Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Black History Month, Awards $250,000 in Grants to Protect and Preserve Historic Black Cemeteries

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Office of Planning (OP) announced a partnership with two nonprofit organizations to protect and commemorate historic African American burial grounds in the District. The Bowser Administration awarded a total of $250,000 through the newly established Paul E. Sluby, Sr. Historic Burial Grounds Preservation Program for preserving sacred spaces that are critical to African American culture and history in the District. This announcement comes as the Mayor announced a series of events celebrating Black History Month in Washington, DC.

"DC history is Black history. And we know that it is the responsibility of each generation to preserve that history and to pass it on, and that is why we are proud to award these grants that will help protect and preserve historic Black cemeteries in our city," said Mayor Bowser. "We are a city that represents Black excellence in everything we do - from the arts to medicine to technology; and that is something we celebrate year-round because it is such an important part of our city's history and culture, but we are especially proud to uplift those people and stories throughout Black History Month."

Both recipient organizations are dedicated to preserving historic burial grounds in the District that served African American residents. The Black Georgetown Foundation manages the preservation and commemoration of the Mt. Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries in Georgetown, which date to 1808. The Woodlawn Cemetery Perpetual Care Association is devoted to restoring Woodlawn Cemetery in Benning Ridge, which was established in the late 19th century. Along with the Union Burial Society of Georgetown Cemetery, these sites are the only intact, historically African American burial grounds remaining in the District today.

"We feel a sense of urgency to ensure these historic Black cemeteries are restored and cared for," said Anita Cozart, Director of the Office of Planning. "Under Mayor Bowser's leadership, we are committed to preserving the District's cultural heritage for future generations of DC residents."

The two grants are the first issued under the Historic Burial Grounds Preservation Program, which was established by the DC Council through the Historic African American Burial Grounds Preservation Fund Amendment Act of 2025. The program is named in honor of Paul E. Sluby, Sr.-a renowned certified genealogist, legal researcher, and historian who researched and wrote extensively about historic burial grounds in Washington, DC and Maryland, with a focus on African American burial sites.

"The Mt. Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries are sacred African American burial grounds that hold generations of Washingtonians who helped shape this city," said Lisa Fager, Executive Director of Black Georgetown Foundation. "The grant program is an important step toward ensuring these sites are approached with the care, expertise, and respect they require. This funding allows us to document, protect, and interpret these cemeteries in ways that honor both the ancestors and the living communities connected to them."

"Woodlawn Cemetery is not only DC history; it is an integral part of the 250 years of American history!" said Anntoinette "Toni" White-Richardson, President of Woodlawn Cemetery Perpetual Care Association. "The saying 'ties that bind' is at the heart of my dedication to preserving Woodlawn, for my grandfather is buried in this place of historic significance."

Woodlawn Cemetery will focus on landscaping to improve accessibility and better protect gravesites, hazardous tree removal, replacing portions of fencing to increase site security, and adding signage. Black Georgetown Foundation will conduct comprehensive tree and boundary surveys, improve on-site infrastructure, update their online Cemetery Information System, and organize community events for Juneteenth and Emancipation Day.

The grant program builds on the Bowser Administration's work to preserve and document African American historic and cultural sites, including the Slowe-Burrill House in Brookland and Annie's Paramount Steakhouse in Dupont Circle. The Office of Planning has produced studies on the Black Power Movement and segregation in the District, and created walking tours that connect historic sites at different periods of DC's African American history.

Last year, the Bowser Administration published Black History Sites, an interactive map of more than 300 places associated with DC's African American history and culture, which includes the Woodlawn, Mt. Zion, and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries. The website allows visitors to explore the people and stories behind important historical sites and enables self-guided tours. Visit the DC Office of Planning website to learn more about the Bowser Administration's work to preserve African American history and culture.

The Bowser Administration is also inviting residents to take advantage of free events highlighting Black history and culture all month long:

Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition Inspired by The 1619 Project
An exhibition featuring three sections, created in collaboration with the editors of The New York Times Magazine and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and educators from The Pulitzer Center. Throughout, visitors can explore connections between the experiences of Black Americans and the ideals of American freedom.

• When: Now through Sunday, March 15
• Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
• More information here

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice Film Screening and Talkback
Following a film screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land, and Justice, there will be a panel discussion on the history of liberation, independence, and struggle at Barry Farm. Learn about the significance, history, and the impact of trailblazers from this vibrant Ward 8 neighborhood.

