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By Victoria Daniels
Special to the AFRO
What used to be Hunter Memorial AME Church, buzzed with excitement and chatter of community members coming together for the Feb. 14 opening of Creative Suitland, the new arts center in the D.C. suburb.
Creative Suitland is the product of the Revenue Authority and Joe’s Movement Emporium teaming up to create a space to “enhance arts and cultural activities as a means to boost the local creative community, “ according to Creative Suitland’s website.
It all started In 1992 when Brooke Kidd founded World Arts Focus to bring performance and education to local audiences to enhance their knowledge on world traditions. A few years later, Joe’s Movement Emporium, the largest independent performing arts center in Prince George’s County, was born after she and Ajax Joe Drayton noticed a lack of arts representation in Mt. Rainier.
From the same vision to make arts accessible in communities of color that started 25 years ago, Creative Suitland will bring together residents of all ages to promote education, creativity and artistry opportunities by ways of workshops, classes and rentable spaces.
To celebrate the creative addition to the area, the ribbon cutting ceremony featured a program with Suitland High School’s jazz band, words from Joe’s founder and board members, poem readings and even interactive hand-dancing.
“To see something like this just grow out of the community and just be completely open to the community…is heartwarming” said Malachi Robinson, director of Creative Suitland.
Born and raised in Capitol Heights, Robinson said there wasn’t a place like Creative Suitland when he was growing up. He’s looking forward to seeing this center engage people in arts and culture with a low-cost monthly membership, which will allow them to rent the space and take discounted, potentially free classes.
Kyle Reader, board member for Joe’s, said this new center is a catalyst for community development as he addressed the packed house. Also a Prince George’s County resident, Reader recalled his first interaction with Joe’s when he saw a flyer for an open mic night in his area.
“I didn’t have to drive all the way to D.C. to have a good time,” Reader said, as the Mount Rainier is on the border of the Northeast, D.C. line.
Reader said that many often see this neighborhood only for the negative, but by bringing Creative Suitland to the area, it’s “not just changing the narrative, but reclaiming it.”
This center will service those communities in the Greater Suitland area such as Suitland, Coral HIlls, Silver HIll, Forestville, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Camp Springs, Hillcrest Heights, Marlow Heights and Temple Hills.
The facility features dance studios, art galleries and a stage, where the ribbon cutting ceremony and festivities were held.
There is also a large focus on the youth in the Suitland area.
“They can be inspired, they can be encouraged,” said Kathryn Osborne, a local craftsperson who looks forward to youth benefitting from this center. V’Nell DeCosta, a retired senior and Prince George’s County native, sat beside Osborne during the ribbon cutting and said she is excited to see arts back in the community.
To showcase talented youth in the community, the ceremony included Prince George’s County made artists. Mi’Jan Credle, 2019 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate and student at Bowie State University performed a poem that was dedicated to the County and all it has to offer artistically.
Credle, also known by his stage name Project MC, described his hometown as an “ark of innovation” and the youth as a part of “the harlem renaissance, revamped and redesigned.”
Creative Suitland is a way of “stamping Prince George’s County as a place of the arts.” said Credle, who was adamant about Maryland becoming known for the arts similar to New York City, Atlanta and Chicago.
Nala Washington, a senior at Suitland High School who also performed a poem during the program, hopes the center will serve as a safe space for students to express themselves outside of the school parameters.
Washington’s hopes for expression are already becoming a reality as student artwork lines the hallways and covers the walls in rooms at Creative Suitland. The center also has a few events lined up for the remainder of February, including a Goal Mapping Workshop held on 10 am to 2 p.m., Feb. 22, and the Black History Month Poetic Fashion Show, which will be held later that day from 3 to 5 p.m.
In the words of Kidd, “Let’s animate the space from Suitland Metro Center to Pennsylvania Ave.”
More events, details and ways to get involved can be found at www.creativesuitland.org.
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