Washington D.C. holds a deep history and diverse neighborhoods. A unique gathering takes place here yearly.
It is near the Anacostia River. The Gateway Pavilion stands out; it looks birdlike. Large trees surround old buildings, creating a haunting atmosphere.
This is the site of the Broccoli City Festival. The event has a unique identity and offers more purpose beyond its name.
People wait at the front gate. Security checks are conducted for everyone. Men and women stand in line. They are patted down by staff. Their appearances vary quite a bit. Some have their noses pierced. Others wear fitted jeans. Converse sneakers are often seen. Fashion includes shorts and slogan shirts.
One person said clearly, “Never sold dope.” Hairstyles show much variety. Fros, fades, and locks appear. Twists, dreads, and braids are common. Many guys have full beards. Thick glasses are also popular. These are the festival’s attendees. They are its very heart. One founder called them hipsters, meaning they have good jobs. This isn’t simply a music show. It brings people together here, as they share common interests and values that draw them all. It is more than just fun.
Broccoli City began in North Carolina, specifically in Greensboro. It was created by two childhood friends, Brandon Mceachern and Marcus Allen. Both are now 31 years old. They serve as CEOs of the company. Their start was very simple. Mceachern first used the name. This was back in 2009. He used it for shirts. Greensboro itself had this nickname, which gave it a regional connection. Friends helped sell the shirts. They often marketed items online. Shirts were sold at events nationwide. This helped build the early brand identity. It evolved greatly later on.
The initial idea was linked to the hometown. Maybe it aimed to strengthen community ties. This theme became central later. As the shirt business grew, Mceachern moved. He found himself in Los Angeles. A new viewpoint formed there. He spent afternoons driving through South Central. He noticed a sad thing: food deserts were increasing yearly. These areas lacked grocery stores and offered no fresh produce. Healthy options were rare there.
Yet fast food places filled the streets. This contrast hit him hard. The contrast between unhealthy and healthy food was striking. Many faced challenges in accessing healthy food. No accessible places for healthy food existed nearby. Healthy food was just not available. This observation sparked his passion. It planted the seeds for a mission that would drive future work. Sharing his concerns, Mceachern called Allen, who lived in Washington D.C. and worked in marketing as a government contractor. Allen quickly agreed with Mceachern. The situation seemed unfair.
Allen spoke of this shared feeling. “It’s not fair that people lack access to healthy food,” he said. “Everyone doesn’t start at the same starting line,” he added simply. This highlighted the inequality there. Food resources were not distributed equally. This shared thought solidified their purpose. They would address this critical issue. It wasn’t just about food; they also saw social justice at play. It was about basic fairness, and equity was also key.
After the LA event went well, the founders saw they could do more. They felt the need for a bigger dream to chase. The message was polished before their big move. The festival came to Washington DC in 2013. It got a new name, Broccoli City Festival. This changed everything for the yearly gathering. Holding it here placed the mission in an important city.
The spot picked in DC reflected the festival’s values. Gateway Pavilion is that place, located by the river. It looks like a bird near the old hospital on campus. The building was designed to be sustainable. This shows they care deeply about our planet. It connects directly to the event’s physical area.
Festival activities begin inside this green space. It feels like a carefully planned experience to the people. Many things come together to amplify the mission. Different hubs are located all across the pavilion. These areas help people get involved everywhere. The main stage draws everyone in.
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Picking the performers is very important. This is a key part of the strategy they use. Music leads people to understand the festival’s ideas well. Erykah Badu was truly a special artist. She has long supported a plant-based diet. Her presence matched the focus on food, health, and a green lifestyle.
Badu spoke to the people watching her. More than just music happened that day. She had a big, brown hairstyle. Yelling “love to DC” happened during her set. She joined the people dancing out in the rain.
Other artists also played music at the festival. Each brought their special energy and message. Joey Bada$$, a rapper from Brooklyn, came. He put on a very lively show for us. He performed about ten songs quickly. Tink, who is from Chicago, sang and rapped. Her live show had everyone’s full attention.
Willow and Jaden Smith also showed up there. Their unique looks and views are well known. The brother and sister shared the stage easily. Jaden moved around the stage area a lot. Willow sang her songs with a clear, strong voice. Her music talked about finding who you are.
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Across from the stage, there is a marketplace. This is where ideas and goods are shared. A wooden area looks like a spaceship. Vendors sell all sorts of items inside it. You can buy fresh juice or hot waffles.
Volunteers help ensure that festival operations run smoothly. They do more than just tell people where to go. They help with environmental goals. Special cups and plates are thrown away. These items break down naturally into the earth.
More than just entertainment, the festival supports change. It now actively embraces helping society. Leaders see big problems in their local community. Vendors supported the #blacklivesmatter movement at the festival. This was a direct response to tragic killings. Black people without weapons were dying at that time.
Events before the festival showed how urgent it was. Things happened right before the event started. On the night before the 2015 festival, sadness struck. Freddie Gray died after being badly hurt. This happened while he was with the police.
He spoke to everyone who was standing there. He gave a strong speech about job opportunities for their generation. They must always stand up for civil rights. He felt the crowd was listening, needing words of encouragement. A call to unite was given to them all. He mentioned the names of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. These famous people used their fame well.
The festival is getting bigger and more important. How the message connects was shown by who came. Important political figures showed up. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser attended. The head of the EPA, Gina McCarthy, came as well.
Money was still hard to obtain for the show’s run. Finding funding was the biggest problem that year, said the founder. But they had great success despite this difficulty. Two very large companies provided funding this time. Toyota Green Initiative and Whole Foods sponsored the event. This was considered a huge positive development. Asking these companies before had not worked out.
The founders showed a blend of goals and the ability to achieve them. This is what drives Broccoli City forward right now. Both men were 31 years old back then. They come from Greensboro, North Carolina. They call themselves “social entrepreneurs” to everyone. They have worked together since college at NC A&T. They started their business relationship in the early 2000s.
Their separate paths after school helped the team. They brought different strengths to the partnership. One founder worked as a production assistant in Los Angeles. He learned a lot about media and events. The other did marketing for government jobs in DC. This gave them good business sense and connections there.
Their moms taught school when they were growing up. They instilled a love for learning in both men’s minds. This contributes to the educational aspect of the festival activities. Teachings on health and environmental fairness are included. They experienced both good and bad times in their careers. One founder even rapped for a short while.
Broccoli City is more than just a music festival. It is a platform specially built by them. Different kinds of harmony combined with hard work bring about change. This builds a community for the people attending. Attendees are like cool city dwellers with good careers. They gather because they share deep interests.
Live music fills the air at this venue now. Art displayed by local people looks great there. Vendors sell goods, and fitness activities also take place. Eco-friendly initiatives happen every day on site. This aligns with important messages about societal problems.
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Success is shown by the happy people attending. An official endorsement also means it is working well. This helps fuel plans for future festivals. The founders are already planning for next year’s party. They also wish to take the festival to different cities. They believe their message is important everywhere.
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