drug abuse or alcoholism, the pair quietly took a holistic approach to what has become an increasingly popular Open Mic Night at […]