This snow storm and the city being shut down gave us some time to go through our files and dig up something that hopefully reminds you of warmer times, in community! Our last Pack Party was a special one and we appreciate everyone who was apart of making it a finale to remember. Performance by @tobbandandshow VHS footage and film photos by @the.k.in.cmyk Digital video by @eli_1223

PROOF OF LIFE BOOK Cover art by @the.k.in.cmyk Swipe to hear some insight from our Creative Director @nayion202 about the inspiration of the Book. Online NOW!

Excerpts from our conversation with @brit.just.paints Sometimes introductions are simple. Britt Just Paints. The southeast native is a visual self taught graffiti artist that often touches on subjects of race, politics, culture and her family history. In 2022 Britt landed a collaboration with the Washington Commanders, designing for their HBCU towel rally and showcasing her pieces at their stadium. In 2023, Britt had her first solo show titled “Street Code at Homme Gallery in D.C. We got a chance to visit her studio and discuss what fuels her work. Our full conversation can be found in our 100 page PROOF OF LIFE BOOK, which comes with every t-shirt and hoodie. PROOF OF LIFE merch is online now!

Excerpts from our conversation with @deedwyerjonts Dee Dwyer is a force of nature in Washington D.C. Her dynamic photography brings viewers directly into the streets of the city with intimate portraits or slices of life often based in Wards 7 and 8. Her work and direct relationship with community members has earned her the title of “The Visual Voice for the People.” While Dwyer’s work has graced the walls of The National Gallery of Art, The Phillips Collection, The National Building Museum and publications such as Vogue, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BET, and NPR, D.C. is her home base. In the summer of 2025, The Pack World had the opportunity to collaborate on Dwyer’s resurrected event, The @chocolatecityexperience . In our conversation with Dee, we spoke on how D.C. continues to inspire her, why community fuels her work, and the importance of documentation in the current climate of the city. Our full conversation can be found in our 100 page PROOF OF LIFE BOOK, which comes with every t-shirt and hoodie. PROOF OF LIFE merch is online now!

Photographs are one of our greatest examples of Proof of Life. Not only are they an opportunity to preserve a memory, photographs serve as a tool of expression. In D.C., there is no greater snapshot in time than the “booth photo.” These photographs give viewers the context clues of past trends in fashion, music, and widespread culture. We sat down with friend of the brand Nate Perkins, a D.C. native who lived through the gogo era of the 80’s and 90’s to share some of his favorite memories of the past, and why it was also so important to always grab a photo when you step out. The full conversation can be found in our 100 page PROOF OF LIFE, which is included with every hoodie and tshirt. PROOF OF LIFE merch is online now!

Excerpts from our conversation with @tyhobsonpowelldc Ty Hobson-Powell is no stranger to advocacy efforts in Washington D.C. In 2020 he was on the frontlines of several protests movements, and organized several demonstration and community resource efforts over the years. As someone who graduated high school at age 13 and received his master’s degree at age 17, Ty is no stranger to being looked upon as a thought leader within the city. But as he ages, Hobson-Powell is assessing how he can make the biggest impact going forward. In the summer of 2025, he released his book, The Fire Right Now: A Defiant Call to Reclaim Power and Redefine Progress. In our conversation, Ty shares why community serves as a core tenet in his advocacy. The full conversation can be found in our PROOF OF LIFE book. PROOF OF LIFE is online now! Each item comes with our 100 page PROOF OF LIFE book, where we interviewed community members across DC about what fuels their work across the city. Profile photographs by a78759 Polaroids by  @nayion202

Excerpts from our conversation with Keyonna Jones. Keyonna Jones is a mutli-dimensional artist who wears many hats on the Soufside of Washington D.C. Her work often marries art with community advocacy, and the Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, which celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2025, serves as her homebase to bring cultural opportunities to Wards 7 and 8. If you’ve been to Sycamore and Oak, you may have stopped by her store Soufside Creative. We first met Keyonna when we interviewed her for our Pack Express newspaper project in 2022. Since then, we’ve been a first hand witness to how she wears her heart on her sleeve within her community. In our conversation, she shared a bit about her purpose and her love for the city. The full conversation can be found in our PROOF OF LIFE book. PROOF OF LIFE is online now! Each item comes with our 100 page PROOF OF LIFE book, where we interviewed community members across DC about what fuels their work across the city. Profile photographs by a78759 Polaroids by @nayion202

