HumanitiesDC

The Fox & the Panther Play Reading - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-01-22 19:30 (America/Halifax) | Busboys and Poets Takoma, 235 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC, 20012
January 22, 2026 | 7:30 pm | Ward 4 | Busboys and Poets Takoma
The Fox & the Panther by Tariq Hamami takes us to the 1960s when Algeria established itself as the anti-colonial capital of the world and hosted multiple revolutionaries including the Black Panther Party. Presented in collaboration with California?s Golden Thread Productions, this new play reading will include a special talkback with the playwright and local leaders, highlighting the work of activists in the 1960s and now. Reading hosted at Busboys and Poets Takoma.
Learn more here.

DC: A Home for New Musicals - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-01-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)
January 26, 2026 | Location TBD
A panel conversation led by Washington Post theater critic Naveen Kumar highlighting local theater companies producing new musicals. Produced in partnership with Olney Theatre Company and Signature Theatre Company, the event will feature performances from Young John Lewis and upcoming productions at the peer theaters.
Learn more here.

Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida: Ya no son pilares
2026-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | VisArts, 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD, 20850
Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida’s exhibition, Ya no son pilares, is opening Friday, January 30th from 7-9pm. Experience this fusion of material, ethnographic research, and visual art surrounding the infrastructure of the Chilean dictatorship at VisArts in Rockville, MD.
About the artist
Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida is an experimental ethnographic researcher and textile artist based between Los Angeles and Washington, DC. His work addresses the affective dimensions of post-dictatorship life in Chile and the diaspora, using traditional Andean textile methods and enlisting materials critical in the formation of political violence in South America such as sheep’s wool, copper, and salt. He is currently a 2025-2027 Hamiltonian Artists Fellow (Washington, DC).
Learn more

The Light Looks Like Me Book Event
2026-02-07 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | Frederick Book Arts Center, 127 S Carroll St., Frederick, MD, 21701
Join Shout Mouse Press youth authors to discuss their new book – The Light Looks Like Me.
Learn more here.

DC Oral History Collaborative Meetup
2026-02-09 06:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | DC History Center, 801 K St NW, Washington, 20001, United States
Calling all local oral historians: HumanitiesDC and the DC History Center are offering their next oral history meetup in Washington, DC! Join us at the DC History Center on Monday, February 9 at 6 pm to be in community with other oral historians. During the meetup we’ll share ideas, talk through challenges and obstacles, and celebrate successes. The first half of the evening is dedicated to small group discussion, with snacks. Then, we’ll gather for a group discussion.
You do not have to be a practicing oral historian to participate but come prepared to learn from others and to share your own thoughts, perspectives, and experiences.
Register here: https://dchistory.org/events/dcohc-meetup-february/

Silence is Violence: The Podcast - Episode 4 Release
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Led by Artistic Director Farah Lawal Harris and Production Manager Keta Newborn, Silence is Violence is Young Playwrights’ Theater’s playwriting, performance, and community dialogue series exploring areas of injustice experienced by our city’s young people.
Through a mixture of scripted performances, interviews, poetry readings, and music, Silence is Violence: The Podcast is a four-episode series detailing key moments and performances from Silence is Violence’s 10-year history alongside ten years of the cultural touchstones and current events that inspired each production: racism, police brutality, xenophobia, gentrification, young Black motherhood, and the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen here.

Writing and Wellness Workshop: Love Letter to You!
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library, 1630 7th St. NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Attend a Free Writing Workshop to Wake up your inner wisdom and Reflect on the many ways to LOVE YOU!
Workshop includes: SOAR’s Poetry Training Wheels, Interactive writing prompts and a FREE book for the first 5 people who Register and attend the workshop.
Kindly RSVP by emailing your name at goldenfernpress [at] gmail [dot] com by February 16.
Learn more

Pride Poetry Workshop: Erasure Poems
2026-02-17 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, Washington DC, MD, 20006, United States
2026 PRIDE POETRY WORKSHOPS AT THE ARTS CLUB

The Arts Club of Washington announces a slate of free community writing workshops for 2026, led by five Pride Poets-in-Residence. Workshops are designed to be generative, so participants will leave each session with a new poem-in-progress, and are open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Erasure Poems
Working with pre-existing material, we will black out, erase, or otherwise obscure to form new meaning. How do we as queer people create new meanings and identities from the ones we are given? Where did we clash or not fit in? And what do we do when the world seemingly wants to erase us? Led by Nico Penaranda.
Nico Penaranda is a teacher in Howard University’s first-year writing program, who has been a featured reader at recent events hosted by the DC Poet Project, the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum, and the DC Public Library.
Register here.

