LA: ROCK THE BLOCK 2023

WHITE HALL ARTS ACADEMY PRESENTS ROCK THE BLOCK 2023  WHITE HALL ARTS ACADEMY RETURNS WITH THE 2ND ANNUAL COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY FEATURING INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, AND FUN!

MACY GRAY TO RECEIVE LIFETIME CHANGE MAKER AWARD

White Hall Arts Academy (WHAA), the nonprofit performing and visual arts education organization in the Crenshaw District of South Los Angeles, will take over West 54th Street for the 2nd Annual Rock The Block free family-focused festival on Sunday July 30, 2023. With over 10 years of service to the community, the highly anticipated block party welcomes community, corporations, local businesses, thought leaders, entertainers and celebrity guests to a day of programming to educate, motivate and inspire youth and families within South Los Angeles.

The 2023 Rock The Block Festival includes well known leaders in business across multiple industries who will moderate panels, conduct interactive workshops on topics around business, wellness and family services. From 12 pm – 5 pm PST. Macy Gray will be presented with the inaugural White Hall Arts Academy Lifetime Change Maker Awards for over 25 years of breaking down barriers in the music industry.

Rock The Block programs and activities will include:

• All day – Test drive luxury electric vehicles with Plug In America
• All day – Live mural creation with Mike Norice and Artfully United
• All day – Art activity for all ages with What’s Ya Vibe!
• All day – Kids Superhero Training and adult fitness “Train Like An Olympian”
• 12:30pm – Main Stage Praise Break featuring KJLH Choir
• 1:00pm – Self Defense demonstration from LAPD in the Fitness Zone
• 1:00pm – 3:00pm LA Rams Cheerleaders in the Kids Zone
• 1:30pm – 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Past Present and Future Main Stage Panel featuring:
• Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, The Poetess, Channing B. Smith, Esq
(Director of Business Affairs, RCA Records) and more. Moderated by SCETCH.
• 2:30 pm – Changemakers Main Stage Panel featuring Macy Gray, Assemblyman Isaac Bryan,
Dr. John-Paul C. Foster (pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church), Aleali May (Jordan Brand shoe designer and model). Moderated by Tina Sampay aka Slauson Girl.
• 3:00pm – LAFD Fire Safety demonstration in the Kids Zone
• 3:30pm – Main stage performance by Cristian Felix featuring Mariachi Ambiente 4:00pm – Tiny Room
• Jam Session hosted by Greg Spero of Tiny Room Studios

Rock the Block features key sponsors, funders, community partners and support from Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles City Council District 8 – Councilmember Marqueece Harris Dawson, Los Angeles Metro, LA28, Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood Council, Pasadena Showcase House of the Arts, Plug In America, Boom Squad Academy, Artfully United, KJLH, LAPD, LAFD, LA Rams Cheerleaders, Guitar Center Foundation, Everytable, Ashanti United Church of Christ and Faithful Central Bible Church.

Rock the Block will also feature California’s favorite local black owned food trucks: Fraiche Signatures, Donut Grown Up, Love Ice, Compton Vegan, D’Ville’s Grill, Reality Eatzz, and Trap Kitchen Tacos.

Founded in 2011, WHAA, powered by the White Hall Arts Academy Foundation offers a blend of classical and contemporary arts training to children and adults in underserved communities. For over 10 years, WHAA has succeeded at not only serving the underserved, but connecting them with opportunities outside of the program. Success stories include students who have been accepted into top tier universities like Brown, Berklee College of Music, USC, UCLA, Morehouse, Spelman, etc; won Grammy awards, on Broadway tours, appeared on American Idol and The Voice, with over 500 students served and a 100% graduation rate.

“We’re excited to bring Rock The Block 2023 back to 54th Street,” said Tanisha Hall, Founder and CEO of White Hall Arts Academy and White Hall Arts Foundation. “The block party not only celebrates 10 years of service, but builds upon the legacy of Crenshaw and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and educate on our street.”

Rock The Block will be a day filled with music, conversation, community and FUN! There will be face painting, balloon twisting, air brush tattoos, tons of arts and crafts and activities for all ages. The event will take place on 54th Street between Crenshaw and Arlington / Van Ness. Street closures from 4th through 7th Avenues will provide three blocks hosting stages, vendor booths, a large kids play area and activities at businesses along the corridor. Give-aways from LA28, Guitar Center Foundation, Everytable, and the Spread Love Foundation.

To learn more about the Rock the Block, please visit Rock The Block LA.

Visit us at whitehallacademy.org

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CONTACT: Tanisha Hall mail@whitehallacademy.org 424-235-0665