The long awaited Soul of Cville 3 has all the makings of an amazing time. Mark, my words, a time will be had! This annual free festival is happening August 11th through August 13th. Notably, part of Soul of Cville occurs on August 12th, a dark day in Charlottesville’s history, by anyone’s standards. Step into a world where resilience knows no bounds, where the strength of a community shines through even the darkest times. Join us as we reclaim the day that brought strife and despair, transforming it into a recognition of Black excellence and the rich contributions of the Charlottesville/Albemarle Black communities.
Last year, Soul of Cville saw a whopping 7,800 attendees, 50 vendors, and a whole array of community resources, performances, a fashion show, and a stunning community mural. And this year, we’re taking things up a notch with a couple of new additions to the programming! Chic and Classy Image Consulting, 101 Jamz, IX Art Park, and Beyond Fitness with Sabrina have joined forces to create an unforgettable experience for everyone. It would be very remiss of me to neglect to mention the expansive list of sponsors and community collaborators for the Soul of Cville, including, but not limited to: UVA Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Violet Crown, The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, Flow Automotive, Albemarle County Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, DeLa Roll, Virginia is for Lovers, Charlottesville Inclusive Media Project, Discover Black Cville, Virginia Commission for the Arts, City of Charlottesville Office of Equity & Inclusion and Ting.
Kicking off on Friday, August 11th, the festival will be all about our amazing youth and their families. The theme for youth night is “Glow In The Dark”, again, illuminating the resilience to thrive in spite of challenging external circumstances. Prepare to be wowed by a teen-led pop up fashion show, presentation of the Let’s Intentionally Thrive (L.I.T.) scholarship, free food (yes, you read that right!), glow-in-the-dark L.I.T., and Paint, a captivating youth art exhibit, and a special screening of the very fitting movie, “Soul” at sunset in the park. It’s a night that promises to leave you feeling inspired, uplifted and give reminiscent vibes of summertime with your closest cousins. This night is made possible by the generous contributions of Dream Clothing, Plato’s Closet, Belmont Pizza, Flow Automotive, Peace of Mind Helpers, LLC., Just Be Well Experience, Chic & Classy Image Consulting, FeelingNu with Naundi and the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative. This is a perfect way to wrap up the summer as a family or for teens with their friends.
Saturday, August 12th offers a robust list of free programming such as live performances, “The Rose That Grew From Concrete” fashion show, vendors, Black artisans, food trucks and more! If that is not enough, join us over at the Common House for the official afterparty.
Sunday, August 13th, you can expect another free program offering, a panel discussion on Inclusive Black Media, in the Looking Glass. CIM will present its work together to create the 1st Person Charlottesville Podcast in addition to community connections, lift up important conversations, ground our work in service to African American communities and audiences, and build capacity for independent Black media companies and professionals.
Moderated by: Sarad Davenport, Charles Lewis, & Angilee Shah
Featuring: Charlottesville Tomorrow, In My Humble Opinion, Vinegar Hill Magazine, & First Person Charlottesville Contributors
The founding partners of the Charlottesville Inclusive Media project include Charlottesville Tomorrow, a nonprofit public service news organization; In My Humble Opinion Talk Show, an African American female-owned digital production company; and Vinegar Hill Magazine, an independent African American publishing company.
The panel discussion is then followed by a fan favorite, the Dela Roll pop up skating rink, made possible by The Equity Center. The third and final day of the Soul of Cville will wrap with more food, music and“family reunion vibes”.
So mark your calendars, gather your loved ones, and join us for the 3rd iteration of Soul of Cville. Let’s come together, celebrate Black culture, and create a future where unity shines brighter than ever. We can’t wait to have you join us at this soul-stirring extravaganza!
For a list of the order of events and all the details, visit https://www.ixartpark.org/soul-of-cville
Stylishly Yours,
Khalilah Jones
Chic & Classy Image Consulting
Soul of Cville Organizer and Creative Director