Culture Series: Comedy Across the River
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Busboys and Poets Anacostia, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
In this special Culture Series, we ask who gets to laugh together, and what is lost when communities east of the Anacostia are left out?

HumanitiesDCPresents Culture Series: Comedy Across the River explores the stand-up scene east of the Anacostia and the lack of performance spaces in Wards 7 and 8. Comedians have long brought people together through laughter while making difficult conversations more accessible. But what happens when the artists behind those voices are left without places to develop their craft?
Inspired by C. Darren Thompson’s AFRO article, “Comedy East of the Anacostia Is No Laughing Matter,” the program features three performers sharing their experiences growing up in a city with a deep comedic history, while lacking access to venues to watch, learn, and perform comedy.
The evening will begin with stand-up performances from our featured comedians, followed by a panel discussion centered on the bold question: Who gets to laugh together, and what is lost when communities east of the Anacostia are left out?
If you’ve ever wondered who gets to be heard in the city, join us as we open the conversation right here in Anacostia!
Register here.

More About the Curator: Clyde Darren Thompson is a Navy Veteran, eighth-generation Washingtonian, stand-up, sketch, and improv comedian, and community busy body. He teaches improv comedy for the Armed Services Arts Partnership, serves as a Board Member for Washington Improv Theater, and is the Founder of the East River Dog Park Group. He most often performs improv comedy with his troupe, Baggage Claim, and sketch comedy with his team, The RENS. He is a proud alumnus of Prince George’s Community College, The University of Maryland at College Park, Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law, and The George Washington University School of Business.

Celebration of DC Black Theater - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Howard University: Mordecai Johnson Administration Bldg, 2400 6th St NW, Washington, DC, 20059
February 26, 2026 | Ward 1 | Howard University
A moving panel highlighting DC’s long history of being a hub for Black theater featuring present-day local Black women artistic leaders in conversation with trailblazers who built the legacy. Programmed in partnership with Howard University and State of DC Black Theatre.
Learn more here.

The Open Door: Skill-Building Day at the Library of Congress
2026-02-28 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax) | Library of Congress; Thomas Jefferson Building; Room LJ119, 10 1st Street, SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
We are happy to participate in the Library of Congress’ skill-building day. The DC Oral History Collaborative will present two oral history workshops at this day-long event.
More info and registration: https://www.loc.gov/item/event-419839/the-open-door-skill-building-day-at-the-library-of-congress/2026-02-28/
10am-12pm: Defining Oral History –
Learn essential and fundamental oral history skills to help you document life events at a two hour workshop facilitated by staff from Humanities DC and the Veterans History Project. The session is for users who are new to oral history, and novice historians who want to advance their documentary skills. Reserve Free Tickets.
12pm-2pm: Humanities and Experiential Learning Resource Fair –
Explore local resources to advance your research and oral history projects—meet staff from the Library of Congress Informal Learning Office, Internship & Fellowship Programs, Professional Learning and Outreach and Veterans History Project, as well as humanities groups D.C. History Center, D.C. Humanities , and Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
2pm-4pm: Planning Oral History Projects –
Elevate recorded stories in an oral history project planning workshop facilitated by staff from Humanities DC and the Veterans History Project. The two-hour workshop will explore the essential considerations and components of oral history projects and how to preserve and share your recordings.
Between the workshops, the Library will host a Humanities and Experiential Resource Learning Fair. Meet staff from: Library of Congress Informal Learning Office, Internship & Fellowship Programs, Professional Learning and Outreach and Veterans History Project, and humanities groups D.C. History Center, HumanitiesDC, and Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Reserve Free Tickets.
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The DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) documents, preserves, and celebrates the lived experiences of all Washington, DC residents and communities through oral history. The Collaborative accomplishes this by providing training, mentorship, resources, programs, and funding to current and aspiring oral historians.

