Far too often, the voices and stories of Black people (specifically Black creatives), end up silenced or censored in such a way, that our stories no longer feel like our own. For three creative visionaries in Charlotte, this notion was felt and experienced firsthand. Instead of allowing it to continue, they put their respective talents and resources together to create a hub where Black creatives and creative entrepreneurs, could realize and reach their full potential.
Davita Galloway, David “Dae Lee” Arrington, and David J. Butler established Hue House to support cultural and arts communities of color, by providing the resources and opportunities needed to be successful and contribute to the wellbeing of the community.
To further the vision, they created a series of in-person events called “The Block” to bring the community together in one place, to share ideas and resources. Once the pandemic struck, they quickly shifted to presenting the monthly event in a virtual format.
“As Hov says, ‘I’m good on any MLK boulevard,’ and that’s essentially the feeling at The Block,” Davita Galloway shared. “It is a safe space, whether physically or virtually, for Black creatives to connect. As a result of that exchange, they can learn and teach, grow and expand, as well as realize and uncover their value— given their unique and very valid perspectives.”
The upbeat yet informative events bring a unique theme or topic every time. You can expect to laugh, feel seen, voice concerns and walk away full.
“The best part about The Block is being able to bring creatives together and develop a shared mindset,” David J. Butler said. “Far too often, our gifts and talents are assigned a value without us being present in that conversation. The Block, gatherings and publication, are an opportunity to align and uplift those creative voices.”
If you haven’t caught any of the events, don’t worry, we got you! Simply head to the Online Learning tab at the top of the homepage to catch up on all of the past events.
We also want to go ahead and give you the chance to be in the building (well on the computer screen) for February’s event, “Creators of Culture,” on Feb. 11 at 6:30 pm. You can register to join here. Don’t meet us there, beat us there.
