The public is invited to join in the celebration of the Capitol View Library’s sixth annual Community Music Festival, “A Celebration of Unity and Culture” on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at 3 p.m. Launched in 2019, the festival was created to encourage students, professionals, seniors and families to reconnect with the newly renovated library. The event, which kicked off in December six years ago, is held annually and serves as both a celebration of community and a reminder of the library’s role as a vibrant hub for all.
Located at 5001 Central Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., this exciting event showcases top-tier entertainment, including solo performances, singing groups, dancers, rappers, poets and activists, all coming together to celebrate the arts and the library’s cultural significance. This festival was conceived during the Capitol View Library’s grand reopening in March 2019, when Mayor Bowser emphasized the importance of modernizing D.C.’s libraries to meet the evolving needs of the community.
While the festival takes place in December, it is not a holiday event. Instead, its purpose is to foster collaboration and promote sustainable funding for community programs hosted at the library. The festival will feature a powerful mix of performances and presentations, including:
• Solo and group music performances
• Dance routines
• Rappers and spoken word poets
• A “Enough Is Enough” campaign against gun violence
• Teenagers and young adults with special needs sharing their stories and talents
• Inspirational speeches
In an exciting addition, for the first time, Mike Ramsey, Robert Eugene Young’s former supervisor at the Department of Commerce, will present “Words of Wisdom.”
A special thank-you goes out to gospel soloist the Rev. Niketa D. Wilson, who has been instrumental in connecting artists to the festival and marketing the event. This marks her third year participating and her second year as a co-host. You can also catch her soulful rendition of “Inseparable” on DC Robb Productions’ YouTube channel.
Youth Artists to Watch:
• Amad (20): Watch his “Shot 4 the Starz” video on YouTube.
• Jordan Brown (12): Recently released his debut album, “Just For Me” b/w “God Said.” Find him on Facebook at “J Brown Sings.”
To support the library, you can contribute in several ways: Volunteer to earn community service hours or donate books, media or funds. For more information on how to get involved, contact the Friends of Capitol View Library at 202-350-1297 or email capitolviewlibrary@gmail.com. Donations can be mailed to 5001 Central Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. 20019.
To book, audition or donate to the Urban Nation HIP-HOP Choir, reach out via their website at www.urbannationchoir.org, email urbannationinc@gmail.com, or call 202-422-5775.
The Community Music Festival wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Friends of Capitol View Library. As a nonprofit organization acting as a liaison between the D.C. Public Library Department and the community, the board of Friends advocated tirelessly for funding during the library’s renovation. Robert Eugene Young served as treasurer and currently is vice president of programming.
Unfortunately, the project faced a budget cut from $21 million to $10 million. However, thanks to continued advocacy of Iola Anyan and the late Judge Francel Billinger and community support, they were able to get another $1 million for the exterior for the renovation, which had evolved into an $8.6 million project that not only upgraded the interior but also gave the building a modern, community-centric exterior.
Join us Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at the Capitol View Library to support Robert Eugene Young and the Friends of the Capitol View Library. It promises to be an event you won’t soon forget!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.