The Great 8 Fashion Tour East of The River Presents: In The Pocket - The Magical, Mystical Influence of Go-Go On Culture Style and Fashion
2026-02-28 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Yaleen Beauty Makerspace, 3443 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC, 20019
An interactive “tour stop” exploring the impact of Go-Go music on fashion and cultural expression in Washington, DC. Through visual media, archival material, and community storytelling, attendees will explore how rhythm, movement, and sound shape personal style and creative identity. The event highlights Go-Go as a living cultural force that influences fashion, community connection, and cultural memory, offering insight into its enduring role in DC?’s cultural landscape. This event is a part of The Great 8 Fashion Tour, an interactive documentary project exploring the cultural significance of style and fashion across Washington, DC’s eight wards. By centering diverse voices, The Great 8 highlights style as a powerful form of cultural expression and storytelling within DC communities.

Register here

DC Oral History Workshop: Planning Oral History Projects
2026-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 401c, Conference Center, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
How do you invite interviewees? How do you keep things on track? What does it cost?

Running an oral history project is a lot of work! But the skills and best practices in this core workshop in the DC Oral History Collaborative’s Training Series will help participants understand how to avoid getting bogged down in budgetary or scheduling challenges.
This session covers topics such as developing an organizing research question and overcoming common pitfalls and obstacles. Anxious about approaching potential interviewees, join us at this session for some practice!

Register here.

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The DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) documents, preserves, and celebrates the lived experiences of all Washington, DC residents and communities through oral history. The Collaborative accomplishes this by providing training, mentorship, resources, programs, and funding to current and aspiring oral historians. The Collaborative is a partnership of HumanitiesDC and the DC Public Library

Culture Series: Leadership Without Titles (Film Showcase)
2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
In this Culture Series, we showcase three short films while asking the question: What defines a community leader—and who gets to decide?

HumanitiesDC Present Culture Series: Leadership Without Titles, a film showcase that brings together three documentaries produced through the Community Voice Lab at American University — Kil and the Kids, Street Reporter, and We Rock! — that spotlight everyday people turning challenges into connection, creativity, and change across Washington, DC.
From a mentor supporting youth in a high violence neighborhood, to a woman reclaiming her life as a community journalist after experiencing homelessness, to a young professional finding courage and belonging through music, these films expand how we define leadership.
The program will feature three short film screenings followed by a post discussion with the filmmakers, centered on our bold question: What defines a community leader and who gets to decide?
Join us for an evening of film, conversation, and reflection that invites us to reconsider where leadership lives, and how communities rise when everyday people show up.

Register here.

More About the Curator: The Community Voice Lab at American University produces social impact films that amplify untold stories, ignite dialogue and spur action toward a more empathetic, generous and just world. Centered on our creative ethos of collaboration rather than extraction, our emerging filmmakers and seasoned film faculty work together with local storytellers to honor the ordinary heroes shaping the heart of our nation’s capital. Community Voice Lab films uplift stories of hope, resilience, and determination for the common good.

The Mosaic High School Playwriting Contest - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-03-15 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20001
March 15, 2026 | Ward 2 | MLK Library
Mosaic uplifts the next generation of playwrights through its High School Playwriting Contest, providing mentorship, instruction and a professionally guided reading of the winning play with a director and working actors. This year?s contest is inspired by the themes of Young John Lewis, including justice, coalition building, and activism within our communities.
Learn more here.

DC Oral History Collaborative: Oral History 101+ Workshop
2026-03-19 18:00 - 2026-03-26 20:00 (America/New_York) | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 401c, Conference Center, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Learn how to record oral history interviews with your family, friends, and community.

This course will introduce Washingtonians interested in becoming oral historians to the best practices of doing oral history, to empower them with the basic tools for developing their style and approach to preserving DC’s rich past through oral history interviews.
This course is structured to follow the full cycle of an oral history interview, from conception to processing. We will discuss practical and theoretical considerations of doing oral history in order to demonstrate the distinctive, interdisciplinary mindset that oral historians take to their work. Because oral history is best learned “on the job,” the instructor will ask you to do activities and to discuss your experiences along the way.
There is a lot of material to cover, so participants will also be asked to do some reading and exercises prior to each session.
This workshop consists of three sessions – registrants must commit to participating in all three sessions.

