Humanities DC

William (Phresh Ingredient) Clarke IV's photography captures more than a moment. As a visual storyteller, community curator, and producer, he specializes in documentary portraiture and long-form photojournalism. His work focuses on individuals who are often overlooked, creating spaces where people truly feel seen.

Phresh, a graduate of our 2026 Community Journalism Program (CJP), is combining his artistic eye with journalism to document and preserve culture directly from the neighborhood's perspective.

We are excited to celebrate Phresh as the first member of our 2026 cohort to have his CJP article published. His piece, “How ‘beautification’ threatens DC’s treasured skate spots,” features both his reporting and original photography, and is now live on Medium via 730DC.

Visit phreshingredient.com to see his work and learn more about his latest project, the Phresh Portrait Pull Up Pop Up.

🔗 Read Phresh's full highlight here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Kick-Off-June-with-DC-DOX--hometown-DC--and-More-.html?soid=1102288667491&aid=4xhc6StREH8

What does it mean to call the nation’s capital home?

We are thrilled to announce "hometown DC," a city-wide collaboration featuring oral history and outdoor exhibitions at a DC Public Library in every ward. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, we are passing the mic to the people who call DC home.

Through immersive outdoor installations—designed as interactive cubes—and free public events in partnership with the Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company, we invite you to explore newly recorded oral history interviews from 21 Washingtonians sharing their stories of arrival, belonging, or pride in the District.

These stories will be presented in conversation with past oral history interviews from the People's Archive at the DC Public Library, historic photographs from the DC History Center, and works by local artists from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities's Art Bank.

"hometown DC", a joint project of HumanitiesDC, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the DC History Center, and DC Public Library, celebrates the vibrant culture and diversity that define Washington, DC.

Join us this summer to celebrate the fabric of our city! Stay tuned to learn more and see the full schedule of upcoming events.

Click here to read the full press release: https://dchistory.org/news-and-insights/new-oral-history-exhibition-hometown-dc-opens-june-2026/

Image of Dahlia Aguilar, narrator in “hometown DC.” Photo by Farrah Skeiky

This project is part of the following initiatives:
DC250
By the People Conversations Beyond 250

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

New Oral History Exhibition “hometown DC” Opens June 2026 hometown DC is a citywide public history project celebrating DC residents through oral histories, outdoor exhibits, and community events across all eight wards.

Looking for Wednesday plans? We’d love to see you at metrobar DC tomorrow, May 20 from 6-8 PM, for our Humanitini happy hour fundraiser! More than a happy hour, the Humanitini is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Meet Denzell Spencer, one of our board members bringing this event to life!
Denzell followed his passion for the humanities all the way to DC to pursue an English degree at Howard University. As a teacher of literature and writing, Denzell now shares the importance of humanities with DC’s next generation of humanists.

Despite the ongoing challenges facing humanities-focused organizations across the country, Denzell is hopeful events like this can help bring people together. He shares, "I believe our Humanitini event can galvanize residents of DC and inspire the connection needed to fuel the mission-driven work that helps all of us thrive...I imagine that this event will spark joy, connection, and ultimately collaboration."

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Plus, thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Tickets are $25 (includes food + entry). Click the link to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator

There’s still time to grab a ticket for our Humanitini happy hour fundraiser taking place tomorrow, May 20 from 6-8 PM at (640 Rhode Island Ave NE)! More than a happy hour, the Humanitini is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Meet Nia Crawford, one of our board members bringing this event to life!
A proud DC native, Nia cares deeply for the community that raised her. While trips to the National Mall were part of her childhood, she recognized early on that the District’s stories live with its residents.

When asked about her vision for this event, Nia shares, "I hope [the Humanitini] sparks real conversations about the future of the humanities in DC and how we can better use our platforms to show just how special this city and its communities truly are. DC is so much bigger than the monuments...the soul of this city is because of the people who live here and the stories they carry with them."

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Plus, thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Tickets are $25 (includes food + entry). Click the link to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator

Congratulations to our Cycle I Grantees! 🎉 This cycle, we are proud to support 41 projects through three grant categories: Community Culture & Heritage, DC Oral History Collaborative - Oral History Interviewing, and Visions - Projects + Events.

Through these Community Grants, we will support efforts such as: the production of documentaries and digital storytelling by local creators; the preservation of neighborhood traditions and Washingtonians' memories through oral histories; the exploration of identity and civic advocacy through youth-centered projects; the appreciation of artistic expressions including music and dance, and the celebration of the District’s unique cultural heritage through literature and community festivals.

We also want to show our appreciation for the expertise and dedication of our 83 volunteer grant reviewers–a record number for a single cycle. On average, our reviewers donated 20 hours of their time to the peer-review process.

We look forward to checking back in on our grantees and sharing their work and the ways you can get involved or learn more. Stay tuned to learn more!

🚇Grab your metro card and meet the HumanitiesDC board and staff at on May 20! The Humanitini Happy Hour Fundraiser is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Each $25 ticket includes food + entry:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator
🗓️ May 20 | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Ave NE