HumanitiesDC

🚇Grab your metro card and meet the HumanitiesDC board and staff at @metrobar on May 20! The Humanitini Happy Hour Fundraiser is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨ Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far! You can purchase a $25 ticket through the link our bio (includes food + entry). 🎟️ 🗓️ May 20 | 6:00–8:00 PM 📍 metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Ave NE #humanitini #happyhour #fundraiser #metrobar

📣 Breaking News: Writing the Future of Journalism in DC! 📣 Join HumanitiesDC to celebrate our fourth cohort of Community Journalism Program graduates, and for an engaging panel discussion on how journalism in DC is evolving and adapting to meet the moment. Our panelists will explore how journalism in DC is responding to the changes in the media landscape. 📅 Monday, May 18 │ 6:30 PM 📍 True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. NW 🎟️ Register at the ink in our bio! Featured Panelists: • Abigail Higgins, Co-founder and Managing Editor, @51stnews • Mike Schaffer, Full-time Host and Executive Editor, @citycast_dc • Harry Jaffe, Co-founder and President, @spotlight4dc Moderated by Kayla Hewitt, News Producer and Editor, @wamu885 This event is in partnership with the @realampress . Space is limited. Register today to secure your seat for this one of a kind celebration and discussion of local and community journalism! #journalism #communityjournalism #localnews #dcevents #washingtondc

Congratulations to our Cycle I Grantees! 🎉 This cycle, we are proud to support 41 projects through three grant categories: Community Culture & Heritage, DC Oral History Collaborative - Oral History Interviewing, and Visions - Projects + Events. Through these Community Grants, we will support efforts such as: the production of documentaries and digital storytelling by local creators; the preservation of neighborhood traditions and Washingtonians' memories through oral histories; the exploration of identity and civic advocacy through youth-centered projects; the appreciation of artistic expressions including music and dance, and the celebration of the District’s unique cultural heritage through literature and community festivals. We also want to show our appreciation for the expertise and dedication of our 83 volunteer grant reviewers–a record number for a single cycle. On average, our reviewers donated 20 hours of their time to the peer-review process. We look forward to checking back in on our grantees and sharing their work and the ways you can get involved or learn more. Stay tuned to learn more! #HumanitiesDC #CommunityGrants #WashingtonDC #Humanities #GranteeSpotlight

Our work is built on powerful partnerships and programs that amplify the voices of the city. Connect, learn, and celebrate with us this spring at an upcoming program or event! Tap the screen to pause and read or click the links in our bio to learn more and register. 5/1 - 5/2 - DC History Conference hosted by @dchistory 📚 5/2 - DC[FRAMEWORKS] in partnership with @dcdoxfest 🎬 5/6 - Writing the Future of Journalism in DC in partnership with @realampress ✍️ 5/20 - Humanitini Happy Hour Fundraiser with the HumanitiesDC board 🥂 5/28 - Audio Techniques for Oral History workshop with the DC Oral History Collaborative 🎙️ The collaborative is a partnership between HumanitiesDC and the @dcpubliclibrary . #dcevents #thingstodoindc #humanities #collaboration #springindc

Earlier this month, we gathered to celebrate the visionary work of our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage Grantees. We loved seeing so many members of our community come out to engage with the people and stories that shape our city. A huge thank you to our 13 featured grantees for sharing your passion. From bold fashion and style East of the River to the civic power of DC’s youth, this evening highlighted the wide variety of humanities projects taking shape across the District. 🙌 Missed the showcase? Tap the link in our bio to see what else we’re up to this spring and register for our next event! #HumanitiesDC #CommunityShowcase #DCGrantees #CulturalHeritage #SpringEvents

Tonight’s the night! The HumanitiesDC Community Showcase kicks off at 6:00 PM at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave SE). We can’t wait to celebrate our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage grantees with you! Grab some delicious food from Dreaming Out Loud and meet the humanists helping shape our city and before they take the stage at 7:00 PM. Register through the link in our bio! Swipe for a sneak peek at three of the 13 projects you’ll learn about tonight: 📸 Jeronique Bartley | The Great 8 Fashion & Style Tour: East of The River Discover the deeper meaning and influence of style in the District. This interactive documentary captures how fashion East of the River serves as a powerful language for leadership and identity, proving that style in DC is about much more than the clothes you wear. 📣 Dunbar HS Law & Public Policy Academy | Voices of Justice: Youth Civic Power Learn how classroom lessons can turn into real-world advocacy. Through original documentaries and exhibits, these students examined how power and justice shape the experiences of young people in DC. 🕰️ Marquett Milton | U St Time Travel Experience the history of U Street through an immersive new lens. Marquett is developing time-traveling kits filled with hands-on artifacts that transport learners through neighborhood history spanning from 1860 to 1968. Image Credits: Photo 1: Jeronique Bartley Photo 2: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Alumni Federation Photo 3: Marquett Milton #communityshowcase #dculture #dcfashion #dcevents

Learn how our grantees are connecting DC’s next generation to local history and creating spaces for self expression at the HumanitiesDC Community Showcase! Join us THIS THURSDAY, April 9 at THEARC (1801 Mississippi Ave SE). We’re kicking things off at 6:00 PM with a gallery celebrating grantees' projects. Get a behind-the-scenes look at thirteen unique projects before our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage grantees take the stage. Register through the link in our bio and swipe to meet three featured grantees. 📯 Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington | DC Civil War History in DC Schools Learn how history is coming to life within DC classrooms. This project presented DC's Civil War story to 5th graders across DCPS, providing over 400 students with a hands-on connection to local history. 🎤 826DC | Youth Voices Festival: Showcasing Youth Stories in DC Celebrate the creativity and vision of DC’s young writers. This festival provided a vibrant platform for local youth to take the mic and share their original works. 📖 Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) | The Stories We Carry: Journeys, Hopes, and Dreams of D.C. Immigrants Witness the creative reflections of youth building a future in the District. Through a collection of youth art, poems, and memories, this publication preserves the personal stories that contribute to DC's culture. Image Credits: Photo 1: Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington Photo 2: 826DC Photo 3: MLOV #communityshowcase #humanitiesdc #storyteller #dcevents #dchistory #youthvoices

