Ashley Ja’nae’s Creative Belonging Workshop

The “Creating Belonging” workshop celebrates Black hair stories, fostering belonging, self-acceptance, and community care through reflection and collaborative art-making. It offers a safe, nurturing space for Black individuals, especially women and femmes, to share their hair experiences and create art celebrating Black hair's beauty. The space is divided into zones: a sharing circle for personal stories, reflection stations for introspection, and art-making areas for creative expression. This workshop welcomes Black individuals seeking a supportive environment for creative exploration. On-site support includes setup, technical assistance, accessibility support, and logistics coordination. What is it about? The “Creating Belonging” workshop is about celebrating Black hair and stories, fostering a sense of belonging, self-acceptance, and community care through reflective activities and collaborative art-making. The aim is to create a safe, nurturing, and affirming space for Black folks, especially women and femmes to share their unique hair stories and experiences and to collaboratively create art that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Black hair. How will you use the space? The space will be divided into different zones to accommodate various workshop activities. A central area will be designated for the sharing circle, where participants can gather to share their personal hair stories and experiences. Reflection stations will be scattered around the room, providing quiet areas for introspection and written reflections. Art-making areas will be set up with tables and materials for participants to create individual and collective artworks inspired by their hair journeys. Comfortable seating will be arranged for relaxation and informal networking. Finally, a showcase area will be designated for displaying the completed collective hair sculpture and artwork. Who will be involved? The workshop is designed for Black women and femmes of all ages and backgrounds who are interested in exploring their relationships with their hair and connecting with others who share similar experiences. Participants may include individuals who embrace hair, those navigating hair-related challenges, and allies interested in supporting the empowerment of Black women and femmes. It will be led by the creator of the workshop as well as a possible assistant/ co-facilitator. Who is this for? This workshop is for DC Black women and femmes seeking a safe, welcoming space to share their hair stories, celebrate their identities, and engage in creative expression. I am Ashley Ja'nae and I am an interdisciplinary artist, educator and a DC native from ward 7. My vision for the grant is to use the funds for materials and rental fees as well as funding my collaborators. Being able to cultivate a space where Black folks can express themselves freely and creatively and bond over their shared experiences is important to building community in this city we love. It makes DC smaller in the best way and allows ourselves to be vulnerable, known, and safer with one another. My anticipated project timeline is within 3 months. I have already secured the studio space at an art gallery on the U Street corridor. Week 1: Confirm budget, secure materials, finalize outreach strategy, begin outreach Week 2: Continue outreach, logistics planning, identify on-site set up details and support Week 3: Final preparations, confirm participants, dry run event, Week 4: Workshop execution Week 5: Reflection and evaluation of event