StaPle events

The Creative Classic: Honoring the Visionaries of Tomorrow

This annual gathering celebrates the power of creative thinkers—artists, designers, performers, and innovators—who use their talents to solve the world’s problems and push culture forward. Each year, we bring together a diverse mix of local artists, small businesses, and changemakers for a night of artistry, activism, and community impact.
At its core, the Creative Classic is a scholarship fundraiser, dedicated to supporting students at every stage of their educational journey. Proceeds from this event go directly toward providing financial assistance for K-12 students, college students, and post-grads, helping them matriculate into graduate school or transition into their early careers.
With a new theme, expanded pop-ups, and a fresh location each year, the Creative Classic continues to grow—creating opportunities, sparking connections, and empowering the next generation of leaders. Join us as we honor the thinkers, creators, and visionaries shaping the future.
Please see the importance of this event here.
Rooted in Community: Our Annual Garden & Neighborhood Revival

A cornerstone of our annual beautification efforts is the Garden & Neighborhood Revival, a tradition dedicated to restoring and celebrating our shared spaces. Each year, volunteers come together to harvest fresh produce, revitalize the soil, repaint garden structures, and clear debris, ensuring that our community garden remains a thriving hub of growth and sustainability. But our impact extends beyond the garden—our efforts spill into the surrounding parks and streets, creating a cleaner, more inviting neighborhood for all. As a heartfelt finale, we gather for a community barbecue and celebration, turning hard work into a shared moment of joy. Through this initiative, we cultivate more than just greenery—we nurture community pride, connection, and stewardship that flourishes year after year.
Take a look at our 2024 recap here and join us next year as we continue to grow, give back, and celebrate!
Little Libraries, Big Impact: A Community Literacy Initiative

A special addition to our beautification projects is the implementation of Little Libraries, creating hubs of knowledge and community engagement in every city we serve. As part of our commitment to literacy and community building, our volunteers design, build, and install these mini libraries themselves, ensuring that each one is a unique reflection of the neighborhood it serves.
Beyond simply placing these libraries, we take pride in their ongoing maintenance and upkeep, restocking them during our cleanups to foster a culture of reading and shared learning. By integrating literacy into our community service efforts, we are not only beautifying public spaces but also cultivating knowledge, connection, and accessibility to books for all.
Through this initiative, we strive to make reading more accessible while strengthening the communities we serve—one Little Library at a time.
The Annual ThanksGIVE Back: Nourishing Families, Strengthening Communities

Since its inception, the ThanksGIVE Back initiative has provided over 145 families with the resources they need to not only celebrate Thanksgiving but to experience relief and support throughout the holiday season. This initiative is more than just a food distribution—it is a commitment to nutritional well-being, financial relief, and emotional wellness, ensuring that families have access to fresh groceries, essential household items, and the joy of a warm holiday meal.
We recognize that the holiday season can bring financial strain, and ThanksGIVE Back helps ease that burden by supplying families with groceries that last beyond a single day. By doing so, we empower households to focus on what truly matters—spending quality time with loved ones and feeling connected to their community.
This initiative fosters community connection and cultural inclusion, ensuring that families from all backgrounds feel supported and uplifted. The impact extends far beyond Thanksgiving, as the ripple effect of kindness, generosity, and shared meals strengthens our communities long after the holiday season.
Through ThanksGIVE Back, we are not just feeding families—we are nourishing spirits, restoring hope, and building a tradition of giving that will last for years to come.
Please see the impact of our event here.
Pop Up Shops

TMS Merchandise is designed by TMS members and collaborators and brings direct awareness to specific causes that affect the communities highlighted. Every cause has its own dedicated collection, and proceeds from these collections are redirected to the support efforts. Merchandise is sold at TMS events, as well as on the TMS website.
Restore the Block: U Street Cleanup

The Movement Street brought positive change to the vibrant streets of DC, servicing 14 blocks along U Street. Our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clear litter, refresh high-touch areas like bus stops and storefronts, and replant flowers in front of local businesses. This initiative not only enhanced the neighborhood’s appearance but also fostered a sense of pride and care among residents and business owners alike. With every block cleaned, we left a lasting impact—one street at a time. Please see a recap of our event here.

