Joe Davis

JUNETEENTH RECAP

We still celebrating freedom all day, every day—but this year’s Juneteenth was extra live.

BIG LOVE to Butchy Austin and Brass Solidarity for inviting me and Imani out to perform at Minneapolis Institute of Art alongside a fire lineup of artists. They brought funky, soulful, revolutionary vibes throughout the entire night and even joined us onstage for an impromptu jam session!

The Edina Juneteenth was dope too—choirs, dancers, dozens of Black-owed businesses and food trucks. Even the mayor gave me and The Poetic Diaspora a shout out and said he wanted us to come back again.

These are celebratory and symbolic events but they can bolster our spirits to continue the day to day work of liberation.

Holla at me if you need spoken word, live band soul funk music, or a community of practice centering creative power and somatic abolitionism as a pathway to collective liberation.

So much more to come soon.

Let’s get it, let’s go!
Let’s go, let’s get it!

"...there is a second wave of repression coming here in the Twin Cities and beyond and we can only defeat it by organizing and protecting our community." Ways to support in the comments.

“We can honor two things at once. Who we are now. And the vision of who we are becoming.”
—Adeyemi

Shout out to all the present, loving fathers in the world. My dad is definitely one of them and I’m grateful for him everyday. I wouldn’t be the man that I am without him.

Below are a few great questions to dig deeper with your dad or a father figure in your life.

If Father’s Day is a struggle for you because of an absent or strained relationship, I pray you find healing and peace and are able to connect with others who can hold that space for you. You’re not alone.

Here’s to honoring and uplifting men who offer protection, guidance, and care.

Happy Father’s Day!

JUNETEENTH // FREEDOM DAY

I’ve already been celebrating all day and will continue this weekend and beyond. Everyday is freedom day when we practice freedom.

Toni Morrison taught me the purpose of freedom is to help others get free.

That’s why I’m building Finding Your Freedom Practice, where we can practice freedom together. We got a living liberation library of content, curriculum, and community—and today, on Freedom Day, I’m officially announcing the launch of the first ever Freedom Practice cohort, SOUL SEED.

If you wanna join a group of people committing to cultivating arts-based, body-centered freedom practices through a 3-month program—let me know in the comments and I’ll send you the application. There’s a limited number of spots and I’m only working with people who are ready to go deep!

To celebrate Juneteenth, I’m also offering a few free resources below. Tap in and let’s keep practicing freedom together!

Juneteenth Article:
https://bit.ly/JoeDavisJuneteenthArticle

Juneteenth Song - Somewhere In My Mindy by Tyralucia and Joe Davis:
https://bit.ly/SomeWhereInMyMind

Freedom Practice Resource List:
https://bit.ly/FreedomPracticeResourceList

TONIGHT AND TOMORROW! Swing thru!!

Catch me and The Poetic Diaspora groovin’ at the edges of freedom with spoken word and live band music.

We bringing that Juneteenth energy all summer long. Come vibe with us!

JOY LAB

Sometimes we’re surprised by joy.

I’ve been hosting a new family program at libraries and schools called JOY LAB: A Poetic Playground of Rhythm & Groove, and honestly, I had no idea how much fun it would be.

Together, kids and their families explore Hip Hop culture, music, poetry, and creative expression through games, improvisation, movement, and play.

One moment we’re making up silly songs, the next we’re testing our rhyme skills, then we’re choreographing funky dance moves, shaking tambourines, tapping drums, and building a community song together during our Vibe Circle.

It’s part poetry workshop, part dance party, part creativity lab—and a joyful reminder that art belongs to all of us.

If you wanna catch the groove, slide through one of our upcoming events:

June 10 | 10:30–11:30 AM
Mounds View Library

July 18 | 10:30–11:30 AM
White Bear Lake Library

July 21 | 10:30–11:30 AM
Roseville Library

Let’s make some noise,
make some art,
make some joy.

We put the fun in funk
and bring the funk to the function!