Metro Briefs April 26

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s 2012 edition of Performing Arts Camp, for kids entering grades 4 to 9, will be held June 18 to July 13, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Robinson Building, Squirrel Hill.

Young performers will hone their craft with expert faculty and theater arts professionals as they produce the show, “Once on This Island.” They will learn and rehearse in a pre-professional setting that includes instruction in acting, dance and voice, and skill-building workshops led by experts including Tomé Cousin, Broadway dancer/choreographer; Raymond Ejiofor, August Wilson Dance Company; and Sean Rolly, professional fight choreographer.

Faculty includes Mary Chess Randolph, director of the BFA Point Park, Actors Civic Theater; Kathy Wayne, choreographer and camp director at BA Dance, Point Park and Tokyo Disneyland; Harrison Wayne, a musical theater major at Baldwin-Wallace College; Brittany Dorazio, a musical theater major at Point Park; Paul Kolas, an independent music artist; and Sarah Kennedy, a CAPA dance major.

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Performances will be held at the JCC, Thursday, July 12, at 7 p.m. and Friday, July 13, at 2 p.m. A special performance will be held at Pittsburgh’s SouthSide Works, Saturday, July 7.

The deadline for registration is Friday, May 4; there is a charge.

Contact Kathy Wayne at 412-521-8011, ext. 373, or kwayne@jccpgh.org for more information, and Lauren Grinstein, 412-521-8011, ext. 852, or lgrinstein@jccpgh.org to register.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s Career Development Center will offer job seekers 16 workshops in May.

Some of the workshops address magnetic resumes, unemployment benefits, networking, getting a second interview and transitioning to success and LinkedIn for beginners and advanced users.

Registrations may be completed at careerdevelopmentcenter.org. Call the Career Development Center at 412-422-5627 for more information.

Pre-Shavuot Spring Seniors Luncheon will be held Wednesday, May 16, noon, at the Chabad of the South Hills, 1701 McFarland Road, Mt. Lebanon. There is a suggested donation. Contact Barb at 412-278-2658 or barb@chabadsh.com to register.

The Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee’s Christian-Jewish Dialogue will meet Thursday, May 3, noon, at Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon St.

The session’s topic is “Creation and Evolution: Can Religion and Science Complement Each Other,” presented by Rabbi James Gibson and Father Dan Valentine. Jewish and Christian texts (Isaiah 42:5-7, 45:11-17, Psalm 8; Revelation 4:11, 1 Corinthians 13:12) will be studied.

The program is free to the public. Contact the PAJC office at 412-605-0816 or at pajc@pajc.net for more information.

The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University will host the founder of the Darfur Project, Christine Ward, as part of its Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series, Friday, May 11, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the James Laughlin Music Center on the University’s Shadyside Campus.

Ward is the founder and CEO of Rockflower, an organization that seeks to connect large funders in developed nations with organizations investing in women and girls in underdeveloped nations, to address some of the world’s economic and social challenges.

In her presentation, “Social Entrepreneurs: How women and girls can solve economic and social challenges,” Ward will discuss her path to creating Rockflower, which focuses on maternal and reproductive health, safety and security, education, economic empowerment, and access to water and food.

There is a charge for admission, which includes a continental breakfast and networking session, which precede the presentation. Call 412-365-1253 for more information.

Kollel Jewish Learning Center, Women’s Division, will present a program, “Invest in Yourself” — a series of three educational panels designed to teach ways to care for one’s self and families, Sunday, April 29, at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

The courses deal with care for the elderly, physical health management and discipline at every development level. The day runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Massages are available for a charge.

Contact Shelly Itskowitz at 412-420-0220, ext. 208, or at itskowitz@kollelogh.org for more information.

The Squirrel Hill Historical Society will hold its next program, “Marcellus Shale: History, Production Methods and Current Issues,” Tuesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. Daniel Bain, professor of geology and planetary science at the University of Pittsburgh, will be the guest speaker.

Contact Mike at 412-417-3707 or visit squirrelhillhistory.org for more information.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will hold its 2012 Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest for teens. Open to all high school students (grades nine through 12) in Allegheny County, the contest is an opportunity for teens to showcase their writing talents, improve skills and have their work published in an anthology which will be distributed to all area libraries. Monetary prizes will be awarded for first ($250) and second ($100) place entries in three categories: poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction blog entry.

To enter the contest, teens must submit their original poetry or prose by May 7. All entries must be submitted electronically to teens@carnegielibrary.org with “Ralph Munn Entry” in the subject line. For complete contest rules and a list of last year’s winners visit carnegielibrary.org/teens.