The John P. “Top” Greene Center African American Cultural Center Launches Summer Programming to Celebrate African American Arts and Heritage
The John P.” Top” Greene African American Cultural Park launches its Summer 2025 program and events schedule. Created to celebrate the arts and heritage of the African American experience and provide humanities exposure to the community. Programs will provide workshops in creative writing and art, and museum talks with African American artists. New events such as musical events such as Jazz on the Greene will be featured alongside continuing workshops in genealogy.
Named after John P. “Top” Greene, a noted community leader, the center is a 1.32-acre park property located at 401 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard within the historic South Park neighborhood of southeast Raleigh. The Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board took up the petition at their November 21, 2024, board meeting following the procedure established by Resolution No. (2021) – 278 for park renaming.
The John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park is uniquely suited to fulfill the City of Raleigh, PRCR Department, and HRM Program strategic initiatives to increase programming in majority-minority neighborhoods and those connected to Raleigh’s unique African American heritage.
The John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park will serve as the fountainhead for the larger citywide initiative to identify and preserve historic and cultural assets within Southeast Raleigh communities; enhance those assets by making them more visible and accessible; fortify ongoing revitalization efforts of downtown Raleigh; engage residents and visitors alike with a unique community resource; and promote an appreciation of the area’s rich history and ongoing importance to Raleigh.
RSVP to these events by emailing Paul Baker at paul.baker2@raleighnc.gov
Program and Events Schedule - Summer 2025
- Rooted & Resilient Creative Writing Workshops
Facilitated by: Tiffany Wall - Tuesdays at 3 p.m.- Session 1: July 8
- Session 2: July 22
- Session 3: Aug. 5
- Session 4: Aug. 19
- Arts Workshops
Facilitated by: Georgia Tardy - Wednesdays at 4 p.m.- Session 1: July 23
- Session 2: August 6
- Session 3: August 20
- Genealogy Classes
Facilitated by Desi Campbell - Thursdays at 2 p.m.- Session 1: July 10
- Session 2: July 24
- Session 3: July 31
- Jazz on the Greene Music Event
Featuring Phenix Fire
Sunday, July 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. - Museum Mornings
Artist Talk with Shawn Etheridge and Delayna Robbins
Friday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m.