Kwanza Jones has a vision: culture shouldn't be confined to a single stage or a privileged zip code. It should move through neighborhoods, knock on doors, and invite people in. That's the driving force behind Culture In Motion, a national roadshow that's now rolling into the Mid-Atlantic with something genuinely different—a commitment to bringing live performance, creative opportunity, and cultural connection directly into communities that have historically been left out of these conversations.
Starting this spring, the initiative will activate across six cities: Virginia Beach, Hampton, Norfolk, Richmond, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. It's a smart route, one that honors the region's deep cultural roots—from the legacy of historically Black colleges and universities to D.C.'s legendary Go-Go scene, from the artistic traditions that have flourished in Hampton and Norfolk to the vibrant communities still creating and evolving today.
What makes this different from typical touring programs is the infrastructure beneath it. Culture In Motion, powered by SUPERCHARGED and developed in partnership with the legendary Apollo Theater, operates on a philosophy that culture is infrastructure. It's not just about shows; it's about weaving creative opportunity into the fabric of everyday community life. The centerpiece is the SUPERCHARGED Boost Bus, a custom mobile cultural hub that transforms public spaces into live venues for exchange, discovery, and participation.
The roadshow will partner with institutions like Hampton University, Norfolk State, Howard University, and KIPP DC schools, but also with community spaces and youth-centered environments where people actually gather. The programming draws from Apollo's nearly century-old playbook of amplifying Black artists and voices, adapted for each local context. Think live performance, storytelling, and creative formats designed to invite participation rather than passive consumption.
Jones frames this simply but powerfully: "Culture doesn't happen alone. It's shaped and shared together." The Mid-Atlantic already understands this intuitively—the region's musical, artistic, and civic traditions are built on collective creativity. Culture In Motion is betting that by meeting communities where they are and connecting local talent to broader platforms and resources, something more substantial emerges: real momentum, expanded access, and cultural infrastructure that lasts beyond the bus's departure.
The Apollo's involvement signals something important too. One of America's most storied cultural institutions is deliberately moving beyond its Harlem home, recognizing that its nearly 100-year mission—centering Black artists and voices—belongs in places far beyond Manhattan. This isn't cultural tourism; it's institutional commitment.
As culture continues to shift and cities vie for creative talent and vitality, initiatives like this one ask a fundamental question: Who gets to participate in defining culture? Who has access to stages and platforms? Culture In Motion's answer is refreshingly direct: everyone who wants to, starting now.
