Social Art and Culture 2023 theme: Creativity is an economy. We strive to lead the new narrative around how we invest in the creative economy: A new economic sustainable framework invests in artisans and its culture.

The 2023 Summit will resume with 175 creative entrepreneurs from DC, MD, and VA learning how to combine their visions for creating change through meaningful societal impact using venture capital concepts. Along with our 2023 collaborating partners, We Act Radio, CECS's vision is to offer the resources for creative entrepreneurs to finance their goals for short- and long-term projects.

Friday, April 28, 2023 | 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Eaton 1201 K Street | Beverly Snow Room

Registration and details

The Environmental Justice Forum will be a panel of expert speakers from multiple environmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, creators, artists, and community/grassroots leaders to speak about the work being done to bring community resilience, awareness, resources, education, projects,  programs, and programs to communities affected by environmental injustice affecting underserved and marginalized communities. 

May 18, 2023 | 3 pm - 8 pm ET

Reservoir Center for Water Solutions 

Registration Opens March 18th

Since 2014, this summer program has continued to afford ten marginalized college students [18-24 years] from Washington, DC, the opportunity to be exposed to different skills within independent media for six weeks in partnership with the DC Department of Employment Services. College students are paid hourly and work/train from 10 am - 3 pm, Monday - Thursday, with Friday field assignments. Alumni of the program have gone on to work for Discovery Channel, Radio One, Mayor Bowser, and Regal Entertainment.

Black L.U.V. Festival (love.unity.vision.) returns for its 26th anniversary on September 2, 2023.  The festival has been held in Washington, DC, since 1997. This FREE one-day cultural outdoor family event uses the cultural arts as a vehicle of social change to inform and enlighten communities of the Nation’s Capital on education, social injustice, innovation, healthcare, collective economics, and violence prevention in marginalized communities of color locally, domestically, and internationally. Black L.U.V. Fest 25 festivalgoers experienced the elements of art, music, literature, and technology as we celebrated “Afro-futurism” and combat anti-blackness.

The Future Leaders Design Institute launches as a pilot program for Social Art and Culture during the 2023 winter break in Washington, DC. The institute is a space that elevates the genius of often marginalized and neglected students of color between the ages of 11-14.  Some may see this age range as the most challenging student population, but where they see challenges, we see problem solvers, creators, and game changers.

Named in honor of the slain journalist, whose murder is still an open case, this bookstore is being built to fill the 25-year void of a bookstore in Anacostia while addressing the 50% illiteracy rate in this community.

Charnice Milton Community Bookstore (CMCB) operates at We Act Radio studios, 1918 MLK Ave, SE, and through pop-up locations around the city. Just down the street, we provide a used book section, with free books to young readers, within Busboys and Poets-Anacostia, one of the local group’s newer locations. Politics and Prose, one of DC’s oldest bookstores, supported our launch.