A public, interactive afternoon of live music, storytelling, and open mic — designed for everyone, not just artists. Whether you come to listen or step up to the mic, this is a welcoming space to connect across generations and a powerful way to invite all voices into the ongoing movement for justice.
The afternoon brings together three powerful experiences: Music in Common’s Black Legacy Project, featuring songs, stories, and multimedia performances that trace Black history; a spoken-word showcase hosted by Nina Ligon; and a bold, interactive social justice improv performance from the CFA Repertory Theatre’s “Say It Loud”.
As we mark 250 years of American democracy — and the unfinished work to make it real for all — this experience draws a direct line from the Civil Rights Movement to today, using music as a force to bring people together and inspire change.
Music In Common
Click Here For Bio
They’re a non-profit called Music in Common, which curates experiences that bring people together across social divides to find common ground. This 2022 CNN Champions for Change Feature is a great short piece to get a sense of them.
- They created the Black LP Album; their debut album is here.
- They also produced a 25 min pilot episode for a seven-part docu-series about Music in Common’s Black Legacy Project, which they submitted to the film competition (though it wasn’t a finalist, the version was still in production).
Black LP YouTube channel
CFA Repertory Theatre
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"Say It Loud" is a high-energy, interactive improv show performed by CFA Rep Theatre actors that brings bold Black voices and unapologetic youth experiences to the stage. The show blends comedy, culture, and quick thinking to explore identity, creativity, and community.
Nina Ligon
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Nina Ligon (@baldheadqueen) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and cultural curator whose work spans spoken word, vocal and stage performance, and community-centered engagement. Over two decades of creative practice, her work explores identity, resilience, and personal transformation through storytelling and an audience-centered approach as a performer, event host, and moderator.
An Air Force veteran formerly stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Nina's path as a creative entrepreneur was shaped by artistic communities across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Atlanta. Her gig-work roots led her into benefit fundraising, where for nearly a decade, she's helped hundreds of organizations raise millions of dollars for the communities they serve.
She is the author of Dramas of a Bald Head Queen (2012), a memoir on growing up as a Black girl in Wichita, Kansas, and Heart of a Queen: Poetry and Prose from the Soul (2013), with new memoir and documentary projects in production.
Nina also works as a cultural consultant, helping organizations and hospitality brands uncover their cultural identity and lead with purpose — including serving as Director of Audience Development for the March On! Film Festival — and as an auctioneer and fundraising consultant bringing performance expertise to philanthropic spaces.
Based in Southeast Washington, DC, Nina serves on the boards of directors for Words Beats and Life and DC Collaborative and is a professional member of the Recording Academy.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001
