LiVE FRESH
JUNE ‘21 WRAP-UP
COMMUNITY: HOW WE CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH
Chris celebrated Juneteenth by rockin’ our Juneteenth “Freedom Day” flag tank top while supporting fellow Black businesses across D.C. and reveling in the sounds of the “Million Moe March”. We also enjoyed seeing many of you rockin’ the Juneteenth flag tank top.Here are some of our favorite snaps from the holiday weekend.
CULTURE: LAUREN IGAY FT. IN WIBRIDGE FASHION + STYLE
Our dear friend Lauren Igay was featured in the June issue of WIBRIDGE’s fashion and style section. She speaks on utilizing her skillset in union with the platform that Common Thread provides to open doors for up and coming designers and entrepreneurs.
Read the full article here: DREAMING IN TECHNICOLOR: LAUREN GAY ON FINDING COMMON THREAD
COMMERCE: TH!NKIN’ CAP AVAILABLE ONLINE
The wait is over! Our TH!NKIN’ CAP dad hats are now on our online shop. Available in coral, kiwi, and pink for a limited time. Shop and share your style by tagging us and using the hashtag: #ThinkinCap.
MAY ‘21 WRAP-UP
COMMUNITY: DRYY RUN DC x HRC
We kicked-off PRIDE Month early here in the Capital City on May 15 for the inaugural DRYY RUN DC x HRC. Teaming up with our friends at Dryy Garment Care and a number of other local small businesses we raised awareness, advocacy, and funds through fitness benefiting the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
About The HRC Foundation – a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization – envisions a world where all LGBTQ people can participate fully in the systems that shape our daily lives. Through public education, research, and policy and practice change, the Foundation’s impact can be felt in schools, on factory floors and corporate suites, and in places of worship. It touches LGBTQ lives from childhood through end-of-life, people of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities and religious beliefs, in big cities and small towns, in the United States and across the globe.
Photo courtesy: Glen Gordon of certified-official.com
Find out more in our latest Fresh Digest blog post: DRYY RUN D.C. ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ+ EQUALITY (Wrap UP)
CULTURE:
May 30 and June 1 marked the 100 year commemoration of the Tulsa Massacre. This horrific 2-day period in American history claimed the lives of hundreds of Black people and destroyed the flourishing community of Greenwood at the hands of a violent, racist, White mob. Ultimately no one was ever brought to justice for this deadly act of domestic terror and the story was largely left to be forgotten much like other thriving Black communities that endured similar acts of violence post Civil War Era.
Image courtesy of: FireInLittleAfrica.com
Over the last century the story of the community also known as Black Wall Street has been kept alive by the remaining survivors and the descendants. Some of those descendants are the driving creative force behind the incredibly poignant album Fire In Little Africa.
“A groundbreaking album of original material, written and recorded by a collective of Oklahoma hip hop artists to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre – will be released on May 28 by Motown Records/Black Forum in partnership with Tulsa’s Bob Dylan Center® and Woody Guthrie Center®.” - The Black Wall Street Times
“Fire in Little Africa is the story of the passion and resilience of artists in Tulsa leading the community through music, art and entrepreneurship."
The Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Center® are proud to present this album, documentary and podcast in collaboration with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. Fire in Little Africa brings together the top rappers, singers, musicians and visual artists in Oklahoma to commemorate the centennial of the 1921 Massacre and introduce Tulsa’s hip-hop culture to a global audience.” - FireInLittleAfrica.com
Listen: Fire In Little Africa
COMMERCE:
Early this week we proudly released our Juneteenth “Freedom Day” flag tank top. This is our ode in commemoration of Juneteenth; a celebration of resilience.
Our purpose is to provide a form of symbolism through style and bring greater awareness to the significance of this day in American history and to the cultural fabric of our Nation.
Photo courtesy: Milwaukee Independent
The star at center has dual meaning representing Texas and also the freedom of Black Americans in all 50 states. The bursting outline around the star, inspired by a nova, a term used by astronomers meaning new star represents a new beginning for Black people of Galveston and America. The curve that spans the width of the flag represents a new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for Black Americans. The colors of red, white, and blue represent the American flag and the commitment that America has to live up to the ideal of liberty and justice for all.
The struggle continues.
We strongly encourage you to order by June 10 for guaranteed delivery by June 18. Click here to shop: Juneteenth “Freedom Day” Flag Tank Top
DRYY RUN D.C. ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ+ EQUALITY (Wrap UP)
DRYY RUN D.C. ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ+ EQUALITY
We kicked-off PRIDE Month a couple weeks early on May 15th, for the inaugural DRYY RUN DC raising funds for the Human Rights Campaign. The Human Rights Campaign serves as America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality.
Chris Cardi partnered with title sponsor Dryy Garment Care to design the graphics and promotional material as well as the runner’s bibs that participants wore on the day of the event.
