by Sabrina Feggans | Photo by Kristen Finn
The Soul of C-Ville event was everything you’d expect when celebrating Black excellence. The multi-day event was a breath of fresh air with vibrant music, creative talent, delicious food, and unapologetic, energetic power of independence. From the moment I arrived and took the stage to co-host the event, the atmosphere was electric. Music filled the air, rich conversation and laughter echoing amongst vendors during setup. There was a sense of peace, pride, and rekindled friendships that you could feel as the event began. Vendors offered their talents & passion in an assortment of products and services that supported, build and educated the community while increasing economic growth. Whether a participant, an attendee, a photographer, bartender or volunteer, everyone had a connection to the community.
The evening turned into a powerful testimony of our black togetherness. It was a living testament of the strength, resilience and beauty of black culture in Charlottesville. As the event MC, I had the pleasure of introducing talent to the stage, ranging from hip-hop artists, youth dancers and the notable fashion models symbolizing blackness in every shade. Hosting the Soul of Cville, it was a pleasant reminder that our Black culture is dynamic, evolving and filled with love – love for the culture, love for the support, love for empowerment. For once, it was a space to be unapologetic ourselves. Soul of Cville embodied the richness of traditions, courage and inspiration. This annual event is a gathering of people connected by experiences, history and hope for a brighter community and future. The Soul of Cville was not just an event it is a part of Charlottesville’s history, and I am blessed to be a part of this historic moment.