Making Our Place: Celebrating The Historic & Living Legacy of Albert Cassell & Mayfair/Paradise Residents

JOIN US!

Join us on June 10, 2023 at Neval Thomas Elementary School, from 11AM-2PM for the 100% FREE event hosted by Neighborhood Associates, a DC nonprofit, with support from Humanities DC, invites families, seniors, kids of all ages, and residents across the District to a fun, free, family-friendly event celebrating the historic African American architect, Albert Cassell, and how his legacy echoes today in the vibrant Paradise/Mayfair community he designed!

REGISTRATION & GETTING THERE

Registration: 100% free, please check back on this page for an Eventbrite registration. Definitely share this event with friends and neighbors!

• Event Name: Making Our Place, Celebrating the Legacy of Albert I. Cassell and Mayfair/Parkside
• Date & Time: DATE TBD  11AM-2PM
• Location: 650 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019
• Parking: Parking at Neval Thomas Elementary lot is free
• Metro: Short walk from Minnesota Ave. Metro Station
• Accessibility: Neval Thomas Elementary is wheelchair accessible
• Registration: Please check back for the Eventbrite Registration

LAUGH, LEARN, CELEBRATE & BUILD PUBLIC KINSHIP!

• Meet your local ANCs!
• Live DJ, Face painting & Balloon Artists for kids of all ages!
• An interactive performance of Albert Cassell's life by DC's own improv troop, Verbal Gymnastics!
• Learn about the rich history of the Paradise/Mayfair community and how to share civic stories!
• Share your civic story, we'll highlight it on Neighborhood Associates' YouTube Channel!
• Raffle of kids and family books that celebrate Black & Brown heritage and learning!
• Booths featuring DC Fire Department, Capital Area Asset Builders, DC Literacy Lab, NACCP-DC!
• Neval Thomas Elementary School Security Officer present for public safety.
• Breakfast & Lunch provided to all audience members and guests!
• Bring friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and co-workers. All are welcome!
• Make a trend! Share your thoughts and photos on Instagram Facebook Pics with #AlbertCassell and #PublicKinship

CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON? 

• Check us out on Facebook for updates on Livestreaming. | Our Facebook
• Visit our YouTube Channel for the a recap of the historic presentation! | Our YouTube

A BIT MORE ABOUT ALBERT CASSELL...

Albert Irvin Cassell was a pioneering African American architect whose legacy lives on today by the vibrant families and students that have made continue to build communities and public kinship in the buildings and places of learning he designed at Howard University; Tuskegee, AL; and Washington, DC. The focus of his work was to create places for African Americans to live, learn, and thrive during a time when the ills of segregation seemed immoveable in American and its capital city. Of his many architectural accomplishments, including designing the air conditioned Founders Library at Howard University and the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in the U Street Corridor, he designed Paradise at Parkside Apartments and Mayfair Mansions Apartments for African American families to call home in the 1920s. At the time, this was one of the first planned communities made by and for DC's African Americans. Mr. Cassell's family continued the tradtion of architecture with three of his children themselves becoming architects. Today, Paradise at Parkside and Mayfair Mansions are anchors of community life in the Kennilworth-Parkiside neighborhood in Northeast DC. Mr. Cassell was a graduate of Cornell University, a Professor of Architecture at Howard University, and also an entrepreneur who founded his own architecture firm. His legacy is a testament of how grit, determination, talent, and a sense of community are key on how to making a welcoming, vibrant place.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for sharing this event with your friends, family and neighbors! This free event hosted by the DC nonprofit, Neighborhood Associates, was made possible with funding from Humanities DC, a chapter of the National Endowment of the Humanities, and the support of fellow DC nonprofits and public services that make the District strong — NACCP DC chapter, Capital Area Asset Builders, DC Fire Department, and DC Public Schools. A special thank you to Neval Thomas Elementary School for use of their space and to the incredible families that make the Paradise/Mayfair community a vibrant place to learn and grow.

MEDIA CONTACT

Please email Alex Bain, Neighborhood Associates' Communications Director at abain@neighborhoodassociates.org .