For Women’s History Month, Brooklyn-based cultural organization 651 ARTS is highlighting the leadership and vision of Black women who have guided the institution and its programming for years.
Founded and led by Black women, 651 ARTS has long centered the work, stories and ideas of artists and cultural leaders from the African diaspora. While that commitment continues year-round, March provides a special opportunity to spotlight conversations and programs that honor women’s influence across creative industries and community spaces, according to officials.
The first program, Creating Something From Nothing: A Conversation with April Walker, will feature renowned fashion designer and entrepreneur April Walker. Widely recognized as a pioneer in streetwear culture, Walker built her influential brand Walker Wear from the ground up during the early years of hip-hop fashion, helping define a style that blended music, culture and urban identity.
During the conversation, Walker will reflect on her path as a creative entrepreneur and the lessons she learned while building a brand in an emerging industry. The discussion will explore how creativity, courage and decisive action can transform uncertain moments into opportunities for growth. Attendees can expect insights into Walker’s experiences navigating the fashion world, as well as reflections on the importance of resilience and bold thinking when bringing new ideas to life.
The program is scheduled for Friday, March 20, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
The following evening, the organization will host a second event focused on storytelling as a powerful tool for reflection and healing. Titled Telling Our Stories… Saving Our Lives: The Power of Healing in Storytelling, the program is presented in partnership with The Magnolia Play Project.
Founded by award-winning playwright Cynthia Grace Robinson, The Magnolia Play Project is a creative initiative dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the voices of Black women storytellers. Through performance, dialogue and collaboration, the project highlights the importance of narrative in shaping how communities remember, process and understand their experiences.
The evening will bring together a group of writers and performers to explore the impact of works written by and about Black women. Panelists include Goldie E. Patrick, Antu Yacob, Lisa Rosetta Strum, Carolyn Michelle Smith and Robinson. Together, they will examine how storytelling can serve as both a creative practice and a form of healing.
The conversation will also consider the idea of storytelling as a neural intervention, a process through which personal and collective narratives can help people process trauma, reclaim identity, and reimagine the future.
Telling Our Stories… Saving Our Lives will take place Saturday, March 21, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
651 ARTS is located at 10 Lafayette Ave. in Downtown Brooklyn.
