When the World Is Heavy, Art Is How We Breathe
It is precisely in the darkest times that art is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
A personal letter from Alfonso D. Brooks, Founder of AfriKin — on why this Sunday matters more than ever, and why I need you there.
I’ll be honest with you.
I almost didn’t write this letter. Not because I don’t believe in what we’re doing — I believe in it more deeply than I can put into words. But because I know you’re tired. I know the headlines are relentless. I know your wallet is stretched and your spirit is tested. I know there are a hundred reasons to stay home on Sunday evening and not one of them is wrong.
But I’m writing anyway. Because AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne is happening this Sunday, March 22nd, and I need you to know — really know — what’s at stake.
It is precisely in the darkest times that art is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
Think about every period in history when the world felt like it was coming apart at the seams. When there was war, grief, economic collapse, fear. What did people do? They gathered. They played music. They painted. They sang. They told stories. Not to escape reality — but to remember who they were inside of it.
This Sunday, in the heart of downtown North Miami, we are doing exactly that. We are gathering. The women artists in our exhibition carried their truth into every brushstroke. Leesa Richards and her extraordinary ensemble, and The Harden Project will take the stage and channel the spirit of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson — women who sang through eras far more brutal than our own and left the world more beautiful for it.
This is not just a nice evening out. This is a declaration. That we will not let hardship silence beauty. That we will honor the women who built the world we stand in.
That community is not optional — it is survival.
Every seat filled is a vote for what we believe: that culture heals, that women’s stories matter, and that we are stronger together than we are alone.
AfriKin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every ticket you buy, every donation you give, directly funds artists, educators, and community programs. It keeps this space alive for the next generation of creators who are watching — and wondering — whether their stories are worth telling.
I started AfriKin because I believe in the bridge between where we come from and where we are going. Africa and its diaspora gave the world jazz, gave the world rhythm, gave the world color and courage and resilience. This Sunday, we celebrate that. We celebrate the women who carried it forward.
I’m asking you — friend to friend, soul to soul — come be part of this. Bring someone you love. If you cannot be there in person, please consider donating. And if you can do neither right now, please share this with someone who can. Every action counts. Every person matters.
Doors open at 5:30 PM. The music starts at 6. There will be champagne, there will be stunning art, and there will be something in the air that you will carry with you long after the evening ends.
Come breathe with us.
The event also arrives during a historic moment for the City of North Miami, which is celebrating its centennial anniversary—marking 100 years of community growth, cultural diversity, and civic development.
As the city commemorates this milestone year, Art, Jazz & Champagne complements the celebration by highlighting the artistic voices and cultural traditions that reflect North Miami’s vibrant and diverse community. The event reinforces the city’s ongoing commitment to arts, culture, and creative expression as part of its future vision.
THIS SUNDAY — DON’T MISS IT
AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne
Scott Galvin Community Center (Maison AfriKin)
1600 NE 126th St, North Miami, FL
Live jazz · All-women art exhibition · Complimentary champagne & African tapas
In strategy and stewardship of culture
Alfonso D. Brooks,
Founder of AfriKin
🤝
Breathe with us at Maison AfriKin — year-round cultural programming for the African diaspora in North Miami.
Partner with AfriKin: info@afrikin.orgAfriKin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using the arts and cultural experiences of African origin to build bridges between personal creativity and the collective good of humanity.
Opening creative pathways for learning, understanding, and economic development, AfriKin nurtures artists, educates communities, and promotes sustainable cultural industries that inspire global connection.
Support the Arts with AfriKin
Your donation to AfriKin Foundation directly supports artists, educators, and cultural programs that shape a more connected, compassionate world.
- Tax-Deductible Giving: AfriKin Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit; all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
- Empowering Communities: Every event and exhibition funds educational initiatives, artist grants, and community wellness outreach — because art saves lives.
- Cultural Preservation: We promote African and Diaspora creativity through mentorship, exhibitions, and international exchange, ensuring artists thrive across generations.
When you attend an AfriKin event, you’re not just experiencing culture — you’re investing in humanity.
Community Feedback Request:
We want to hear from you!
What do you think AfriKin can do better?
What would you like to see more of from us in the future?
Please share your thoughts with us by sending an email to info@afrikin.org or leaving a comment below. Your feedback is important to us as we continue to grow and evolve.
