Pennsylvania Honors Neo-Pop Artist Keith Haring with Historical Marker

On October 11th, the Kutztown Area Historical Society (KAHS) and Lehigh University’s South Side Initiative (SSI) unveiled a historical marker dedicated to Keith Haring, a renowned Neo-Pop artist and activist who grew up in Kutztown, PA. The historical marker program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which approved a marker to honor…

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Best of Summer 2024: Celebrating Lehigh Valley Pride

Looking back at summer 2024, Southsider is reflecting on the events that offered the Lehigh Valley community the best opportunities for connection and celebration. Lehigh Valley Pride provided locals with this chance. On Sunday August 18th, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Center hosted Lehigh Valley Pride at SteelStacks. The event brought together locals in an effort to…

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A Religious Commitment to Affordable Housing: First Presbyterian Church’s Land Development Initiative

Bethlehem First Presbyterian Church is a community attentive to the lack of affordable housing in our city. Church leaders are exploring the use of their property to address this problem. Late last year, Church leaders shared their idea to develop approximately 32 acres of land owned by the church to create housing at a variety…

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Best of Summer 2024: Juneteenth Lehigh Valley

In reflecting on the Lehigh Valley’s community events of summer 2024, Southsider wanted to highlight the Juneteenth celebration that took place in Easton. The Juneteenth parade was celebratory and educational. It also brought together the entire Lehigh Valley community for an unforgettable day. On the afternoon of Sunday June 16th, the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley organization hosted…

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Exploring the LGBTQ+ Community Oral History Project: Spotlight on Sandy Mesics

The Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive collects materials that document the contributions of LGBTQIA+ community members to the region. Since 2016, archivists have collected materials from regional LGBTQIA+ political organizations and leaders, publications, businesses like bars, and cultural events like Lehigh Valley Pride. In addition, archivists have begun to collect oral histories from  LGBTQIA+ residents…

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Annual “Homecoming” Event, Festival Unbound

On October 2nd, Touchstone Theatre hosted their annual “Homecoming” event as part of Festival Unbound 2020. In some ways celebration, in other ways a touchpoint for resistance, this event highlighted local Black voices of the Lehigh Valley. The event included local musicians and artists, as well as poetry readings and opportunities to engage in activism…

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