Brenda Siler

1 week ago | washingtoninformer.com | Brenda Siler

In an annual celebration of trailblazing artistry, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, honored four individuals with America’s highest honor given for jazz April 24-26. The 2025 NEA Jazz Masters are Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and the recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins.

2 weeks ago | washingtoninformer.com | Brenda Siler

With April as Jazz Appreciation Month in the backdrop of the celebration, music professor Fred Irby III was celebrated for 51 years as the driving force behind the Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HUJE)Former students, colleagues, and jazz lovers gathered at the Howard University Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts on April 17 to wish Irby a happy retirement. Under Irby’s leadership, HUJE is one of the most successful and admired college jazz bands.

2 weeks ago | washingtoninformer.com | Brenda Siler

More than 400 women from across the D.C. area, nation, Africa, and the Caribbean gathered at Eaton Hotel in Northwest D.C. April 25-26 for the third annual Black Women in Food Summit (BWIF), sharing ideas about careers in the food industry, under the theme “Limitless: Claiming Space for Abundance.” The third annual summit, started by Dine Diaspora co-founders Nina Oduro and Maame Boakye. served as an inspiring weekend celebrating food, culture, business and the greatness of womanhood.

3 weeks ago | washingtoninformer.com | Brenda Siler

**FILE** Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Musicians and advocates took to Capitol Hill April 8-10 for the annual GRAMMYs on the Hill, a time to honor those in the industry and work to protect the rights of recording artists, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and other forms of manipulating the work of other creatives.

1 month ago | washingtoninformer.com | Brenda Siler

Nearly 400 women are expected to take a deep dive into every aspect of the food business in D.C. on April 25-26 at the third annual Black Women in Food Summit (BWIF) brings renowned chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, food justice advocates, farmers, and food entrepreneurs to steer women toward success in managing the world of food. Co-founded by Nina Oduro and Maame Boakye, this year’s summit theme is “Limitless: Claiming Space for Abundance.”“The food system is expansive.