Annual exhibit: The opening for New Urban Arts’ annual exhibit featuring its 2006-07 artist mentors is tonight from 5 to 7 at 743 Westminster St.

Each year, 15 artists volunteer at New Urban Arts to share their passion for creativity and the arts with high school students. The exhibition entitled, “Becoming the Change,” is free.

New Urban Arts serves 125 high school students through afterschool and summer programs each year.

An exhibit of large-scale student self-portraits will open Dec. 8, the night of the annual tree lighting ceremony at Providence City Hall.

Festival: The French-American School of Rhode Island’s 13th annual Beaujolais Festival, featuring food, wine and music by Manege a Trois, is tonight from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Proceeds will benefit the school’s financial aid fund.

For information, visit www.fasri.org and click on the Beaujolais icon or call the school at (401) 274-3325 or email admin@fasri.org

Fighting childhood obesity: Providence Head Start is promoting a healthy eating and exercise program called “GO KIDS!” at its Friendship School, 350 Point St. The program is geared toward 3- to 5-year-old children who are at risk for obesity and obesity related diseases.

Two Brown University students have volunteered to educate the children on such topics as “slow” foods and “go” foods and the importance of exercise. They present the information in a way that the children understand by using toys and games. The youngsters are given homework assignments in order to get their parents involved.

The students, Quincy Moore and Lauren Williams, have been working with the children since the beginning of the school year and anticipate that the program will continue throughout the rest of the year.

Grant: The Citizens Bank Foundation recently announced a $20,000 grant to underwrite the recent Latino Workforce and Development Breakfast.

The Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, in collaboration with several agencies and institutions, launched its first annual Latino Workforce Development Conference to create a venue where employers, employees, prospective employees and interested stakeholders can share information and coordinate strategies for job training and job placement in order to eliminate poverty in the Latino community. Rhode Island political candidates addressed the participant on issues that affect Latino communities.

For information about sponsorships or charitable giving, e-mail PublicAffairs_CommunityAffairs@citizensbank.com

Philharmonic Music School: The Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School will hold an open Jazz Jam for young musicians on Dec. 2 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. at Nathanael Greene Middle School.

The Jazz Jam, open to musicians in grades 7, 8 and 9, is conducted by Wendy Klein, chairwoman of the jazz department at the Music School and a professor at the Berklee College of Music. The Jazz Jam is an opportunity for student musicians to play and experience the jazz program at the Philharmonic Music School. All instruments are welcome, even those that are not traditionally played in the school jazz band.

Interested students should call the philharmonic at (401) 831-3123, ext. 33. to reserve their spot. The event is free.

Blood drives: The Rhode Island Blood Center has scheduled the following blood drives:

•Today – CCRI Liston Campus, atrium, One Hilton St., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; RISD, Upper Met, 55 Angell St., 1 to 7 p.m.

•Tomorrow – Italo-American Club of Rhode Island, 477 Broadway, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

•Tuesday – Rhode Island Department of Administration, conference room A, One Capitol Hill, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; St. Mary Home for Children, 420 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence, 1 to 4 p.m.

For information, call (800) 283-8385.

Benefit dinner: Rajiv Dahr, owner of Kabob ’n Curry Restaurant on Thayer Street, is sponsoring a benefit dinner on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. at his new restaurant, Rasoi, Cuisines of India, 727 East Ave., Blackstone Place Plaza, Pawtucket. Proceeds will benefit International House of Rhode Island, 8 Stimson Ave.

The four course dinner of salad, appetizer, main course with rice, naan, lentils, vegetables, choice of three entrées and dessert is $30, to be paid at the restaurant. Student price is $15.

Reservations are requested by Nov. 26. Call (401) 421-7181.

Ice skating season opens Tuesday: The Bank of America City Center’s ice skating rink will open for the season on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The rink will offer a variety of programs, including free skating for Providence residents on the first Saturday of each month.

General admission is $6; $3 for seniors and children under 12; $2 for school groups. Skate rental is $4. The rink will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The rink will be open Thanksgiving Day from 4 to 10 p.m.

The following events and programs have been scheduled:

•Skate with Santa, Dec, 9, 10 and 17, 2 to 5 p.m.

•Mayor’s free skating night, Dec. 8, 6 to 10 p.m., as part of the City Hall tree lighting and downtown holiday celebration. Includes figure skating demonstrations.

•College Night, every Wednesday, 6 to 10 p.m. Admission for college students is $3.

•Lunchtime Special, every weekday from noon to 2 p.m. Admission is $3; skate rental is $3.

•Afterwork Special, every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is $3; skate rental is $3.

•Skate with the Providence Bruins, schedule to be announced.

•Winter Carnival will be held in February.

For information about the skating rink, visit the Bank of America City Center Web site at www.providenceskating.com or call (401) 331-5544.