Let’s Get The Party Started!

Mannnnnnnn, what a life! What a world! In times like these, cultivating JOY is ESSENTIAL! And we think that 24 years is definitely worth celebrating.

We are calling all of our supporters, near and far, to gather ‘round for this celebration of longevity and commitment to keeping soulful creative expression front and center in our lives. Soul Sanctuary turns 24 on April 10, but weekends tend to be super-busy for our audience, so we shifted a few days later to a more after-work-and play vibe. Join us at the historic Progress Plaza for a few hours of fun and fellowship, with activities happening all around the room.

Pick your pleasure and spend a few moments with our archival video clips on the screens, Bernard on live performance and creating a visual masterpiece in real time, Shareese sharing some tunes for our podcast viewers and for those on-site, and more TBA treats. This one is truly a family affair, and encompasses some of the best aspects of National Jazz Appreciation and Poetry Months as well.

Tickets are $10 general admission, or $24 for Soul Supporters who want to add a donation on top of the cover charge. We look forward to greeting and partying with you soon!

A BLACK HISTORY REFRESH

OUR SUMMER PROGRAM HAS BIRTHED A RECORDING!

Our latest labor of love, RAISE [Resurrect, Amplify, Inspire, Share, Educate] has concluded, and has yielded an incredible EP of 6 tracks. The project merges samples from sermons delivered by the late Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan with contemporary hip-hop production from celebrated beat maker Hezekiah Davis III and original verses from our participants.

What we hope you will gain from listening to and supporting this project is deeper insight into the wisdom and activism of Rev. Sullivan himself, and how hip-hop is a multigenerational bridge to teach history and any other subject our youth need to learn. Adults can also better understand the energy that inspires hip-hop expression and culture, and how it can be used as a tool for advocacy and activism. We are now ready to bring this show on the road to educational and cultural institutions, offering a one-day or multi-session module for teen and adult students. Reach out on the CONTACT US page to schedule a meeting to discuss details.

Here is a 2-minute video highlighting our RAISE interns, ambassadors, and a description of the project.

Soul Sanctuary is also proud to offer PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY to interested schools and other public and private institutions.

Comprised of images from the late Maurice Sorrell, PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY can be offered as a physical installation or as a digital presentation. Sorrell served as the first credentialed Black person in the White House Photographers Corps, at the urging of President Kennedy, and as a 32-year photojournalist with Johnson Publications. These images represent some that never made it to the pages of newspapers or magazines, but offer an insider’s look at American society and politics and Black American lives in their candid moments.

Included below are images from our 2024 collaboration with William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, in conjunction with their Black Student Union, Photography and American Studies departments.