The DC Lineup for this weekend: Juneteenth, jams and joining together

As The DC Line celebrates its two-year anniversary this week, we are proud to convey the heart of our publication by delivering a Lineup filled with local history and ways for the community to connect over the next few days, June 19 to 21. 

There will be thunderstorms throughout the weekend, according to the forecast, with temperatures ranging from 68 to 85 degrees.

1. Dance: The Step Afrika! Juneteenth Celebration will commemorate the end of slavery in the United States with a showing of performances recorded at landmarks throughout the District such as Black Lives Matter Plaza, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the National Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. “Each performance honors the rhythm, spirituality and resistance of the African American community through dance and song,” the description states. The event will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube on Friday at 8 p.m. Watch this video for a preview.

2. Education: As part of Wear Orange Gun Violence Awareness Month, the local chapter of Moms Demand Gun Action will be in a Zoom conversation with the DC-based organization The TRIGGER Project, short for “True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risks.” The group’s mission is to change the societal narrative about gun violence by telling untold stories from communities of color across the U.S. — communities that are frequently exposed to gun violence on a daily basis. Seeking to explain why some people pull the trigger of a firearm, the group’s leaders seek to “build awareness and compassion for people who feel invisible without the gun.” The Zoom event takes place on Saturday at 7 p.m. Register to receive a link. This gathering is a part of The TRIGGER Project’s monthlong programming for Gun Violence Awareness Month.

3. Arts: The artist who painted the mural on Bloom Bars in Columbia Heights and other DC and Baltimore public artworks will be featured in a digital talk, “Transformational Art-Making in Times of Crisis” with Joel Bergner (also known as Joel Artista). Bergner lived in the District for several years and has since traveled the world teaching art programs through the organization Artolution, which he co-founded to “ignite positive social change through collaborative art making,” according to its website. The discussion will take place on Zoom on Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. It is co-hosted by the DC chapter of Partners of the Americas, a nonprofit that carries out humanitarian initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

4. History: The DC Public Library will teach methods of recording local LGBTQ+ oral history using the app StoryCorps Connect. Library staff will also discuss the DigDC archive, which houses digitized editions of the Washington Blade as well as Women in the Life, an independent publication that operated from 1993 to 2003 and primarily covered issues related to the black lesbian community. The hourlong event, “Proud Memories: Preserving the Legacy of DC’s LGBTQ+ Community,” will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. on the DC Public Library’s Facebook Live. Registration is not required.

5. Arts: ArtJamz Dupont Studio will host a Juneteenth virtual guided paint class this Friday from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the class cost $10. ArtJamz At-Home Paint Kits are available for pickup or delivery: the small canvas kit costs $30 and the mini canvas kit costs $25. There is also a $20 delivery fee. All proceeds will be donated to the Black Lives Matter DC Legal Support Fund.

6. Family: The DC nonprofit Rainbow Families supports LGBTQ+ families through education and events like playgroups, peer support groups, family gatherings and parenthood classes. This Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to noon, the group is hosting a free virtual story time for Father’s Day featuring books like Dr. Seuss’ I Love Pop, Sophie Beer’s Love Makes a Family, and Eric Carle’s I Love Dad With the Very Hungry Caterpillar. The event welcomes all parents and those who care for children; it is geared toward LGBTQ+ parents.

7. Community: The group Long Live GoGo is pairing the District’s signature musical style with Juneteenth celebrations during the Million Moe March and Moechella. The gathering takes place at Black Lives Matter Plaza, 800 16th St. NW, on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., with the goal to bring together and celebrate black communities. The group also seeks changes such as declaring racism a public health crisis; having greater accountability for and more investigations of police brutality; and divesting from the Metropolitan Police Department and reinvesting the funds to support the long-term prosperity of black and brown communities with programs like mentoring low-income students, youth-focused organizations and violence interruption initiatives.

8. Community: A block in Petworth came up with the idea to organize a DC Juneteenth Front Yard Festival for Justice! — and now it’s developed into a citywide event happening on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. Neighbors are welcome to join one another at a safe physical distance on their respective front yards, porches and balconies — or, as the description puts it, “to gather together — apart.” Suggested programming includes banging on pots from 7 to 7:09 p.m. followed by a minute of silence for George Floyd from 7:09 to 7:10 p.m. Other ideas are cooking, listening to music, talking, making lawn signs, and marching on sidewalks in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

9. Fitness: DC Fray is offering a virtual workout Sweat with Pride on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class, presented by Constellation Brands and Balance Gym, celebrates LGBTQ+ communities. It will be followed by a digital happy hour. Tickets cost $5 (virtual beverages are not included). Registration ends one hour before the event.

10. Arts: RAW is an independent arts organization that is presenting the National Arts Drive in 10 cities, including the District. Local artists are invited to display their work from windows, balconies, driveways, lawns and workspaces from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The community is welcome to drive or ride through town to experience the art at a safe distance. Participating DC artists include Jastin Artis, Meghan Moody, Princess Riddick, Christina Rago, Rae Shine, Ala the Heartist and Marblen Art. A map will highlight art locations for drivers to plan their journey. Additionally, RAW is displaying art on its website. Those interested in supporting artists are encouraged to do so by liking, following or sharing artists’ work on social media, tipping artists through Venmo or PayPal, or purchasing art through individual artists’ online stores. The RAW team is working to expand internationally and welcomes ambassadors to join the movement.