Other past events

Roll Bounce: Skate and service

An 80s-themed Skate & Serve event in Anacostia, D.C., where volunteers enjoyed free skating while giving back through a neighborhood and park clean-up. The event featured a little library installation, handwritten notes to inspire reading, and local businesses hosting tables to engage with the community. Watch the recap of our event here.
job fair & Wealth education summit

The Movement Street held a Job Fair & Wealth Education Summit at Sankofa Café in an effort to promote financial literacy among young African Americans entering the workforce. The event aimed to provide answers to common questions about managing wealth and offer networking opportunities for attendees. During the event, participants had the opportunity to engage in on-the-spot interviews with employers in the hopes of securing full-time jobs or internships. the Job Fair and Wealth Summit was a huge success, providing valuable information and networking opportunities for young professionals looking to succeed in the workforce.
Flint to HBCU Forum: unwrapped!

The Movement Street, in partnership with The FBC Initiative, hosted their first annual Flint to HBCU Forum: Unwrapped! The goal of this event was to encourage, educate, and advocate for students from Flint, MI and the surrounding areas to attend HBCUs. Panelists included current students and Alumni from Howard University, Hampton University, Spelman College, and more! The experience was like none other. It was a day filled with enriching and insightful college discussion, and an opportunity to gain valuable resources that will help guide students towards their journey of higher education!
Volunteer Appreciation Mixer

The Movement Street’s Volunteer Appreciation Mixer is a space to celebrate, connect, and recognize the dedication of our volunteers. Held during happy hour, this event brings together community members and local changemakers to network, unwind, and strengthen relationships in a relaxed and engaging setting.
Back to school giveaway

The Movement Street collaborated with Michigan’s “Little Miss Flint” to prepare students of Flint, Michigan to return to school. TMS organized and distributed over 500 backpacks filled with school supplies and clothes. Community members received barbecue provided by The Movement Street and Little Miss Flint, and school-age students also received free haircuts and styles.
Meals & Blankets: Detroit & Flint Outreach

The Movement Street created and delivered warm meal kits and blankets to the Hasselbring Senior Center on Easter Sunday. Over 100 kits were prepared in Flint, Michigan, and distributed to the senior center and community members on the streets of Detroit. This outreach aimed to provide nourishment and warmth to individuals in need across both cities, ensuring families and seniors had essential support during the holiday.
Clothing & Essentials Drive

The Movement Street hosted a clothing drive to support families and community members in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. TMS purchased toiletries, blankets, and collected gently used clothing to donate to various community shelters in the area. The largest of these donations went to the Central Union Mission Church Donation Center.
The Creative Salon: A Community Forum on Art & Impact

The Creative Salon was a dynamic panel and community forum designed to spark meaningful conversations at the intersection of creativity and social impact. Featuring a rotating lineup of presenters and entertainers, the event fostered dialogue, artistic expression, and cultural exchange. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions while connecting with fellow changemakers in an inspiring and collaborative space.
Community yoga

TMS impacted beneficiaries by improving mental well-being, enhancing physical health, providing access to wellness resources, promoting healthy habits, facilitating stress reduction and relaxation, fostering community connection, increasing awareness of mental health, promoting inclusivity and collaboration, empowering through self-care, and creating a positive community impact.
Flint water donation drive

The Movement Street’s water delivery initiative to the Flint Distribution Center and local homes strengthens clean water access, provides direct support to families, and reinforces community resilience. It fosters awareness, advocacy, and trust while encouraging ongoing kindness and collaboration to build a more connected and supportive community.
Empowering Education: Teacher Appreciation & Support

As part of our Empowering Education initiative, The Movement Street supplied food and furniture to the teachers' lounge at DC Prep Edgewood Middle School. This donation was made to help teachers feel appreciated and ensure they had access to nourishing meals throughout the day. By providing these essential resources, we aimed to create a supportive space for educators to recharge and continue their vital work.
TMS Assembly: Educate & Exchange

Educate & Exchange, part of our TMS Assembly series, brought the community together to promote education, sustainability, and resource-sharing. Through an engaging clothing swap and discussions on the challenges faced by educators and students, attendees directly supported local teachers while embracing sustainable practices. Proceeds provided educators with essential self-care items, reinforcing the importance of well-being in the classroom. This event showcased how small actions can create meaningful change in our communities. Checkout the event by watching our livestream here.