(The Root) — On Aug. 28, 1963, there weren't any youth organizations that had the resources to host events and sessions in tandem with what would become the iconic March on Washington. Nor was there a "Women of the Movement" symposium or a "Global Freedom Festival" designed to bring awareness to international issues in the days leading up to the rally.
But each of those events — and dozens more — will be part of the 50th-anniversary celebration and commemoration of the March on Washington, during which tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the nation's capital.
Different perspectives, age groups, auxiliary organizations and civic groups with an array of initiatives are participating in the weeklong celebration to bring attention to their respective agendas. Whether you're a 20-something college graduate with a soft spot for a piece of legislation about the Trayvon Martin shooting, a 40-something executive who is concerned about increasing employment in the black community or a 60-something retiree who vaguely remembers your parents participating in the march back in the day, there are all kinds of opportunities and narratives during the week.
The Root rounded up the discussion seminars, tours, exhibits, speeches, ceremonies and documentaries that are taking place between Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Wednesday, Aug. 28. And there will be plenty to do: Come discuss issues that affect the black community. Or watch a riveting film about that day and decade.
Maybe you'll want to go on a tour of one of Washington, D.C.'s historic black neighborhoods or cozy up alongside a friend at the Lincoln Memorial while President Barack Obama commemorates the occasion. There will be plenty to do, so keep our guide handy. We'll be updating this list as events are added, so be sure to check back here every day.
Wednesday, Aug. 21:
Praise and Worship Service for 50th Anniversary Celebration
7-8:30 p.m.
Mount Airy Baptist Church
1100 N. Capitol St. NW
Hosted by the National African American Clergy Network
Open to the public
Thursday, Aug. 22:
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph & Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) National Education Conference
2-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register, and to see a full listing of the conference's events and panels planned through Wednesday, Aug. 28, go to apri.org
Celebrating the Legacy of Youth in the Movement
Protect Our Voting Rights & Social Justice Youth Organizing Training
10th Annual Black Youth Vote! National Civic Leadership Training Conference
Highlights: Unity Breakfast, Tribute to Jamal Rose, Gathering of Black Men "I Am Trayvon" Dialogue, Sister Circles, Issue Organizing Breakouts, Regional/State-Based Organizing Strategy Sessions
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
National Education Association
1201 16th St. NW
Hosted by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance, NAN Youth Move, the Praxis Project, NUL Young Professionals, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, BK Nation, 100 Black Men of America, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
Panel: "The Unjust Relationship Between Race and the Criminal Justice"
5:30-7:30 p.m.
The law offices of Crowell & Moring
1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Panelists: Daryl Parks, attorney to Trayvon Martin's family and Juan Cartagena, from LatinoJustice PRLDEF and co-counsel to the Floyd City case (NYC's stop and frisk law)
Hosted by the Lawyers' Committee
For more information: towardjusticecampaign.org/events
Friday, Aug. 23:
Redeem the Dream National Summit & Reception
8 a.m.-2 p.m.
National Building Museum
401 F St. NW
Hosted by the National Urban League
Open to the public
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register go to apri.org
Celebrating the Legacy of Youth in the Movement
Protect Our Voting Rights & Social Justice Youth Organizing Training
10th Annual Black Youth Vote! National Civic Leadership Training Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
National Education Association
1201 16th St. NW
Hosted by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance, NAN Youth Move in partnership with the Praxis Project, NUL Young Professionals, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, BK Nation, 100 Black Men of America, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
To register go to ncbcp.org
National Town Hall Meeting on Poverty & Economic Empowerment
Moving Together, Moving Forward: Jobs and Freedom
57th Annual SCLC International Convention
Race & Poverty Panel: 2-4 p.m.
Voting Rights Panel: 5-7 p.m.
Grand Hyatt
1000 H St. NW
Hosted by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC Poverty Institute, Rainbow PUSH
Open to the public
Youth Mass Meeting and Premarch Rally
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Metropolitan AME Church (tentative)
1518 M St. NW
Hosted by the NCBCP Black Youth Vote, APRI, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance, NAN Youth Move
Open to the public
Poverty in America
Analyze the job crisis and explore solutions.
