HumanitiesDC

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.

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

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.

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/

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.

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

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.

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.

Pride Poetry Workshop: "Weird Way to Protest...but, Yes!"
2026-01-20 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: “Weird Way to Protest…but, Yes!”
Using popular protest signs and memes as prompts, participants create short poems in three veins: love, abstract, and erotica. This approach highlights the accessibility of inspiration, examines protest poems from new and imaginative angles, and boldly stands in queerness in a world that wants to pretend us away. Led by Angelique Palmer.
Angelique Palmer is a performance poet, kindergarten teacher, and spoken word instructor at Wilkes University, author of two books of poems, who is in her second year of a three-year tenure as Fairfax County Poet Laureate.
Register here.

HumanitiesDC Community Grants General Info Session
2026-01-20 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Join this virtual overview session to learn about all of HumanitiesDC’s 2026 grant offerings.
HumanitiesDC’s 2026 community grants cycle opens December 8, 2025 with three grant opportunities, including:

Community Culture & Heritage grant – $10,000 for DC-based individuals and non-profit organizations to create public humanities projects
Visions grant – $25,000 for DC-based non-profit organizations to produce public humanities projects
Oral History Interviewing grant – up to $13,000 for DC-based individuals and non-profit organizations to collect, document, and archive local oral history interviews

Register to receive the Zoom link!

Not Just Another Day Off Poetry Reading - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-01-17 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
January 17, 206 | Ward 6 | Folger Theatre
Each year, the Folger celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with inspiring poetry readings and rousing historical speeches delivered by contemporary poets and actors. Mosaic will amplify their work and the significant relationship between Dr. King and Congressman Lewis, which is featured heavily in the musical.
Learn more here.

Visions - Projects + Events Grant Workshop
2026-01-16 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join for an in-depth look at the Visions – Projects & Events grant application and program requirements. This online session will provide a detailed look at the Visions grant requirements, eligibility information, and application questions. Attendees will also get to hear from a current Visions grantee who will share insights into their project as well as their successful grant application process.

Register to receive the Zoom link!

Remembering John Lewis: Good Trouble and the Black-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2026-01-16 - 2026-01-17 | Mozelle & Donald Saltz Building, 2850 Quebec St. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
January 16-18 | Ward 3 | Adas Israel Congregation
Mosaic partners with Adas Israel Congregation and its church and gospel partners for the yearly Martin Luther King weekend days of inspiration. From shabbat to the Sunday community day of service, Mosaic and Adas will share stories, challenges and musical inspirations from Lewis’ exemplary life of social action and building the beloved community.

Story District Presents: New Year, Who Dis?
2026-01-15 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Penn Social, 801 E Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20004
New Year, Who Dis? Some stories start with a plan. Others start with a breakup, a burnout, or a late-night idea that won’t shut up. This show is about the moments that push us to change –– to leave, to leap, or to try something new even if it scares the hell out of us. You’ll hear from people who made big moves, took weird detours, and ended up somewhere totally unexpected. Why Come? Real stories about what it takes to change even when it’s messy. A crowd that gets how hard (and hilarious) fresh starts can be. A night that?ll leave you thinking about what?s next. The night doesn’t end when the curtain falls. All audience members, storytellers, and friends are invited to stick around for the Storytellers Lounge: a relaxed, post-show gathering where the stories keep flowing.

Register here.

Oral History Interviewing Grant Workshop
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join for an in-depth look at the Oral History Interviewing grant application and program requirements

This session will provide a detailed look at the Oral History Interviewing grant requirements, eligibility information, and application questions. Attendees will also get to hear from a current Oral History Interviewing grantee who will share insights into their project, the training they received from the DC Oral History Collaborative, as well as their successful grant application process.

Register to receive the Zoom link!

HumanitiesDC Community Grants Info Session
2026-01-13 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
Join HumanitiesDC for an overview of our 2026 community grants during an in-person session at the Dorothy Height/Benning Neighborhood library. Grants are available to help DC residents, community groups, and organizations…

Explore and document local culture
Research their history and origins, and build a representative archive
Tell your stories, in your words

Register to attend

DC Oral History Collaborative: Oral History 101+ Workshop
2026-01-12 18:00 - 2026-01-15 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 401c, Conference Center, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
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 follows 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. In this interactive session, 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 do some reading and exercises prior to each session.
This workshop consists of three sessions – registrants must commit to participating in all three sessions.
Registration Link
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January 12, 13, 15
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.

Community Culture & Heritage Grant Workshop
2026-01-12 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join for an in-depth look at the Community Culture & Heritage grant application and program requirements.

This online session will provide a detailed look at the Community Culture & Heritage grant requirements, eligibility information, and application questions. Attendees will also get to hear from a current Community Culture & Heritage grantee who will share insights into their project as well as their successful grant application process.
Register to receive the Zoom link!

Public Humanities Roundtable featuring Community Voices
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 1801 Hamlin Street NE, Washington, DC, 20018, United States
Join HumanitiesDC for an overview of all 2026 grant offerings, along with a brief Q&A from Ward 5 grantees Yao Tyus, Saaret Yoseph, and Dr. Alexandra Jones of Archaeology in the Community. HumanitiesDC grants are currently open to help Washingtonians…

Explore and document local culture
Research their history and origins, and build a representative archive
Tell your stories, in your words

Register to attend!

Writing and Wellness Workshop
2025-12-30 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 1801 Hamlin Street NE, Washington, DC, 20018, United States
Inspired by the Kwanza principle of Nia, meaning purpose: attend a free workshop hosted by Soar in partnership with DCPL, where you will unleash your creativity, awaken the poet within and show yourself some love.
RSVP to kimberly[at]dcsoar.org by 12.28.2025. Space is limited
Learn more.