🎬 Take your documentary to the next level with DC[FRAMEWORKS]! Submissions are officially OPEN for the Spring 2026 edition of DC[FRAMEWORKS], scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026! We’re excited to be partnering once again with DC/DOX for this special off-season program dedicated to supporting DC-area filmmakers. DC[FRAMEWORKS] provides directors and producers at all experience levels with a unique opportunity to receive constructive, peer-level feedback on their rough-cut films—whether feature-length or short. Each screening is followed by a moderated discussion, where filmmakers gain valuable insights from an engaged audience, subject-matter experts, and experienced DC-based filmmakers. Submit your work-in-progress! 🗓 Submit by: Monday, April 27 🔗 Apply here: /dcframeworks (link in bio) 📧 Questions? Email [email protected] #dcframeworks #dcfilmmakers #workinprogress #dcdox #documentary

Meet our 2026 Community Journalism Program cohort! Since February, this group of has been hard at work identifying the underreported stories that matter most to them and their communities. With hands-on mentorship from a team of local experts, they are developing the reporting and editorial skills needed to take these stories from idea to publication. Community journalism is a key part of a thriving local media landscape. Thank you to our returning team of instructors and journalist trainers for sharing their expertise: @gkjcreates , @jonettarose5 , @maustermuhle , Delonte Harrod, and our partnering editor Julie Strupp. #communityjournalism #localjournalism #dcnews

Ready for a fast-paced evening next Thursday? The HumanitiesDC Community Showcase (April 9) will feature 13 dynamic, 5-minute presentations where our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage grantees take the stage to share the heart of their work. Secure your spot at the link in our bio and swipe to meet four more of our featured grantees! 🚲🎙️Gwadzilla | The Gwadzilla Podcast and Photo Project Hear the untold stories of the messengers who keep DC moving. For this project, Joel is shifting gears from his longstanding blog to a multimedia podcast experience, giving bike messengers a platform to tell their stories in their own words. 📸🎨The Dap Project with the Anacostia Arts Center | Beautiful, also, are the souls:Honoring the People of the Anacostia Arts Center Meet the people who are defining Anacostia’s creative legacy. Utilizing the mediums of oral histories and photography, this exhibit and workshop series honored the people who have helped shape the Anacostia Arts Center before its next big transformation. 🫓🎬 Valeria Massarelli | District of Pupusas Discover how pupusas became quintessential to the District. Inspired by the human stories behind DC’s iconic flavors, Valeria’s documentary follows the story of two Salvadoran restaurant entrepreneurs and highlights the cultural impact of food and tradition in DC. ✏️🎬 Dr. Carletta S. Hurt | Brumsic Brandon, Jr. : A Legacy in Art and Community Step into the world of this creative visionary. Dr. Hurt is shedding light on the creator of the influential “Luther” comic strip. Through family interviews and archives, this documentary reveals how Brandon’s art reflected and shaped the movements of his time. Image Credits: Photo 1: Joel Gwadz Photo 2: The Dap Project Photo 3: Valeria Masserelli Photo 4: Dr. Carletta S. Hurt #communityshowcase #humanitiesdc #storyteller #dcevents #documentaries

Only 9 days until the HumanitiesDC Community Showcase! We can’t wait to celebrate our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage grantees and the incredible work they’ve done to preserve the stories of DC’s vibrant communities. Join us at the THEARC on April 9th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to experience 13 incredible projects firsthand. Space is limited, so get your tickets at the link in our bio today. Here’s a sneak peek at who you’ll meet next Thursday: 🛋️ Tracy Chiles McGhee | Salon Redux Tracy is turning history into a living practice by reimagining the historic S Street Salon. Discover how Georgia Douglas Johnson's salon style gatherings are being reimagined across the city. 🎤 Story Tapestries | I, Too, Am America Connecting DC’s past and present spoken word and poetry scenes, this project invites residents to explore identity and community a series of intergenerational writing workshops. Come find inspiration in the powerful poetry written by our neighbors. ✨Gabrielle Newell | The Swann Society Through lively storytelling and community workshops, this project uncovers how past generations of neighbors and organizers supported one another through bold self-expression and community care. Learn how neighbors are carrying forward William Dorsey Swann’s spirit of courage, celebration, and community. We can’t wait to you there! 👋 Image credits: Photo 1: Tracy Chiles McGhee Photo 2: Story Tapestries Photo 3: Gabrielle Newell #humanitiesdc #communityshowcase #dchistory #dcculture #dcevents

Access to local journalism has been declining for years now. @humanitiesdc ‘s Community Journalism Program addresses this pressing need by training Washington, D.C., residents in the discipline of journalism so they can tell the stories that matter most to them and their neighbors. On the latest episode of our podcast, Humanities =, hear from Lois Nembhard at HumanitiesDC, Lead Journalist Trainer @gkjcreates , and participant @carolyntoye about how the program works and why it’s needed now more than ever. Listen at statehumanities.org/podcast, via our link in bio, or wherever you get your podcasts.