Washington, D.C.

Remi has made Washington, D.C., a hub for cultural engagement through events and unique experiences, leveraging her skills in curation, production, and strategic partnerships. A Howard University alum, she's dedicated to fostering community ties and drawing diverse crowds with innovative programming and marketing. Remi has significantly contributed to notable events and partnerships, including Franklin Park Block Party, Rock the Park DC, Jazz & Blossoms, and collaborations with the Smithsonian and National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Omrao Brown has over 17 years of experience in artistic direction, production, marketing, and operations, spanning festivals to intimate events across various genres. He led Words Beats & Life, Inc., a non-profit utilizing hip-hop for youth arts, and directed Friends of JCMC, honoring John Coltrane. As Publick Playhouse's Managing Director, he founded Shine On Me Productions, producing notable events like Dave Chappelle's Juke Joint. His tenure at Bohemian Caverns redefined it as a premier jazz venue, attracting global talent. Brown has received multiple awards for his contributions to the arts and community service.

Holly Bass, a versatile artist, writer, and director, excels in community-engaged art aiming for liberation, examining societal norms on gender, race, and class. Recognized widely, she received grants and fellowships, including the 2023 MAP fund and Dance/USA Fellowships. Her art spans photography to performance, showcased at prestigious venues like the National Portrait Gallery and the Venice Biennale. A published poet and Cave Canem Fellow, she also led arts programs for youth and directs Turnaround Arts at the Kennedy Center to reform public schools through the arts.

DJ/Producer Dominic Painter relocated to Washington D.C., after making a name in the Los Angeles area. Social organizing became a passion in high school starting with the D.A.R.E. program. While attending the University of Maryland, College Park, his civic engagement took off, working with the Black Business Society and the national student coordinating committee for the Million Man March. Years later he helped to create the Hip-Hop entrepreneurial nonprofit, The Midnight Forum Inc., and rose to the executive director position during his 10-year history with them.

Donney Rose, a Baton Rouge native and Maryland-based artist, combines performance poetry, advocacy journalism, and teaching to explore the Black American experience through THE AMERICAN AUDIT. This project merges history, poetry, and research in multi-media presentations. With a career starting at Southern University, Rose has achieved national recognition, encouraging others to find their voices. His work as a teaching artist spans all ages, emphasizing confidence and cultural impact through spoken and written words, particularly valuing youth expression.

Mazi Mutafa is the founding Executive Director of Words Beats & Life, a hip-hop non-profit established in Washington D.C in 2002. Mr. Mutafa received his Bachelor’s degree in African American studies from the University of Maryland and became a Brother of Phi BetaSigma Fraternity. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and George Washington University and, in 2019, was an adjunct professor at American University, co-teaching a course about international hip-hop, called “Whose Hip-Hop Is It?”