We had amazing weather for our fitness and philanthropy event with over 70 people taking part in the 5 & 10K. With the help of our community and co-sponsors we raised over $2.5K for the @humanrightscampaign in support and advocacy for our LGBTQ+ family.
BIG UP to our fellow co-sponsors The Village Cafe, Cool Kids Vinyl, Gift Shop, Common Threads, Hill Prince Bar, and community organizer Erica Jackson for leveraging their platforms to get the word out and getting folks involved.
PEACE & LOVE to all those that participated. What an incredible turnout, good time, and a great way to continue the push for equality.
DRYY Run DC X HRC 5K/10K
5K/10K Walk, Run or Bike Saturday, May 15 to raise awareness and promote ally-ship for the Human Rights Campaign!
CHRiS CARDi Celebrates Women’s History Month
This first Wednesday of March we celebrate Women’s History Month. As we make the transition from commemorating Black History Month to celebrating Women’s History this month, we spotlight Black women entrepreneurs creating community and camaraderie through commerce. Tell your partner, friend, and family about these amazing women and join us in celebrating!
Roxanne Bellamy, longtime friend and wife of our Co-owner Kevin, is also the owner and Creative Director behind her own full-service, event design & planning firm RB & Co. The firm specializes in producing refined events for clients who value quality experiences. Roxanne prides herself on collaborating with other BIPOC and women owned businesses, and is currently curating a month of virtual events in celebration of Women’s History and International Women’s Day. Click here to find out more: RB & Co.
Follow on Instagram: @roxannebellamy
OH-mazing owner and fellow D.C. based entrepreneur, Stephanie Williams set out to create a scrumptious alternative to snacks filled with allergens and preservatives. We first met Stephanie 3 years ago at an architecture firm's networking event where we showcased as vendors in a “Future of Retail” test module. There I got a taste of her healthy creations and have been hooked ever since. The tasty granola that comes in flavors like Lemon Bar and Caribbean Delight are a long time favorite of ours! Click here to shop: OH-MAZING FOODS
Follow on Instagram: @ohmazingfood
I first met All Very Goods owner, Ama Schulman, while the both of us worked our retail chops for J. Crew. I randomly discovered her goods on social media and became a customer before realizing it was her business. The thank you card that came in my initial order and subsequent orders are as much of a gift as the goods themselves. The All Very Goods designs celebrate Black culture, community, art, activism, and allyship. The collection offers something for everyone and makes for great gifts year round to accessorize your look. Click here to shop: ALL VERY GOODS
Follow on Instagram: @allverygoods
My fiery friend Sascha Lee has always had a light of curiosity and exploration in her DNA. This Afro-Latina launched her line of curvaceous candles on March 1, making Women’s History Month LIT, figuratively and literally. The candles are made in small batches sold on Etsy. Definitely one to watch on the journey of building a brand born out of an idea followed by action. Click here to shop: SASCHA CANDLES
Follow on Instagram: @sas.cha_
For the Love of our H Street NE community
Figured what better way to kick off the year than by making our first release something tangible for the community I have grown even intimately closer to over the last 12 months.
I just turned 42 and I think about the significance of that number, the symbolism and the mystery. Going to take you down a bit of a rabbit hole here with my train of thought, so try to follow the best you can.
H STREET 5K - Raises awareness and donations for HIPS.org, and register voters ahead of Election Day
This year to commemorate H ST. Festival we decided to put our best foot forward in a meaningful way, by kicking off our inaugural H STREET 5K WALK, RUN, RIDE; keeping with our tradition of community engagement.
This past Saturday, we teamed up with Erica Jackson and Kristen Gnau to host the event all in an effort to register voters, encourage folks to work the polls on Election Day, and to raise funds and awareness for H ST. NE neighborhood non-profit HIPS DC.
We thank our partners; Maketto, Cool Kids Vinyl, Dryy DC, Hill Prince, Rock The Vote, Too Many Tabs and our 5K participants coming together for a safe and great event. We would like to graciously thank our friends near and far for helping us reach our donation goal.
Please continue to support HIPS DC and send donations directly through the link below:
https://hips.nationbuilder.com/
Let’s support our community and give our very best to our friends at HIPS DC.
Chris Cardi's Perfect Day in D.C. - Washington Post Feature
A Black Writer. A Black Photographer. A Black Designer. A Black Business. A Black Story for the Washington Post.
Chris (designer/owner of Chris Cardi, Inc.) recently sat down with writer and journalist Priscilla Ward (Instagram: @macaronifro) for a featured article in the Weekend section of the Washington Post. The piece highlights Chris Cardi's work in the community and what his take on a perfect day in D.C. would be (sans Covid). Headliner photo credit to Lawrence Jackson (Instagram: @thevintographer).
Pro-Activist heART. 🖤 | Breanna Taylor
Over three months have passed since Breonna Taylor was killed at the hands of police.
