In a Juneteenth celebration of the arts and freedom, Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center (CHACC) marked 10 years of creating space for Black artists to thrive with a fundraising gala themed Soufside Strong: Survival by Design.
Held at the Old Congress Heights School, at 3100 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, the event was not only centered around CHACCs decade of service, but highlighted the wealth of local artists particularly from Southeast D.C. who are using their art toward positive change.
Keyonna Jones, founder and executive director of Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, said she has seen a further appreciation for the arts in her hometown with CHACC being part of that shift.
Nobody respected the arts, especially not in Southeast, Jones, a proud Southeast, D.C. native, told The Informer.
As she walked through the space, taking in the artists, Jones shared her journey from youth to achieving 10 years and counting with CHACC.
I grew up kind of being a weirdo, just being different, and not having a space… there wasnt anything around me to tell me I was an artist and not a weirdo, said. It was the little girl in me that needed this space to feel and be, and be safe being myself. So, I created a home for [myself].
As she watched the District begin to further embrace the arts and local artists, she said a big moment came when she helped create Black Lives Matter mural in Northwest D.C., which was recently removed due to conservative pressure and threats. That experience made her realize that the city was finally beginning to understand the power of Black art.
Thats when I saw the transition, she said, during the celebration held at what is now a satellite campus for the University of the District of Columbia. Sometimes we dont get the recognition we deserve, but people find you.
The event furthered that recognition.
From the moment guests arrived, the energy was high. Black Owned businesses lined the entrance, showcasing everything from handmade jewelry and clothing to candles and art.
Inside, there was a buzz of excitement, amplified by the powerful presence of local musicians, visual artists, and creators who were honored throughout the night. The electrifying Experience Band set the tone with a high-energy performance that had the crowd moving.
Its a great honor to be able to come to a neighborhood with your people, give them the joy of our music, of our culture, and just be involved with each other, said band member Travis The Trombone King Gardner.
D.C. resident Mia Evans, who was working the event, said she makes a point of being part of the annual Juneteenth arts celebration.
I know there are a lot of events, but this is my third time doing this, said Evans. It’s a really good community.
Preserving Culture and Traditions Through the Arts
With free food, drinks, live painting, character drawings, and opportunities to support a wide range of Black owned businesses, the evening allowed guests to mingle, dance, and celebrate the past, present, and future of Southeast, D.C.
Imani K. Brown, a proud D.C. native and founder of Black Tattoo Anthology, was proud to be vending at the 10th anniversary celebration as she is on a mission to uplift Black tattoo culture, while opening doors for the next generation of artists.
Black Tattoo Anthology is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the culture, the history, and passing down the tradition of tattooing to Black people who want to enter the industry, Brown told The Informer.
Her work focuses on creating access in an industry that often lacks representation and equity.
We raise money and gather resources for people who want to learn how to tattoo, she said, so they have a way in.
Brown is all about art and opportunity. She wants artists to figure out how to make money off of art, and also support those who want to learn how to tattoo.
Beyond her work, Brown holds a deep love for the city that raised her. She said her favorite part of D.C. is the hidden culture so literally the parts that were actually losing. Through her nonprofit and her presence, Brown is working to keep that hidden culture visible and alive.
Trey Wilkes, originally from Thomasville, North Carolina, showed how grateful he was for the opportunity to paint live for the audience and show off his artwork as part of Soufside Strong.
It feels like playing football in high school, said Wilkes. People come out, and you just show your skill and your gift. God gave me this talent, and doing it around people who look like me, thats always a plus.
Jones Talks the Future of CHACC, Legacy
While celebrating the past decade, Jones is already dreaming about whats next for CHACC.
She spoke about two exciting visions. The first is an art supply store right in the neighborhood, so artists dont have to travel across town for materials. The other is a bit more ambitious: artist housing.
Artist housing has been a dream of mine, she said. Like a living and creating space, something that lets artists live, work, and grow all in one place.
For now, Jones hopes that the message of CHACC is clear: the power of generational legacy.
I want them to see what legacy looks like, and what it can look like, she said.
Jones credits much of her drive and vision to her father, Phinis Jones, who once lived in the very same building that houses CHACC today.
I wouldnt have any of these opportunities if it werent for my father. He came from almost nothing, but he moved here and built everything, she said. You can start from where folks left off and then make your own from it.