The Society, Inc DC Chapter

09/07/2026

The Society, Incorporated, Washington, D.C. Chapter acknowledges Labor Day by honoring the legacy of Nannie Helen Burroughs and her lifelong commitment to dignity, opportunity and progress.

Her words remind us that change requires persistence. Here in Washington, D.C., her legacy lives on, including along the avenue that bears her name.

This Labor Day, we honor those who kept pushing so others could move forward.

08/23/2026

is National Black Business Month, a time to celebrate the entrepreneurs, innovators and visionaries whose ideas, businesses and leadership strengthen our communities and create opportunities for generations to come.

For The Society, Incorporated Washington, DC Chapter, that spirit of creativity and possibility is deeply connected to our own story. Founded in Washington, DC in 1983, by a group of Black professional women, our Founding Chapter helped establish what would become a national organization dedicated to supporting young people in the arts. Today, we continue that legacy by creating opportunities for youth across instrumental, literary, performing, vocal and visual arts.

And we are proud to see that investment taking shape.

This April, several talented young people shared their gifts at our annual Tea. Since then, they have continued to thrive:

Connor Littlejohn, founder of .by.connor, is beginning his freshman year at Morehouse College as a Stamps Scholar, bringing his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit into the next chapter of his journey.
denson Storee Denson, a gifted pianist, continued developing his craft this summer at the Oberlin Summer Organ Academy at Oberlin College.

Kayla Nelson, DC Youth Poet Laureate, brought the power of her voice to a national audience when she opened the plenary session at the United Philanthropy Forum Conference this summer.

Their journeys remind us that creativity doesn’t exist in isolation. The arts cultivate discipline, confidence, communication, imagination and the courage to turn an idea into something meaningful. Those same qualities fuel entrepreneurship and help build strong communities.

Supporting Black businesses means investing in more than what exists today. It means creating the conditions for the next generation of Black creators, entrepreneurs and leaders to thrive.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

What a beautiful afternoon of artistry, elegance, service, and community!

On behalf of The Society, Inc DC Chapter, thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2026 Biennial Spring Awards Tea. We are grateful for your presence, your support, and your continued belief in our mission to support and create opportunities for deserving students of the arts.

Special thanks to Allison Seymour TV, our Mistress of Ceremonies and Emmy Award-Winning News Anchor on WUSA Channel 9, for leading the program with such warmth and grace.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Rodney Whitley, our event coordinator, for helping bring this beautiful celebration to life, and to the Pan Lara band for filling the reception with the festive sounds of Caribbean music.

We were honored to celebrate our distinguished honorees, Dr. Nolan Williams, Jr. and Dr. Percy Thomas, and grateful for the special reading by Actor Chevell Thomas.

To our gifted youth performers, Connor Littlejohn, Kayla Nelson, and Storee Denson, thank you for sharing your extraordinary talents. You reminded us why this work matters.

To our guests, sponsors, supporters, families, friends, and every member of The Society, Incorporated – Washington, DC Chapter, thank you for making the day so memorable.

Together, we continue to celebrate the arts, invest in young talent, and build a legacy of service that reaches across generations.

See you in 2028!