REFLECTIONS: CONGO SQUARE ATX 2019

Congo Square ATX 2019 Festival took place on Sunday March 24th. There is a need for me to process the experiences of the event. In doing so I chose to honor the sacredness of the event in my meditation.

I woke up on Sunday March 31st and began my day with a prayer and meditation before emerging from my bed. I laid there still with my hands over my heart just breathing. I felt that it was necessary for me to deeply feel my breath and focus my attention on gratitude.

In my meditation I thanked God for allowing me the opportunity to step into the space to see how all the planning for this year’s event had come into alignment. I held myself tightly with compassion and kindness as I reflected on who I have become as a community builder, an organizer, and leader. I am proud of myself for the work I have put into creating the Congo Square ATX 2019 event. These moments of feeling proud are not just about me but more about the talented people who worked together to make the event a success. Without each of these people and the businesses listed below none of this would have been possible.

Much gratitude to the team behind the event.

• Project Manager Janice Schneiberg

• Tonya Smitherman Financial Guru

• Lauren Lyman OtherSide Austin Marketing & Social Media

• Shawn Phillips Studio MSP Imaging Design

• Cameron Belcher Videography

• Mia Pem Stage Manager

• Owen Towles Sound Engineering

• TK Tunchez Vendor Organizer

• Louise Settree Green Room Manager

• Nefer Schooley #1 Roadie

• The Vortex Fiscal Sponsor

• Jerry & Debby Odom Donors

• Anne Weisman Donor

• Arjuna Capital Donor

• Ernesto’s Jewelry Donor

• Michael and Susan Dell Community Foundation Grant

• City of Austin Economic and Cultural Development Grant.

Special shout out to my family from Alabama who came and volunteered their time, energy, and support to make this year’s event so spectacular.

The magic of Congo Square ATX 2019 began with the “Salute to the Ancestors.” I was nervous about conducting this aspect of the Festival.  But I chose to create the altar with fresh picked wild flowers, photographs of people who I have shared unconditional love, and mementos from the earth… stones, pine cones, wood carvings, water, fire and white mountain sage incense. The prayer was given by my sister Danita Ryan from Alabama. She blessed us with her greetings to God. We opened the space for others to call out the names of their ancestors. It was so wonderful to hear the voices from the audience as they engaged and became part of the opening ritual. My last words during the Salute to the Ancestors was “Welcome and thank you all for coming.”

Throughout the day I greeted performers, answered questions, made sure all moving parts were in place to capture the magic of the day. One by one the performing groups came and shared their talents with the community of Congo Square ATX. It was such a great feeling to engage with the performing groups by dancing and bringing audience members to the floor to move to the music. I enjoyed the smiling faces from the stage, audience, vendors, and support team. I remember looking around at the many faces and feeling the energy of joy that was coming through and I thanked God for that very moment.

This was the 3rd Annual Congo Square ATX event and the most successful thus far. Our attendance counter logged over 600 people throughout the day. Our diversity marker showed that the minority community represented 35% of our audience and we collected Zip codes from Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, and Florida.

The end of the day arrived, and it was time for the closing ceremony. We all gathered in a circle holding hands. I thanked each person for choosing to take part in the event. I thanked the team of people who had worked so hard in assuring the success of the event, and I thanked the performers for sharing their talents with us. I asked for each person gathered in the circle to share with us one word that described their experience of Congo Square ATX… “joy, community, happiness, peace, welcomed, thankful, hopeful, blessed, gratitude.”

The impact and outcomes of this year’s event places value upon Congo Square ATX as a “Live Music Happening” in Austin. The goal of DRUM the Program’s Congo Square model is for the platform to be replicated in various cities. I feel passionate about this model as a stage to advocate for the value of diverse Indigenous cultures as essential components within communities. Through collaborative platforms that include Indigenous cultures as stake holders’ in communities we are creating a society that is more vibrant and reflective of the true demographics of our country. It is imperative that the diverse cultures that are part of the tapestry of this great Nation be given the opportunity to offer experiences of their culture for the bridging of understanding of what makes us more alike than different.

We must minimize the idea that within our country there is only one culture… that of the dominant majority. There is a need for holding space for distinct cultural communities to remain whole and intact with their unique heritage. When we speak up for indigenous heritage, we are reaching to create a world that celebrates diversity.  I am proud of the Congo Square ATX Cultural Showcase model as an inclusive and immersive experience of cultures. Where each participant walks away renewed and inspired for a greater humanity.

Congo Square ATX 4th Annual Festival will take place Spring 2020.

Our vision for 2020 is to expand DRUM the Program’s Congo Square platform to Birmingham, Alabama. Look out for a Fall date on this event.

Follow us on social media @DRUM the Program and @Congo Square ATX