PROOF OF LIFE In 1943, Southwest D.C held a deep divide of wealthy and poor residents, separated on opposite sides of what is known today as Fourth Street SW. Godfrey Frankel, a social worker who made a hobby of photography explored these alleyways with his camera, capturing the harsh realities of Black life that were merely steps away from the powers of the United States Capitol. It wasn’t until 1995 that Frankel landed a book deal for his collection of photographs, ‘In the Alleys.’ Frankel died the same year PROOF OF LIFE is online now! Tshirts and hoodies will be available for purchase. Every items comes with our exclusive 100 page PROOF OF LIFE book that highlights community members in D.C. who are keeping are culture alive and present. Photography by @districtofkluse and @nayion202 Model: @montstrosity

Our first pop-up for PROOF OF LIFE will be Saturday December 13 from 7pm to 9pm at @thevillage.dc 1325 5th St NE DC Suite G2 Reshare and tag @thepack.world for to enter our giveaway for a PROOF OF LIFE book PROOF OF LIFE t-shirts and hoodies will be available for purchase, along with Chocolate City Hoodies, hats and DC Flag snapbacks. Each PROOF OF LIFE shirt and hoodies come with a copy of our 100 page book featuring original artwork from @thekincymk and photography from @a78759 Essays by @distictofkluse and @nayion202 As well as our conversations with: Imani Shanklin Roberts (@imaniniasr ) Dee Dwyer (@deedwyerjonts ) Ty Hobson Powell (@tyhobsonpowelldc ) Keyonna Jones (@kayemjay6 ) Brandon Starkes (@thepeoplesmarketdmv ) Britnee Scott (@brit.just.paints ) Commodity (@commoditys.goods )

Excerpt from our conversation with Brandon Starkes, founder of @thepeoplesmarketdmv When Brandon Starkes launched The People’s Market in 2022, his goal was to create more opportunities for Black farmers and other historically underrepresented groups. Ultimately he wanted to recirculate dollars back into local communities while introducing better eating habits. Three years later, he’s made great progress toward achieving that goal, and gained a community within the food industry in the region. The food delivery service sends fresh produce to your doorstep using his growing network of local farmers in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. As The People’s Market has grown, he’s developed his community through a series of weekend farmers markets at @black.and.forth and @shanklinhall . The People’s Market now services residents in all of Prince George’s County, D.C., most of Montgomery County, Arlington, Alexandria, as well as Baltimore. In 2023, we got the opportunity to design merch for The People’s Market, and it’s been amazing to see the progress of the movement in two short years. We visited Brandon at his warehouse and asked a few questions about what inspires him to serves the communities here. Our full conversation can be found in our latest clothing capsule Proof of Life, featuring our 100 page book highlighting community member across the district. PROOF OF LIFE is online now! Shot/edited by @nayion202 on #super8film and vhs Photography stills from @districtofkluse and @nayion202

Excerpts of our conversation with Imani Shanklin Roberts. @shanklinhall located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington D.C., has made a name for itself as one of the hubs of Black creativity in the city. They have played host to several specialized events, art shows, or just good ole fashion parties in D.C. Imani Shanklin Roberts is one of the five co-founders of this institution. Her background as an artist and art therapist have helped develop Shanklin Hall’s distinctive interior design and the art that dons its walls. Roberts has curated those inner walls of the space through her open art calls and creative-in-residence program, which gives an artist the opportunity to curate a wall within the building. When we got a chance to talk with Imani, Shanklin Hall was on the verge of opening their long anticipated newly renovated upstairs. In our conversation she shares how family, community, and the Black experience of growing up in D.C. drive her purpose. The full conversation can be found in our upcoming Proof of Life Book, which will be included with each t-shirt or hoodie within this collection. PROOF OF LIFE is available on our site now! Profile photographs by a78759 Polaroids by @nayion202

PROOF OF LIFE commercial starring @papbrady Audio is from Gil Scott Heron’s famous video in Washington D.C. explaining the difference between the city tourist see and the city the D.C. residents inhabit. Hoodies and T-shirts will be available for this project featuring our 100 page Proof of Life Book expanding on the concept. Each day for the next two weeks we’ll share an excerpt from this project. Release details for merch will be available soon! If you have a question, shoot us a DM! Shot/Edited on @kodak_shootfilm #super8film by @nayion202