Philly Festivals: Fueling The Future

Our Community Spotlight series uplifts the voices, stories, and expertise of artists and arts administrators of color from across our national network. Each post highlights a unique perspective and experience, offering insight, inspiration, and connection — rooted in our shared commitment to equity, advocacy, and community-building in the arts. We are proud to celebrate the contributions of our community members and thank them for sharing their journeys with us.

**Monica O. Montgomery, MA**
Founder & President, DiasporaDNA Story Center
Chief Creative Officer, PhillyFestivals.org

I would like to shine a light on something I’m really proud of. The dynamic partners and goodwill that came together to make the first ever Philly Festivals Mixer a smashing success!

This wasn't just an event; it’s a heartbeat of collaboration that’s bringing our community’s creative spirit to life. Picture this: me and 12 dedicated volunteers at DiasporaDNA Story Center teamed up with the leadership of Arts Administrators of Color Network, Culture Works of Greater Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce to pull off an unforgettable night that was all about lifting up the voices of global majority and building community between event planners and audiences of all kind. We set out to make a splash for National Creative Economy month, while encouraging collaboration between our sector to make the city of Philadelphia a better place for folks like us who pour our souls into making our streets sing with celebrations, cuisine and culture.

It went down on Friday March 28, 2025, and let me tell you, the 80+ people in attendance made it electric. We had festival producers, artists, vendors, a chocolate covered strawberry sponsor, sweet and savory cupcakes and local legends mixing it up. We were swapping stories, sparking ideas, and building something real. It wasn’t just networking – it was a vibe, a chance to celebrate the grind and genius behind Philly’s festival scene. From horror stories that had us laughing about our city’s quirks to a vibrant photobooth activation, to stories of how people got their start, picking up the torch passed from their parents, their block captain and honoring the heritage of their diasporas. We closed out the night with a history of hip-hop performance and dance choreography competition that hit us right in the feels. This was a space where we could see each other, honor our roots, and dream bigger together. And the best part? It’s a launchpad for PhillyFestivals.org, and the Philly Festivals Toolkit, where we’re cooking up a support network to keep this energy flowing—resources going and working up to a vibrant Think Tank to quantify our impact and archive our efforts.

I’m proud because this is us—cross-pollinating, collaborating, and showing the world what the diaspora can do when we link up. With America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon in 2026, Philly’s about to be in the spotlight, and we’ve got a chance to shape that story. Through DiasporaDNA and PhillyFestivals.org, I’m pushing for exactly this: a framework where we advocate for event producers to build a dynamic network.

It’s about honoring the independent creatives who’ve been holding it down and giving them tools to thrive. Think mentorship in an invite-only think tank, a festival archive of our stories, an economic impact study to reinforce our worth. As 2026 looms, this feels urgent. America’s 250th anniversary could be a stage for the global majority to not just reflect on America’s past but redefine its future, with festivals as our megaphone.

How do you see your community’s voice fitting into that? To all my peers—producers, creatives, culture-keepers—jump in. Let’s build on this. Share your ideas, your festivals, your hustle.

Hit up Festivals@Diasporadna.org with your ideas and to add to our calendar of events; Together, we can make PhillyFestivals a movement that echoes across generations.

Let’s make it happen.

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