A New House Celebration

We celebrated the newly elected members of Congress on January 4, with special guest moderators, Medea Benjamin (CODEPINK) and Raed Jarrar (Iraqi-American Peace and Human Rights Activist). The audience raised domestic and international issues they wanted to discuss with members of Congress who may have attended.

Many members of congress were still in session, but Rep. David Cicilline and a staff member of Rep. Ro Khanna were able to join us in discussion with our moderators and audience. We were also joined by spoken word artist Dior Ashley Brown, and Bob Bland and Kristin Mink of the Women’s March. The discussion brought challenging questions, different perspectives and new outlooks. Below are some photos of the celebration that night. You can also catch our Facebook Live recap here.

Audience asked questions and raised points for discussion at the Busboys and Poets New House Celebration event
Audience asked moderators and guests about domestic policy and social issues
Representative David Cicilline for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district joined Busboys and Poets for a New House Celebration at its 14th & V location.
Rep. David Cicilline joined us to celebrate the new Congress. He represents Rhode Island’s 1st district and was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.
Dior Ashley Brown performs a piece at Busboys and Poets New House Celebration event.
Spoken word artist, Dior Ashley Brown
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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

6. Langston Hughes in Cuba

Follow along for the Busboys and Poets Travel Tribe’s Cultural Exchange trip to Cuba (July 6-13, 2022) By Andy Shallal (@andyshallal CEO/Founder, Busboys and Poets) The Union of Writers and Artists is one of the oldest institutions formed after the Cuban revolution. The year was 1961. Its first president was Nicolas Guillen. Cuba’s national poet. Named … Continued

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Angela Davis coming to 450K

With Angela Davis coming to Busboys and Poets – 450K next month, we thought to re-read the full transcript of her iconic speech at the Women’s March in 2017.  Be sure to mark your calendars for October 11th, 2018 at 6:30pm.  Food and drinks will be available throughout the event and books will be available … Continued

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Happy Fourth of July.

A message from Busboys and Poets Founder, Andy Shallal Happy Fourth of July. My family moved to this country in 1966 when I was 10. I know the decision to pull up roots from our homeland in Iraq and replant them in a place that was unfamiliar was not an easy one. Like so many … Continued