Santa Barbara Black Culture House
As our community grows and the need for services rises as well. Juneteenth Santa Barbara sees their place as an organization that can amplify voices to bring awareness of the good work of the organizations providing services, programs, and entertainment - all in an effort to connect our communities.
Santa Barbara Black Culture House
Tell us about yourself. How long have you lived in Santa Barbara County?
Sally A. Foxen-McNeill is a native-born Santa Barbaran. Darrell M. McNeill was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and met Sally in Philadelphia in 2007. The two traveled back and forth between the cities for ten years and married in 2017. Darrell moved out to live with Sally later that year.
What are the origins of your organization and its mission? What were the needs at the time?
Santa Barbara Black Culture House was born in February of 2020. The impetus was Sally, a city native, seeking bandwidth for original programming–particularly that which focused on Black arts and culture–in Santa Barbara, which was/is extremely limited. Darrell is a music events producer, musician, and writer, who was struggling to find footing in his adopted city. With no interest from the city’s performing arts institutions, Sally and Darrell hit upon the idea of a “pop-up” events space for Black arts and culture programming–concerts, films, readings, art exhibits, panel discussions, community forums–that didn’t require a permanent address, and Santa Barbara Black Culture House was born. In the three years Culture House was allowed to present live events (2021 featured online events due to COVID-19 restrictions), it has been hosted at the former Youth Interactive Space, The Alhecama Theatre, and in 2023, Soul Bites Restaurant (the former Velvet Jones venue space).
What are your organization's current programs, services, etc.? And the geographic location of services and programs?
Saturday, February 4, 1 pm - Film screening: “Maynard,” filmmaker/UCSB lecturer Wendy Eley Jackson’s award-winning documentary based on Atlanta mayor, Maynard Jackson. Ms. Eley-Jackson will discuss the film and lead a Q&A.
Sunday, February 5, 1PM – Community discussion: Coffee With A Black Guy, with James Joyce III: Journalist and community leader James Joyce III leads discussions unpacking sensitive matters centered around race in America.
Sunday, February 11, 1pm – Panel discussion: “Choice of Colors: Multiraciality In A Divided America.” A talk about navigating identity with blended backgrounds in an environment which forces people to choose sides. Featuring Leah King, multimedia artist, activist; Akil Hill and Roxanne Maiko Byrne, PhD, educators at SBCC; and Stirling Nix-Bradley, co-owner, proprietor and chef of Soul Bites Restaurant. Sally A. Foxen-McNeill and Darrell McNeill will moderate.
(OFF SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12)
Saturday, February 18, 1pm –Panel discussion: “Black Women Rock.” A pre-taped video conference of five dynamic Black women who’ve carved out careers in the rock music genre. Featuring Maureen Mahon, author/professor at NYU and artists Sophia Ramos, Shelley Nicole, Leah King, and LaFrae Sci.
Sunday, February 19, 1pm – Live blues/rock with Jellyroll. Popular Santa Barbara blues rock band led by vocalist/harpist Morganfield Burnett.
Saturday, February 25, 1pm – Live jazz/funk with L.A. trio The Funky Neighbors. Contemporary instrumental group featuring L.A. musicians bassist Stevie Martin, keyboardist Damon Wilson, and drummer Terrence Huggins.
Sunday, February 26, 1pm - Live music with L.A. Supergroup, The Cookies, back by popular demand. Featuring musical legends: vocalist Maxayn Lewis, bassist Bobby Watson, and guitarist Allen Hinds.
The 2023 edition of Santa Barbara Black Culture House will be hosted at Soul Bites Restaurants, at 423 State Street, between Haley and Gutierrez Streets. Doors open at noon, events begin at 1pm. All events are all ages and FREE to the general public. The Santa Barbara Black Culture House is sponsored by the Black Rock Coalition and made possible by a grant from City of Santa Barbara and The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture.
What are your organization's current needs?
For now, just word of mouth, community presence and participation. In the future, we will need to formulate as a self-sustaining 501c3; additional funding to expand programming (including events outside of the window of Black History Month); to develop web infrastructure and build an online presence/portal for content and community networking; and, long term, to build a multi-use, multimedia events space to have a permanent home for Culture House.
What does success look like for your organization and Santa Barbara County? Anything we missed?
Success for the Santa Barbara Black Culture House means having a greater presence and impact on the public mind of the city/county of Santa Barbara; illuminating and elevating Black presence and purpose in the city/county; and to have our culture, our interests, and our needs held in the same esteem and respect in the greater Santa Barbara community as others are.
