08/31/2026
COMMUNITY N RHYTHM
August 2 • Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center
On August 2, I had the pleasure of hosting a beautifully special afternoon at Fogartyville in honor of Melanie A Lavender Lavender, and I’m still carrying pieces of it with me. Hosting gave me a front-row seat to something really beautiful: community showing up for community.
Artists, small businesses, and friends donated their work, services, products, and experiences to the silent auction—not simply to fill a table, but to pour something of themselves into the evening. kept us loved on with some delicious light bites, and the performers… whew. Amazingly talented. Every single one brought something different into the room, and I genuinely enjoyed introducing, witnessing, and celebrating each offering. Whole vibes....💓
This clip is from my spoken-word performance alongside percussionist . There is something about poetry meeting rhythm that lets the words breathe differently.
What I remember most about the evening, though, is the spirit of it.
People came together.
People gave.
People laughed.
People listened.
People shared.
People showed love.
Mel, I hope you know what a beautiful reflection of your life it was to see so many people willing to bring their gifts into one space and place them beside you.
And to everyone who contributed, performed, donated, attended, worked behind the scenes, trusted me to help guide the evening, encouraged somebody, bid on something, shared a smile, or simply brought dope energy into the room—thank you.
Community is still one of the most beautifulest things we have. May we continue to show up for one another with grace, generosity, and love. 🤎