The Pack

Trailer for PROOF OF LIFE, a new concept from @thepackworld Proof of Life asserts that the true Washington, D.C., the D.C. forged by generations of African Americans, is still here, alive and fighting, even as the city’s native communities are held hostage by rapid redevelopment and cultural erasure. Over the last six months we interviewed seven members of the D.C. community to not only show that we’re still here, but to look at how Chocolate City motivated their ambitions. After a year of work, we’re excited to share this project. 🎥 on @kodak_shootfilm #super8film by @nayion202 Voice Narration: @montstrosity Words: @districtofkluse

Chocolate City hoodies and DC Flag hats are back, exclusively at the @downtowndcholidaymarket ‘s @thisismadeindc booth (for now) 🎁 The Made in DC Booth (#59) is located along F Street NW between 7th & 9th Streets — right at the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro (7th Street entrance). This year, we’re featured in the Made in DC booth among 20 resident-owned, DC-based local businesses. Model is the great @kayemjay6 Shot by a78759

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Pack Party 6: The Last Dance! Y’all made this the most attended Pack Party ever! See a friend, tag a friend! Here are some of ya’ll booth photos and videos from the party while we get some recap content ready! Was truly amazing seeing the DC community come out and party together. Special shout-out to our DJ’s @eboni and @saylessking . Make sure you give them a follow and check out their work! Also shoutout to @tobbandandshow for working with us in the rain to keep the party going.

SATURDAY we’re vending with our friends at @chocolatecityexperience to close out @anacostiamuralsfest ! We’re loading the truck with some brand NEW/unreleased items from our upcoming summer collection. Saturday will be your chance to grab these items before their official release next month. Swipe through to preview some of the items and pull up Saturday! See you there! Flyer by @nayion202 x @the.k.in.cmyk ◼️Featuring: 🖼️ Mural Unveiling 🎤Hosted by Jus Paul @juspaul 🎶Sounds RWEONTHEAIR @rweontheair + More 📷Photos by Mr. G @mrgnit 🎸Performance by TOB Band @tobbandandshow 💃🏾Hand-dancing 💜Double Dutch lead by @_jumpdc 🧘🏾‍♀️Yoga by Charnal @bold_yoga_collective 🎨Art Workshops 🖍️Chalk Art by: @positivechalkdc 🍉 Nourishments by: @earth2melonnation ♟️Chess ♠️Spades + Dominoes 🧰 Community Resources 🚘 Classic Cars 🛍️Vendors, Food/Drinks & MORE

Shoutout to the area’s own @mcnuttmonica for repping Chocolate City during @7pminbrooklyn ’s interview with @realcoleworld 🍫🍫🍫🍫 Our hoodies are officially sold out but you can grab a corduroy chocolate city hat online now! 📸: @wavesportsent

You’ve seen the posts, and maybe you’ve even used the caption yourself: After a long absence from social media, someone posts a photo dump alongside the phrase “proof of life.” The latest project from D.C.-based content and experience company @thepack.world repurposes that phrase to showcase the stories of people and places that capture the spirit of our Chocolate City — evidence of a people refusing to be erased. They interviewed D.C. area natives — leaders in the community and in their fields — on the state of the city. According to The Pack World, “their perspectives bring together context from the past, hope for the future, and a calling and purpose that requires their blood, sweat, and tears in the present.”  Swipe through to see excerpts from these conversations, and find them in full at the link in bio.