• When: Monday, February 2 at 7 pm
• Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
• More information and RSVP here

MidnightRose: A Reading Series of Poetry and Prose
Esther Productions Inc., the Institute for African American Writing, and the Black Student Fund present a reading by Alexa Patrick and Karl W. Carter, Jr. MidnightRose is a showcase of the multigenerational, multicultural writers in the Washington Metropolitan Region and beyond. Experience the richness of the community through the presentations of award-winning poets and authors. The theme for February is IT'S A LOVE THING: BLACK HISTORY. POETRY. LOVE!

• When: Saturday, February 7 at 1 pm
• Where: Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, 4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW
• More information and RSVP here

Keeper of Lost Children with Sadeqa Johnson
DC Public Library will host author Sadeqa Johnson for the release of her latest novel Keeper of Lost Children in partnership with local bookstore, MahoganyBooks.

• When: Tuesday, February 10 at 7 pm
• Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
• More information and register here

39th Annual Black History Month Invitational Swim Meet
Watch the best of the best compete at this annual event.

Jesse Owens & the Long Jump with Nyla Cherry
What do Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics have to do with famous brands Adidas and Puma? Join Professor J of Sneaker Theory and NCAA track athlete Nyla Cherry to explore how a single shoe can reveal Black history, American culture, and economics.

• When: Wednesday, February 18 at 4 pm
• Where: Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3160 16th Street NW
• More information and RSVP here

Call & Response with L. Michelle
Through rich storytelling, this keynote shares how powerful Black women (and men) in the Fortune 500, education, arts, and entertainment trace their earliest leadership lessons back to the church.

• When: Thursday, February 19, at 7 pm
• Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
• More information and register here

2026 Black History Film Festival
Come enjoy a selection of powerful short films at this annual celebration of Black History through film, art, music, and culture.

• When: Friday, February 20 at 12 pm
• Where: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW
• More information and RSVP here

The Fire on the Mountain: The Life of James Baldwin
The Multimedia Training Institute, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and the Mayor's Office for LGBTQ+ Affairs present The Fire on the Mountain: The Life of James Baldwin, a multimedia play event at Lincoln Theatre. Join us for an immersive experience celebrating the life of author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, followed by a panel discussion.

• When: Monday, February 23, 6:30 pm (doors at 5:30 pm)
• Where: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW
• More information and RSVP here

Art & Sisterhood Community Session
Join the Mayor's Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives and the Mayor's Office on African American Affairs for a community conversation session for African American Women to view the Inside Out art exhibit, rooted in the vision of documentary photographer and educator Karen Ruckman, whose "Arts in Prison" photography program took place at DC's Lorton Correctional Complex.

• When: Tuesday, February 24 at 12 pm
• Where: 200 I Street SE
• More information and tickets here

An Industry Beneath Their Feet with Norman Kelley
Why did a people whose greatest export is music never build an industry around it? Author and critic Norman Kelley uncovers how early Black leadership, from Du Bois to Garvey, missed the chance to turn Black music into lasting economic power. Drawing from his unpublished work "An Industry Beneath Their Feet," Kelley lays out how class divides, cultural neglect, and political blind spots let an empire of sound slip through their hands.

• When: Thursday, February 26 at 6 pm
• Where: West End Neighborhood Library, 2301 L Street NW
• More information and RSVP here

DC Reads Presents: Morning at the Museum with Dolen Perkins-Valdez
The Smithsonian Museums are an international treasure, and they are located right here in Washington, DC. Have you ever wondered how to turn those rich exhibits into stories? Join Dolen Perkins-Valdez at the National Museum of African American History and Culture as she takes you on a special tour of the museum through a writer's eyes. Learn how Dolen uses museum resources to discover untold stories and generate writing prompts. Find an exhibit that personally connects with you and begin to shape it into fiction. Not only will your writing be enriched, but your spirit will be filled.

• When: Saturday, February 28, at 10 am
• Where: National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW
• More information and register: here

Afro House: Spirit Fest 2026
Visit the Anacostia Arts Center for a fun, free festival that includes live performances from local creatives, a creative marketplace, and more.

• When: Saturday, February 28, 1 pm to 5 pm
• Where: Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Marion Barry Avenue SE
• More information and RSVP here

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