Looking ahead, make plans to attend the 10 annual Gift Raps Hip-Hop Giveback show for fans of the Oklahoma City hip-hop community and those who want to make a difference for those in need this holiday season.
Performers include Jabee, a three-time Emmy Award-winning music artist and community booster; and Oklahoma City-area hip-hop artists Original Flow, Willis Writer, Chloe Hart and Dezzy.
Gift Raps is happening on Dec. 27 in partnership with LiveFree OKC and OK City Center, as a news release states. The show starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. at Resonant Head, 400 SW 25, Sweet A, in Oklahoma City. Admission is free with a donation of toys, socks, gloves or nonperishable food items, the release noted. People also can buy tickets for $5 at resonanthead.com.
"Gift Raps is more than just a hip-hop show; it's a way for us to come together as a community and give back," stated Jabee Williams, founder of the event, in the news release. "We want to spread hope and provide tangible support to families who need it most, especially during the holidays."
LiveFree OKC and the OK City Center will collect and distribute the donations. LiveFree works to reduce violence and support families affected by community violence; the OK City Center provides essential services like food, clothing and sheltered to underserved people in the area.
Everyone is sparkling this December, and it's been fun to stop by a few of your community events while I was On the Town! In the last week, those included:
- The President's Christmas celebration at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City, hosted by OMRF President Andy Weyrich and his wife, Amy. Guests stopped by OMRF's festive Research Tower after work to mingle and enjoy the space decorated for the holidays. I love OMRF's mission to conduct biomedical research in Oklahoma, and its important work brings research dollars and researchers to this state. It is focused on understanding and curing human disease in research, as its website notes, and it's always great to toast the people who support this important work. For information go to org.
- Wilspec Technologies, Inc., celebrated its 25 anniversary kickoff holiday-style with a party at City & State Venue & Events hosted by founder and President Larry Wilhelm and his wife, Ashlie Wilhelm, the company's human resources manager. Wilspec designs and manufactures custom electronic sensors and controls for industrial applications worldwide, like parts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems, worldwide and is based in Oklahoma City. Learn more at wilspec.com.
If you haven't seen it already, I recommend checking out the relatively new City & State event venue at 19 NE 6 in Oklahoma City. Every event I have been to there has been unique and intimate in this former 1920s automotive garage - you can sit booth-style in one room or enjoy a large room or a patio, all separately. For information about the venue, go to cityandstateokc.com.