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Through its flagship initiative, "Forty Under 40," PGCSIF has worked as a catalyst for social impact, creating a center of gravity for innovation in Prince George’s County. In 2017, the PGCSIF decided to expand its mission to actively support local artists and transform communities through art and the creative process. The beginning of this partnership, in many ways, was formed last March when PGAAMCC’s Executive Director Chanel Compton served on the review panel for this year’s Forty Under 40 awards ceremony. We believe that PGAAMCC is an important institution in Prince George's County. Annually, PGAAMCC education and community programs serve over 4,000 students in Prince George’s County schools and over 2,000 Prince George’s residents. With these statistics, this partnership, "Forty Under 40 with Forty Under 40," was inevitable. |
| | First Friday is a PGAAMCC signature event that the Museum introduced in the summer of 2016. The mission of the event is to create an opportunity for artists, educators, experimenters, entrepreneurs, and community members to meet, network, and experience local music and art. On the evening of August 4 at 6pm, PGCSIF and PGAAMCC will welcome and introduce both audiences -- the socially responsible leader, the creative thinker, and the artistic doer and shaker-- all in one space.
The featured artist will be Patrick Washington aka Black Picasso. Patrick is a 2012 Forty Under 40 recipient who is regarded by many as one of the our country’s premier performance poets. While he is not performing classic poetry for the hip hop generation, Patrick is also involved in civic discourse concerning the arts, affordable housing and mentoring, namely, at Young Audiences of Maryland, America Scores, Youthbuild, and the Gateway Community Development Corporation. |
| | (Def Poetry - Patrick Washington - Letter To The Editor) |
| First Friday with Forty Under 40 is free event and open to the public. It will be the first of many opportunities to meet and greet in Prince George’s County. Open bar for PGAAMCC members. Complimentary drink with entry. Donations are encouraged.
For those who are unable to attend the event, you can find updates and photos from the event using the hashtag #FirstFridayPGC, #PGAAMCC and #PGCSIF. There will also be another event planned at the beginning of next year -- February 2, 2018. But you don’t want to miss this!
For further information about First Friday networking opportunities, please contact Shauntia White via email at shauntia@innovateprincegeorges.org. If you are a recipient of Forty Under 40 and would like to join the First Friday Planning Committee, please contact Daniel Bradley at dan@danielchristianbradley.com.
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Special thanks to the First Friday Planning Committee (Daniel Bradley ('16), Paris Adon ('16), Antonio Hernandez ('17) and Nicole Gardner (friend of PGCSIF) who serve as ambassadors for the Prince George's County Social Innovation Fund and PGAAMCC for establishing this partnership. |
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