Register here

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March 19, 23, 26
6:00pm-8:00pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. – 4th Floor Conference Room Space – 401-C
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The DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) documents, preserves, and celebrates the lived experiences of all Washington, DC residents and communities through oral history. The Collaborative accomplishes this by providing training, mentorship, resources, programs, and funding to current and aspiring oral historians.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Queer Homage
2026-03-24 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, Washington DC, MD, 20006, United States
2026 PRIDE POETRY WORKSHOPS AT THE ARTS CLUB

The Arts Club of Washington announces a slate of free community writing workshops for 2026, led by five Pride Poets-in-Residence. Workshops are designed to be generative, so participants will leave each session with a new poem-in-progress, and are open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Queer Homage
In this workshop, we will create poems in conversation with, or in the style of, or in response to another poem, or piece of art, or song. “After poems” are a powerful form of connection across mediums and artists—they can generate dialogue, honor, subvert, or reclaim. Led by Marlena Chertock,
Marlena Chertock is a disabled, lesbian, Jewish poet with two books of poems, who uses her skeletal dysplasia as a bridge to scientific poetry.
Register here.

Artist Talkback with Psalmayene 24 - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-03-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States
March 28, 2026 | Ward 6 | Atlas Performing Arts Center
Curious about what went into the making of Young John Lewis? Playwright Psalmayene 24 will share insights into the process behind the production and his artistic practice following a performance of the musical.
Learn more here.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Wronged Women - Hell Hath No Fury
2026-04-21 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, Washington DC, MD, 20006, United States
2026 PRIDE POETRY WORKSHOPS AT THE ARTS CLUB

The Arts Club of Washington announces a slate of free community writing workshops for 2026, led by five Pride Poets-in-Residence. Workshops are designed to be generative, so participants will leave each session with a new poem-in-progress, and are open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Wronged Women – Hell Hath No Fury
In Postcolonial Love Poem, Natalie Diaz said “Trust your anger. It is a demand for love.” For women who are socialized to be forever accommodating, how can anger be a liberatory force? In this poetry workshop, participants will be invited to engage with female figures such as Eve, Lot’s Wife, Selena Quintanilla, Yolanda Saldívar, and Harley Quinn, giving these infamous women the dignity of context. Led by Xochi Quetzali Cartland.
Xochi Quetzali Cartland is a queer Chicana poet and seamstress who was the 2025 Latinx in Publishing poetry mentee, and has been supported with fellowships from National Arts Strategies and Brooklyn Poets.
Register here.

2026 DC History Conference
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-02 | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20001
Save the date: May 1-2, 2026
The DC History Conference is an interdisciplinary, community conference considering the District’s past, present, and future. Since 1973, the conference organizers have provided a welcoming, educational, and stimulating forum for original research on and engagement with the history of the Washington, DC metropolitan area—prioritizing the local city but including nearby Maryland and Virginia, and the federal government.

Learn more.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Resistance - LGBTQ Poetry as an Act of Defiance
2026-05-19 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, Washington DC, MD, 20006, United States
2026 PRIDE POETRY WORKSHOPS AT THE ARTS CLUB

The Arts Club of Washington announces a slate of free community writing workshops for 2026, led by five Pride Poets-in-Residence. Workshops are designed to be generative, so participants will leave each session with a new poem-in-progress, and are open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds.

Pride Poetry Workshop: Resistance – LGBTQ Poetry as an Act of Defiance
In this workshop, participants will consider the forms that resistance to the heteronormative status quo—and the limits of their own thinking—can take. We will look at poems that not only assert a queer life, but also challenge those who view that life as “less than.” Led by Gregory Adams.
Gregory Adams is a founding member of Station-to-Station, a groundbreaking collective of Black LGBTQ performance poets and writers of the 1980s, and part of the creative team who produced the documentary Fierceness Served!: The ENIK Alley Coffeehouse (2021).
Register here.

Pride Month Poetry Reading
2026-06-16 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, Washington DC, MD, 20006, United States
2026 PRIDE POETRY WORKSHOPS AT THE ARTS CLUB

The Arts Club of Washington announces a slate of free community writing workshops for 2026, led by five Pride Poets-in-Residence. Workshops are designed to be generative, so participants will leave each session with a new poem-in-progress, and are open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds. This is the final of six sessions.

Pride Month Poetry Reading
Reading by Gregory Adams, Xochi Quetzali Cartland, Marlena Chertock, Angelique Palmer, and Nico Penaranda, the five LGBTQ+ poets awarded 2026 Pride Poetry Fellowships from the Arts Club of Washington. Followed by a reception and book signing.
Register here.