4-5:30 p.m.
Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H St.
Hosted by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and SCLC Events
The Voting Rights Act
Discuss the effects of the recent Supreme Court decision on the VRA and how we can respond.
5:30-7 p.m.
Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H St.
Hosted by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and SCLC Events
Reception
7-8:30 p.m.
Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H St.
Hosted by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and SCLC Events
Saturday, Aug. 24:
50th Anniversary March on Washington National Action to Realize the Dream March and Rally
"Jobs, Justice & Freedom"
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lincoln Memorial
National conveners: Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN
Open to the public
Theater Walk: U Street and the Howard Theater
13th St. NW and U St. NW
Meet outside the U Street Metro station's 13th Street exit
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Explore the neighborhood that was shared by African-American intellectuals, business leaders and families of all economic levels. The businesses they owned and the houses they lived in are featured on this walk. U Street was dubbed "Black Broadway" for the numerous movie theaters, nightclubs and ballrooms frequented by jazz musicians like Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington. You'll see a theater and club where these performances took place.
March on Washington 50th Anniversary Family Day at the National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian Institution, National Portrait Gallery
The Kogod Courtyard
Eighth and F Sts. NW
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join the Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of African American History and Culture to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Tour the exhibition "One Life: Martin Luther King Jr." to learn more about the civil rights leader and his "I Have a Dream" speech. Enjoy vocal performances by Kim and Reggie Harris, hands-on activities and fun for the whole family. This program is sponsored in part by the Reinsch Family Education Endowment.
Global Freedom Festival
2-7 p.m.
The National Mall
Seventh and 14th Sts. NW
Hosted by the King Center and National Park Service
Open to the public
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register go to apri.org
Sunday, Aug. 25:
Southern Christian Leadership Conference Worship Service
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Howard University
Washington Convention Center
Hosted by SCLC
Open to the public
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register go to apri.org
Monday, Aug. 26:
K-8th Grade Educational Initiative
Time and location: TBA
Will be accessible via online streaming
Hosted by the King Center, Operation Hope, NCNW, Children's Defense Fund in partnership with Discovery Education
Global Freedom Festival
10 a.m-6 p.m.
The National Mall
Seventh and 14th Sts. NW
Hosted by the National Park Service with the King Center and the Coalition for Jobs, Justice and Freedom
Open to the public
Film: We Shall Overcome, Yesterday Girl (Abschied Von Gestern)
Goethe-Institut
812 Seventh St. NW
6:30-8 a.m.
The film, directed by Hans Goldschmidt, highlights the internationalist attitude that the German Democratic Republic and its citizens conveyed while offering solidarity and support to the American civil rights movement and its progressive activists.
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register go to apri.org
Bayard Rustin Commemoration
7-9 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St. NW
To register go to apri.org/
Hosted by A. Philip Randolph Institute, American Federation of Teachers, National Black Justice Coalition
Legacy & Leadership Gala
Time: TBD
Capital Hilton
1001 16th St. NW
To register go to sclc.org
Hosted by the SCLC
Tuesday, Aug: 27:
9-12th Grade Educational Initiative
Time and location: To be announced
Will be accessible via online streaming
Hosted by the King Center, Operation Hope and the NCNW in partnership with Discovery Education
To register go to thekingcenter.org/
Global Freedom Festival
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The National Mall
Seventh and 14th Sts. NW
Hosted by the National Park Service with the King Center
Open to the public
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave. NW
To register go to apri.org
Wednesday, Aug. 28:
"Let Freedom Ring" Ceremony
1-5:30 p.m. (bell-ringing around the U.S. and the world at 3 p.m. EDT)
The Lincoln Memorial
Hosted by the King Center, National Park Service, NCBCP
Open to the public
Gallery Talk: "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s"
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave. NW
12-12:30 p.m.
As seen in 49 rarely exhibited paintings, Faith Ringgold developed expressive figures and adapted African designs to reflect on momentous events that shaped America in the 1960s. These bold images represent Ringgold's response to the civil rights and feminist movements.
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