Today is the last day of Black History month yet, we are creating Black history every day, one month will never be enough! Come out and join me this evening for Proof of Life that the true Washington, D.C., the D.C. forged by generations of African Americans, is still here, alive and fighting, even as the city’s native communities are held hostage by rapid redevelopment and cultural erasure. Flyer by: @nayion202 + @the.k.in.cmyk Original Photo by: @deedwyerjonts If you’re in love with “The Culture” let’s close out Black History Month with that Blacker the Berry, Sweeter the Juice energy!!!!We joyfully welcome all with good vibrations to celebrate the opening of “My People” by Dee Dwyer, a visual salute to her hometown Washington, D.C. Inspired by Langston Hughes’s poem My People, this exhibition radiates the city’s beauty, authenticity and its bouncebackability. Curated by The Chocolate City Experience @chocolatecityexperience in collaboration with the iconic Shanklin Hall @shanklinhall . We’re turning the space into a living museum. This is more than an art show, it’s a D.C. homecoming. 🌺Opening Reception: ▪️Date: Saturday Feb 28th ▪️Time: 5PM-9PM ▪️Location: Shanklin Hall @shanklinhall 2325 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 🌺 Featuring: ▪️Sounds by DJRWEONTHEAIR @rweontheair ▪️Hop Scotch through the entrance ▪️Double Dutch ▪️Merch by The Pack @thepack.world ▪️Old School Cars @sirjoejackjames ▪️Dominoes ▪️Spades ▪️Food + Drinks ▪️Resource Hub by @harrietsdreams + @freedcproject This is a family event , all ages are welcome. Please register at link below👇🏾 or PULL UP! bit.ly/ChocolateCitybhm (case sensitive) 🎥 on @kodak_shootfilm #super8film by @nayion202 Voice Narration: @montstrosity Words: districtofkluse #ChocolateCityExperience #ChocolateCity #Culture #BlackHistoryMonth

Saturday February 28 we’re vending at @deedwyerjonts photography exhibition “My People.” We’ll have remaining Chocolate City merch plus Proof of Life merch! Flyer artwork by @nayion202 + @the.k.in.cmyk See you there! Curated by The Chocolate City Experience @chocolatecityexperience in collaboration with the iconic Shanklin Hall @shanklinhall . We’re turning the space into a living museum. This is more than an art show, it’s a D.C. homecoming. 🌺Opening Reception: ▪️Date: Saturday Feb 28th ▪️Time: 5PM-9PM ▪️Location: Shanklin Hall @shanklinhall 2325 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 🌺 Featuring: ▪️Sounds by DJRWEONTHEAIR @rweontheair ▪️Hop Scotch through the entrance ▪️Double Dutch ▪️Merch by The Pack @thepack.world ▪️Old School Cars @sirjoejackjames ▪️Dominoes ▪️Spades ▪️Food + Drinks ▪️Resource Hub by @harrietsdreams + @freedcproject Register for free using the link in @deedwyerjonts bio

D.C. became the first majority Black city in the United States in 1957. By 1971, the city’s Black population was over 70%. But in the decades since, gentrification has displaced large numbers of longtime residents. What pieces of a Black utopia remain? "I’ve experienced the unique beauty of Chocolate City, growing up in close-knit communities that supported various aspects of my life. But I’ve also witnessed how much the city has changed over the last 20 years," Nayion Perkins (@nayion202 ) of @thepack.world reflects for our "Ask a D.C. Native" column — part of our "Proof of Life" series, in partnership with The Pack World. 🔗 in bio for more from this essay! (📷: courtesy of Justin Johnson)

A group of D.C. native friends launched @thepack.world in 2018 as a way to preserve D.C. history — and put its culture on the map with cities like New York City and Los Angeles. The company aims to create content and experiences that elevate disenfranchised communities and rekindle memories for D.C. natives. Some of their early projects include clothing lines highlighting topics like gentrification and the history of violence in D.C. After The Washington Post’s Express shuttered in 2019, they released The Pack Express, a temporary free print newspaper highlighting D.C. artists, activists, and community projects. While The Pack World isn’t their full-time job, they take their mission seriously and can often be found selling merch at community events and festivals — as pictured here. As part of our special edition newsletter, The 51st's @seesturdi spoke to co-founders Nayion Perkins (@nayion202 ) and Kluse (@districtofkluse ) about their work, including their recent project PROOF OF LIFE. They interviewed D.C. area natives — leaders in the community and in their fields — on the state of the city. Link in bio to the full Q&A, plus more from the project! (📷: Black on the Block, Elijah Boardley, @falsenomad , @sunnibshoots — courtesy of @thepack.world )

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

Chocolate City hoodies and hats are back in stock exclusively at the @downtowndcholidaymarket ‘s @thisismadeindc booth 🎁 The Made in DC Booth (#59) is located along F Street NW between 7th & 9th Streets — right at the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro (7th Street entrance). This year, we’re featured in the Made in DC booth among 20 resident-owned, DC-based local businesses. Model: @tyhobsonpowelldc Shot by @a78759