Freedom in Rhythm & Word: A Community Black History Month Event

In honor of Black History Month, join us for an intimate evening where live music and spoken word intersect. This gathering is rooted in presence, storytelling, and cultural reflection, and brings together two powerful performers whose work honors the legacy of Black expression while speaking boldly from the present moment.

Through live music and compelling poetry, the evening explores themes of identity, resilience, love, and lived experience. Set in a warm and intentional space, the performance is designed to feel immersive and communal, inviting audiences to slow down, listen deeply, and be moved.

This is both a celebration and a continuation. A moment to witness Black artistry as living history, where voice becomes archive and story becomes inheritance.

Featured performer include:

Junious 'Jay' Ward is an Emmy nominated poet and teaching artist living in Charlotte, NC. He is a National Slam champion (2018), an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019), author of Sing Me A Lesser Wound (Bull City Press 2020) and Composition (Button Poetry 2023). Jay currently serves as Charlotte's inaugural Poet Laureate and is a 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow and current Writer in Residence for Charlotte Lit. Ward has attended Breadloaf Writers Conference, Callaloo, The Watering Hole and Tin House Winter Workshop. His work can be found in Columbia Journal, Four Way Review, DIAGRAM, Diode Poetry Journal and elsewhere.
ARSENA is an alternative R&B, folk, and soul-influenced singer-songwriter celebrated for her heartfelt melodies and multi-instrumental artistry. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in Charlotte, NC, ARSENA’s musical roots run deep. Her father, the lead singer behind “Dance to the Drummers Beat (1978)”—sampled by icons like Michael Jackson and N.W.A.—not only shaped some of today's R&B legends, but also influenced ARSENA’s artistic evolution. As an independent artist, ARSENA has toured internationally, earned an endorsement from Breedlove Guitars, and received a standing ovation from Michael Jordan. Her latest release, 5ive Sun (2025), co-produced with CTM Outlander Publishing, showcases her growth and versatility as a producer. This follows her third album, Metamorphosis: The Evolution of Arsena, which highlights her signature introspection, and her holiday single, Santa Can You, featured on WCCB TV.

Admission is free.
Stay tuned for an announcement on 1 additional performer.

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Host or Publisher Dear Soul Music Co, LLC.