Join us on February 12th & 13th, 2022, for the 3rd Annual Black History Month Celebration: 1619Fest Orlando in Historic Hannibal Square!
1619 historically marks the arrival of African captives from Angola, Africa, to Point Comfort, Hampton, Virginia. The nationwide celebration of 1619 is a solemn yet, celebratory remembrance of over 400 years of African descendant’s perseverance and struggle through the institutions of slavery and racism in America. Yet, unfortunately, public memory has primarily excluded people of African descent from America’s original narrative. Therefore, 1619 celebrations also include awareness and education regarding the contributions and social history of peoples of African descent and their history in America.
The Equity Council Corp. (“ECC”), a West Winter Park nonprofit and community advocacy group, was organized in 2018 with a mission to fight for equity in education for disfranchised students and their community. In 2019, the ECC received rights from the National Parks Service: 400 Years’ African American History Commission Act, which allowed the first commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the first African captives to arrive in Point Comfort, Hampton, Virginia. Our award-winning festival is now in its 3rd year and is an annual event in Winter Park, Florida.
This year’s 1619 Festival theme is “Maafa to Freedom” Surviving, Thriving, Resilience! The Maafa, the “Great Tribulation” known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade, lasted between August 20th, 1619 to January 1st, 1863 (ex. TX, June 19th, 1865 or “Juneteenth”).
MAAFA (pronounced Mah- AH-fah) is a Kiswahili word. In 1988, Dr. Marimba Ani, a Black scholar, and author introduced the term, which defines the catastrophic event experienced by millions of African people during the Middle Passage, from Africans bound for enslavement in the Americas.
Friday, February 11, 2022
642 W. New England Avenue
Winter Park, Florida 32789
On View: February 11–June 4, 2022
Location: Hannibal Square Heritage Center | Visiting Exhibition Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday, February 11th, 7–9 pm
Live entertainment from past festivals will include: Marvin Burnett of New Generation Branches Steel Orchestra | Special Appearance by StoryTeller Gennia Holder as “Alexandria T. Wolf”
DJ services provided by Flat Foot Entertainment
Refreshments will be served
Kicking off this year’s 1619 festivities, “Maafa to Freedom” Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!” starts with an evening of art at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center; our exclusive event sponsor. This event will showcase several of Central Florida’s top artists in an exhibit entitled: Community Collage: Artists from The Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk & Urban Art Festival. The exhibition opening reception is Friday, February 11th, 2022, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
1050 W. Morse Boulevard in Winter Park
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Our two-day Black History Month Celebration continues on Saturday, February 12th, 2022, at 7:00 a.m., with our Rebel Run 5K at 1050 W. Morse Boulevard in Winter Park, FL with a 3.5 running path through the historic African American community of Hannibal Square.
Rebel Run early birds can register online through Eventbrite to run in the Rebel Run 5K. Beginning in 2021, the Red, Black & Green Rebel Run 5K was added to the 1619Fest to pay homage to Hannibal Barca, esteemed as North Africa’s most famous war general and the namesake for Winter Park’s Hannibal Square. The Rebel Run Race is for runners and walkers of any age or pace! Race registration fees cover your race registration, Rebel Run bib, and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Water and hydrations stations will be along the route. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Race Registration begins at 6:00 a.m. So, get ready to let your inner rebel run free!
After the race, enjoy light refreshments and a free cool-down yoga session sponsored by, 2004 American Track and Field Olympic Gold Medalist and Certified Yoga Instructor, Ms. Moushaumi Robinson. The yoga session starts at 9 a.m. in the first field at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. After the cool-down with Ms. Robinson, stay and enjoy the 1619 Fest Orlando Health and Wellness Fair. Enjoy connecting with Health and Wellness professionals of color all-day and enjoy a full day of festivities with live music, family, and group play sponsored by Rene’s Dynamic Sports Center. Please see our list below for the following family play activities:
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Group Exercise) – All Ages
12:00 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Squid-ish Games) – All ages, 2 Teams
2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. (Kick Ball) – All Ages, 2 Teams
Sunday, February 13th, 2022
721 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
12 noon to 6 p.m.
On Sunday, February 13th, 2022, come celebrate The SOKO Marketplace’s 3rd anniversary! The SOKO Marketplace is Hannibal Square’s economic empowerment engine for businesses owned and operated by people of color that takes place at Shady Park weekly. Enjoy musical performances and vendors all-day as we celebrate the restoration of Black business to the historic African American Neighborhood of Hannibal Square, in Winter Park, FL, founded in 1881.
At 1:00 p.m., join us for a special panel discussion “Maafa to Freedom” Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!” – the discussion will cover the importance of remembering our collective experiences and defining our lived experience by African terminology. However, how do we regain our collective identity? How do we heal as a people? How are we adjusting to our current environments? Participants will include Dr. Kevin Washington and distinguished guests.
Kevin Washington (Mwata Kairi), Ph.D., is an Afrikan-Centered psychologist licensed in Florida and Washington, DC. He has taught/lectured at several colleges nationally and internationally. Additionally, he has been featured on NBC Universal (BEN), National Alliance to End Homelessness, Roland Martin as well as Onyx Magazine, Essence Magazine, Vocal Point, and many other national and international organizations. Kevin is a Past President of the Association of Black Psychologists and is currently an Associate Professor and Head of the Sociology and Psychology at Grambling State University, the National Director of Black Marriage Day, and the founder of Ubuntu Psychology through which he provides culturally-relevant trauma-informed care and interventions, trainings and workshops. To discover more about Dr. Washington preceding our event, please visit www.mwataspeaks.com.
For information about our festival’s schedule of activities, please see our website at https://www.equitycouncilcorp.org/1619, or check out our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook @1619FestOrlando and @rebel_run for a list of ongoing festival activities.
All the proceeds from 1619Fest Orlando Events, Rebel Run 5K, The SOKO Marketplace, and our festival merchandising will go towards our December 2022 trip to Rwanda, Africa, with our educational partner Birthright AFRICA. For more information about our educational tour or additional ways to donate, visit www.equitycouncilcorp.org/birthright-africa for more info.
This festival is Open and Free to the public. However, some events require ticketing; tickets can be purchased through this Eventbrite page. Also, Vendor opportunities are available. Please go to: https://www.equitycouncilcorp.org/vendors, for further details if interested in vendor details or contact equitycouncilcorp@gmail.com.
Come together for Black History Month and embrace this year’s 1619Fest Orlando theme “Maafa to Freedom” Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!
Special thanks to our event sponsors:
The Equity Council Corp.
The SOKO Marketplace
The Winter Park Community Center / The City of Winter Park
The Hannibal Square Heritage Center
CultureBorn
The 400 Years African American History Commission
Coalition For Acess and Representation
Kidz College Primary School (KCPS)
Bridging The Color Divide
Orlando Regional REALTOR® Foundation
Presented by Hannibal Square Heritage Center and Crealdé School of Art at Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Winter Park FL
February 11 – June 4, 2022 | Opening Reception: Friday, February 11, 7 – 9 pm (Free Admission)
“Community Collage” dives deeper into the creative genius behind the dynamic works by artists who have exhibited at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk & Urban Art Festival over its 12-year history. These culturally and ethnically diverse artists—many of whom are self-taught—will share their paintings, jewelry, quilts, and sculptural works, along with their inspiration and artistic journeys in text panels and video. Co-curated by Folk & Urban Art festival creator and Heritage Center Manager Barbara Chandler and Patrick Noze, an Orlando-based Haitian American artist and educator.