Intuition Productions has announced the inaugural Dreamfest Music, Art & Culture Festival, an event aimed at empowering Black families and driving community engagement, will take place at Madison College – Goodman South Campus on Saturday, Aug. 12, noon-5 p.m.
The festival looks to offer the community a diverse range of workshops, entertainment, and cultural experiences at the campus located at 2429 Perry St. in Madison. At a time when there are many voices bringing direct attention to the disparities experienced by Black families, especially in birthing experiences, Dreamfest is looking to get involved by fundraising $50,000 at the live event with all proceeds going to benefit Black mothers and Black babies.
In alignment with that goal and the theme of uplifting Black families, while building a stronger community, Dreamfest will offer opportunities for attendees to get involved and learn about areas such as finance, mental health, professional development, and philanthropy, according to a press release from Intuition Productions. Opportunities to connect with fellow attendees on key issues while building community bridges will be an exciting opportunity.
Renowned Tubi comedian D-Rock will be hosting the event, and there will be music from two DJs as well as a live performance by Milwaukee’s Soul Serious. There will also be Kwabena Nixon’s poets, known for inspirational spoken word pieces such as “Be Inspired Work.” The festival will be an opportunity for kids to learn from DJ. M. White, who will provide an interactive disco workshop titled “Think Like a DJ: Varsity Program,” as well as Madison Public Library’s Dream Bus and Cottage Grove Library Programming’s Bookmobile making the event perfect before school picks back up.
Kids of all ages will be able to find something to do as Dreamfest 2023 will also have entertainment and activities such as stilt-walkers, bouncy houses, face painting, a bubble station, a 360 photo booth, spray painting with a graffiti wall, and a nail painting station. Adults will also have an opportunity to shop and connect with local entrepreneurs in the Black business melanated market, along with looking forward to gift bags, prize giveaways, and free food and drinks.
Engaging Black families on important issues will be the push for breakout sessions on Black motherhood and Black fatherhood by Connect Rx Wisconsin and the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Fatherhood Responsibility Program. There will also be a “Chocolate Mindfulness” session led by Mellisa Mueller-Douglas, LMSW from New York, as well as finance workshops on topics such as life insurance, 529 college savings plans for kids, Black homeownership, negotiating higher salaries as a young professional, interviewing practices, and retirement benefits.
Speakers will include Dr. Jasmine Zapata and Annie Weatherby-Flowers. There will be additional music by R&B/Gospel/Soul Singer Gabe King and kid violinists will look to showcase local talent as well culturally. DJ Mirah will be joining DJ M. White to entertain the crowd throughout the event, and Adam Vilegas, art director for Dreamfest and UW alum, will be with friends presenting live demonstrations on the graffiti art walk.
To learn more, check out the Facebook page for Dreamfest 2023 here.