I met Brit Sigh (@midnightrun54) back in 2010, when we both worked for the same company as recruiters driving diversity and inclusion. Much of what we learned and brought to the table with that work we continue to practice in our everyday lives. It’s been a while since we talked in depth, but we’ve reconnected to collaborate on a pro-activism push for justice. Brit has contributed his artistic skills to create this beautiful portrait featured on the downloadable postcard. We hope you will join us and get activated.
Read how below:
1. Scan code using your camera app, and follow the link that appears.
OR
1. Click the link here: POSTCARD.
2. Follow the instructions on how to download and print.
3. Sign it put a stamp on it.
4. Drop in a mailbox or at a post office.
This is the first in a series we are launching focusing on activating concerned citizens in pursuit of justice for victims of police violence in America.
THE STORY BEHIND THE H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE
THE STORY BEHIND THE H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE
Our hyperlocal H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE initially started as a way to bring relief for children impacted by the school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these kids were no longer getting their primary source of nutrients that school breakfast and lunch provided. With our close ties to our H street NE Corridor of neighborhoods, we took it as our responsibility to provide the best we can for a community that has given us so much. What we soon discovered is that no good deed goes without its own sets of challenges.
With the city government's goal of flattening the curve, our original donation/distribution point, Hill Prince Bar had to close its doors for business. Although we understood the importance of the closure, it was frustrating for all of us, as they have been great partners in the community, opening their doors for pop-ups, local art exhibits, book signings, and fundraisers. Their closure presented a hurdle we didn't anticipate and as soon as we started our effort we had to suspend it until we could source a new location.
Like many of us hunkered down, either working from home or in many cases out of work due to the pandemic, the silver lining to it was having a moment to slow down and catch up with friends, through FaceTime or phone calls of course. One of the first phone calls I made was to Chef Opie Crooks of A Rake's Progress. We covered a lot in that phone call but to make a long story short he connected me to Chef and restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang.
Now let me preface this by saying I had never met Chef Erik before, but maybe off the strength of his relationship with Chef Opie, maybe their shared love of community and maybe just being good dudes with big hearts, we were able to re-establish our food drive within hours after being connected.
H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE had its home at MAKETTO! Chef Erik and the team there provided us with a space for folks to safely donate, and for those in need to pick up non-perishable food items. It has been important to us to address the hyper-local hunger concerns in our Ward 5 and 6 neighborhoods, and being at Maketto allowed us to do just that. What's fantastic about having the food drive at Maketto was the accessibility—with operating hours Monday - Saturday from 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM daily, we were able to offer a much wider window for those in need vs. the limited hours and locations that DCPS and other non-profit organizations are currently able to provide.
Our food drive also goes beyond being limited to just serving the youth. What we thought would be a great way to provide meals for kids, evolved into something so much bigger. We've been able to feed families with children, single parent households, our service industry family, and even the elderly and our neighbors with special needs. Our impact has gone beyond what we could have ever imagined.
Now our mission is simply to be a stop gap, a relief supplement to services on the way from the Federal government, along with those already offered by city government, DCPS, and other larger organizations. What we are able to do is acutely attack the issue of hunger in our neighborhood during the pandemic when the above resources are already being stretched to the limits, inaccessible, or aren't eligible to those newly impacted. We are able to fill in the cracks, so to speak, in our community that other organizations may miss. What the pandemic has done is expose inadequacies when it comes to food accessibility and distribution. Prior to the pandemic many folks didn't need or meet qualifications for assistance. Guess what? Now they do. The pandemic has also exposed accessibility challenges unique to these specific circumstances.
Our food drive pantry alleviates many of the health and monetary challenges that going to the grocery store now poses. Since all our food donations are free to take you are in and out within a minute or two, tops. There are no crowds to deal with and we are only a short walk for our neighbors in need. There's no decision making on how best to spend what little money you may have, and now you can use that towards other necessities.
What we did was swiftly and decisively move into action with help from our community to assist those who have been in need and those now finding themselves newly in need of food. Thanks to an out pouring of monetary donations, physical donations, and people spreading the word we've been able to put a significant dent in fighting hunger in the H Street Northeast corridor.
We still face challenges with our effort. Our hyper-local pantry gets wiped out daily, so we are in a constant battle to restock it. To better replenish our shelves and help those in need we have moved to a model that will allow people to order non-perishable food items online and have them directly ship to Maketto. This protects those that want to donate allowing them to do so from the comfort of home using platforms like Giant's Peapod, WholeFoods Amazon delivery, Aldi's grocery delivery, etc. We want to point those platforms out in-particular as they provide the most efficient means to restocking our H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE shelves.
It's our hope that this new innovation to our supply chain will help us keep the shelves filled and people fed here in our community. Beyond that though, we hope that this can serve as a model for how other communities can quickly mobilize as private citizens to bring relief to their neighborhoods.
THANK YOU FOR ALL DONATIONS AND HELP PROVIDED.
Thank you for your continued support!
Lots of love,
Chris Cardi Team