Voices of Justice - D.C. Under the Constitution: Exhibit & Documentary Premiere
2025-12-15 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Dunbar High School, 101 N. St. NW, Washington, DC, 20001
Come see the work of a group of Constitutional Law students worked proudly for the whole of term 1 to educate themselves and create for others to see. Youth voices meet the Bill of Rights in D.C. – where local choices collide with federal oversight. See what happens when students turn interviews into public history. See it – student-curated exhibits built from original oral histories. Hear it – Short documentaries connecting the Bill of Rights to D.C. life. Discuss it – Expert panel on Home Rule, federal oversight, and youth voice in policy.
Register here.

DC History Center Holiday Gathering
2025-12-12 17:00 - 2025-12-13 19:00 (America/New_York) | DC History Center, 801 K St NW, Washington, 20001, United States
Lift your spirits among friends, family, and neighbors at the DC History Center’s annual holiday gathering—a joyful evening of community building through song and local flavor!
Light bites are provided by local restaurants, inspired by the iconic flavors of DC, and drinks are on us (just remember your ID)! Attendees are invited to join for a community sing, led by acclaimed musician and local educator Ocie S. Banks. Whether you’re a shower singer or already part of a choir, it’s time to sing along! The music will be a mix of holiday favorites and protest songs inspired by the changemakers and spirit of activism in the nation’s capital.
Come share the warmth, rhythm, and history that make DC shine.

Register here.

HumanitiesDC Second Annual Winter Soirée
2025-12-11 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Last year was so much fun, we decided to do it again. Join us for a Year-End Celebration of our city’s public humanities!

Get ready to immerse yourselves in an unforgettable celebration of bold ideas, big questions, and unique experiences! On December 11, 2025, at 6 PM, join us at the True Reformer Building to honor and applaud the exceptional work of our 2025 Independent Practitioner Fellows. Come together with fellow curious minds to witness the power of human expression and diverse stories of the humanities over the last year.

This soirée is a celebration of DC’s diverse and vibrant stories and the extraordinary humanists who bring them to light. We would be honored to have you join us for this special occasion. Come ready with your boldest questions. We look forward to sharing this memorable evening with you.
Independent Practitioner Fellows / Presenters: Jessica Austin, Delia Beristain Noriega, Claude L. Elliott, Yanci Flores, Rhonda Henderson, Muskanpreet Kaur & Katie Kirkpatrick.
Suggested Donation: We at HumanitiesDC believe that the humanities should be accessible to all. If you are able, help ensure our approach to programming remains sustainable with a suggested donation. Your donation will help offset the operational costs of this program.

Register here.

Designing Graphics for Education and Outreach
2025-12-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
A well-thought through design is the best way to communicate ideas. Archaeologists communicate information through graphics, websites, maps, charts, presentation slides, handouts, and more. In this one-hour virtual workshop, participants will learn about the basics of design principles, what to consider when creating accessible graphics for the public, and free resources to save time and funding. Brush Up workshops are organized by Archaeology in the Community and sponsored by the Society of Black Archaeologists. As part of the Brush Up series of workshops, participants will receive expert instruction, resources, a quiz to test understanding, and a certificate of completion.

Register here.

Talk of the Hill with Bill Press Featuring Journalists Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
2025-12-09 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | Hill Center DC, 921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, 20003
Veteran journalist Bill Press sits down for an in-depth conversation with New York Times chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker and The New Yorker staff writer, Susan Glasser, for a candid assessment of President Trump’s first year in office as well as breaking news of the day.
Register here.

The Power of Knowing: John Lewis, Poetry & Hip-Hop - Mosaic Theater's Young John Lewis Reflection Series
2025-12-01 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Ongoing | Wards 5, 7 and 8 | Capitol View Neighborhood Library, Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library and Woodridge Neighborhood Library
The Power of Knowing is an interactive workshop that brings together the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis and the expressive energy of hip-hop and spoken word. Led by poet, spoken-word artist, and hip-hop educational leader Tony Keith Jr. in partnership with DC Public Library.
LINK TO EVENT WEBSITE: https://mosaictheater.org/young-john-lewis

An Evening with Pati Jinich and Anna Spiegel
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | Capital Jewish Museum, 575 3rd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Join us for an advance screening of the closing episode of Season 14 of Pati’s Mexican Table, Pati Jinich’s long running part travelogue-part cooking PBS series. We will view the episode For Love and Family, in advance of the episode’s official public release on November 21. Following the screening, Jinich will be in conversation with Axios’s Anna Spiegel to discuss the episode, and amongst other things, her Mexican Jewish Roots and the history of the Mexican Jewish Community. Followed by Q&A with the audience.
Register here.

Reach's 2025 Book Launch Party!
2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
This annual celebration of the new Teen Publishing Project (TPP) books published by Reach tutors (in Wards 4-8) will be held at the True Reformer Building. The festivities will take place from 6-8pm, featuring hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and an opportunity to connect with Reach tutors and the Reach community. In 2025, the tutors explored themes of mental health and financial literacy in their works. Join the Reach community as we recognize their accomplishments!

LINK TO REGISTRATION: https://givebutter.com/BookLaunch2025

DC Oral History Collaborative Community Meetup
2025-11-17 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) | 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, November 17 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. 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.
Registration Event Link

Yes, Chef: Stories About Food & Family Drama
2025-11-13 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Halifax) | Penn Social, 801 E Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20004
Food brings people together but not always how you’d expect. Behind every favorite dish, there’s tension, tradition, chaos, or comfort. Sometimes all of it at once. This show is about what happens when meals go sideways, recipes carry history, and family shows up with opinions. Come for real stories about how food stirs things up, holds us together, or turns dinner into something way bigger than what’s on the plate.
Register here.
