Delaware 250

DE250 Grant Spotlight: Elevate Vocal Arts

Through a DE250 grant, Elevate Vocal Arts presented two performances that explored American history, social justice, and the Black experience through music and spoken word, connecting audiences with Delaware's role in those stories.

The grant helped fund:
📜"Song of the Revolution," presented at Grace United Methodist Church in April 2025, showcased the powerful poetry and music of Black American poets like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou
🎶 "Lift Every Voice," presented in June 2025 at the Freeman Arts Pavilion, highlighted the impact of Black Americans on music and the nation's history

Project impact:
•Reached more than 230 audience members through performances featuring more than 50 artists
•Created meaningful opportunities to explore history, community, and social justice through music
•Supported emerging artists by providing opportunities to perform alongside experienced professionals

Every Delaware story matters, and we're proud to support organizations like this one bringing those stories to life.

To learn more about Elevate Vocal Arts, visit https://elevatevocalarts.org/

Learn more about the Delaware 250 Grant Program here: https://delaware250.org/grant-opportunities/

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 🎺 Historic people & places that help tell Delaware's story • A Wilmingtonian who changed the face of jazz.
🔗 outandaboutnow.com/our-clifford-brown

The 39th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival will be held August 2-8 in Rodney Square, Wilmington.

In celebration of Delaware 250, this monthly series will spotlight historic people and sites unique to our state.

DE250 Grant Spotlight: Greater Harrington Historical Society

Through a Delaware 250 grant, the Greater Harrington Historical Society renovated its collections storage area and implemented a cataloging program, making it easier to preserve, organize, and retrieve artifacts.

The grant helped fund:
📋 A summer intern to establish and implement the Society's first collections cataloging program
📦️ Renovations to improve the Society's collections storage area

Project impact:
• Improved access to the Society's stored holdings
• Enhanced preservation through climate-controlled storage
• Increased capacity to serve visitors and researchers for years to come

Every Delaware story matters, and we're proud to support organizations like this one bringing those stories to life.

To learn more about the Greater Harrington Historical Society, visit:
https://ghhsociety.org/

Learn more about the Delaware 250 Grant Program: https://delaware250.org/grant-opportunities/

🎤 Join us this Friday for another groovy night of poetry at the North Wilmington Branch Library!

For July our VOICES OF WILMINGTON summer seminar and open-mic series returns with featured poetic voices:

This month we feature poetic voices of Mr. Wilmington AKA G-Dash Jones, artistic advocate and poet Little Turtle Who Sees, and MCed by Torrey Francis Malek!

After the featured panel, the mic opens to the community. Bring a poem to share, come support local writers, or simply enjoy an inspiring evening of words and connection.

All voices are welcome, and admission is free. Come be a voice of Wilmington!

🎟️ Learn more and register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-wilmington-a-community-reading-series-july-reading-tickets-1993483651264

This past Saturday, the Freeman Arts Pavilion hosted THIS IS DELAWARE: An Arts Celebration for DE250, and event blending conversation and performance to explore how the arts reflect who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed over the next 250 years.

Thank you to the Freeman for hosting such a thoughtful evening, and to everyone who joined us as we continue commemorating the Semiquincentennial!

https://www.freemanarts.org/events/2026/de250

Delaware’s history is on the move! Earlier this year, DART First State unveiled the DE250 bus, featuring a special wrap created in collaboration with Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Delaware 250.

As it travels across the First State, the DART DE250 bus celebrates Delaware’s important place in America’s story. Have you spotted it yet?

🌽 DE250 Grant Spotlight: Native Roots Farm Foundation

Through a Delaware 250 grant, Native Roots Farm Foundation created Seeds of Change: Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, a project that helps preserve and share the Lenape and Nanticoke languages while reconnecting people with Delaware's native plants and Indigenous traditions.

The grant helped fund:
🌱 An interactive educational poster featuring 22 native plants in the Lenape and Nanticoke languages.
🍃 Free Mahchikpi (pawpaw) samples and seeds, helping people reconnect with one of North America's largest native fruits while learning about its cultural significance.

Project impact:
• 187 posters distributed free to Indigenous community members
• 1,785 people sampled Mahchikpi or took home seeds to grow their own trees
• Indigenous ecological knowledge and language shared with communities throughout Delaware and beyond

Every Delaware story matters, and we're proud to support organizations like this one bringing those stories to life.

To learn more about Native Roots Farm Foundation and the Seeds of Change project, visit https://www.nativerootsde.org/theplace

Learn more about the Delaware 250 Grant Program: https://delaware250.org/grant-opportunities/

🚨 𝘛𝘖𝘕𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛'𝘚 𝘚𝘊𝘙𝘌𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘗𝘖𝘚𝘛𝘗𝘖𝘕𝘌𝘋 ❔ 𝗙.𝗬.𝗜. ❔ Special Screenings of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 • Wilmington Celebrates Delaware 250 has teamed with WHYY for two 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘌 showings of a 45-minute screener of Ken Burns’ acclaimed television miniseries 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
• NOW: Wednesday, 7/22, 8PM: Urban Artist Exchange (𝘗𝘖𝘚𝘛𝘗𝘖𝘕𝘌𝘋 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺)
• Thursday, 7/23, 6:30PM: The Screening Room at 1313

𝗙.𝗬.𝗜. ❔ Special Screenings of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 • Wilmington Celebrates Delaware 250 has teamed with WHYY for two 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘌 showings of a 45-minute screener of Ken Burns’ acclaimed television miniseries 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
• Thursday, 7/16, dusk: Urban Artist Exchange (𝘗𝘖𝘚𝘛𝘗𝘖𝘕𝘌𝘋 𝘵𝘰 7/22 - 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴)
• Thursday, 7/23, 6:30PM: The Screening Room at 1313

The Fourth of July may have passed, but Delaware's 250th celebration continues.

Throughout the past two years, Delaware 250 has been proud to support organizations across the First State through grant funding that has helped bring history to life in communities large and small.

Now, we're turning the spotlight on those partners. From exhibits and educational programs to performances, publications, and community events, these projects showcase the many ways Delaware's stories are being shared and preserved.

Stay tuned as we celebrate the organizations whose work continues to make Delaware250 a true statewide commemoration. 🇺🇸