Washington Informer

THEARC Raises More than $800K with ‘After Dark’ Gala

WASHINGTON INFORMER — The “After Dark @THEARC” gala celebrated 13 years one of its partners, Building Bridges Across the River, has had improving the quality of life for children and adults who reside east of the Anacostia River.

Published

8 years ago

October 3, 2018

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Students from The Washington Ballet perform at the After Dark @THEARC Gala on Sept. 29. (Courtesy of THEARC)

By WI Web Staff

The “After Dark @THEARC” gala celebrated 13 years one of its partners, Building Bridges Across the River, has had improving the quality of life for children and adults who reside east of the Anacostia River.

Saturday’s gala at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreational Campus in Southeast, which provided attendees with a firsthand look at the new building, raised more than $800,000 for the facility.

“The After Dark @THEARC Gala was a tremendous success,” said Rashaan Bernard, Building Bridges Across the River president. “The money that was raised will help us continue to open the doors of hope for thousands of local children and adults in our community. The commitment from our 14 nonprofit partners also ensures that our neighbors in Wards 7 and 8 are able to receive the best-in-class resources.”

Rahsaan Bernard (left), Building Bridges Across the River president, speaks at the After Dark @THEARC Gala on Sept. 29 as William A. Von Hoene Jr., Exelon senior executive vice president and gala co-chair, applauds. (Courtesy of THEARC)

[/media-credit] Rahsaan Bernard (left), Building Bridges Across the River president, speaks at the After Dark @THEARC Gala on Sept. 29 as William A. Von Hoene Jr., Exelon senior executive vice president and gala co-chair, applauds.

THEARC features a 365-seat community theater, black box theater, urban farm, regulation-size gymnasium, libraries, computer labs, classrooms, dance studious, music and visual arts studios, an art gallery and a public playground.

In addition to BBAR, the facility has 13 permanent nonprofit resident partners: the AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, Artreach, the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, the Boys and Girls Club FBR Branch, the Children’s National Health System, Covenant House Washington, the David Lynch Foundation, DC Central Kitchen, Levine Music, The Phillips Collection, The Washington Ballet, The Washington School for Girls and Trinity Washington University.

Over the past 13 years the gala has provided community members, political leaders, corporate supporters and neighboring nonprofit organizations an opportunity to witness the talent of local aspiring artists, dancers and musicians.

This year’s event included performances from The Washington Ballet, the Levine School of Music, and THEARC’s state-of-the-art Frederick Douglass animatron presentation — an exact replica of Douglass’ study in his Anacostia home, which features more than two hours of his most famous speeches.

“Exelon is proud to support THEARC, and I am proud to be on THEARC’s board of directors,” said William A. Von Hoene Jr., Exelon senior executive vice president. “We are committed to being a good neighbor and giving back to the communities we serve, and it is a pleasure to be a part of the extraordinary work THEARC is doing for families in Wards 7 and 8.”

THEARC provides youth and adults across Wards 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia with equal access to essential arts, education, health and youth services programs. Wards 7 and 8 are home to 40 percent of D.C.’s youth, and nearly half of those children live at or below the poverty line, making it challenging for them to receive equal access to essential health, educational and cultural services.

Since its opening in 2005, THEARC has provided high-quality programs and services to children and adults living east of the Anacostia River, enabling them to participate in dance classes, music instruction, fine arts, continuing education, mentoring and tutoring and to receive medical and dental care and other services at a substantially reduced cost or no cost at all.

The newly completed $61 million, 203,000-0square-foot campus sits on more than 16 acres of National Park service land and includes a 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art playground and basketball court. THEARC was created with input from the community, allowing residents of Wards 7and 8 to have equal equity and a sense of ownership in the campus. Many residents volunteer their time to support efforts at THEARC and some have even joined THEARC staff.

With the completion and opening of THEARC’s facilities, the center is poised to become a national model as a programs and services hub for communities.

This article originally appeared in the Washington Informer.

Up Next

Latino Leaders Back Jealous for Md. Governor

Don't Miss

OP-ED: Kavanaugh Scraped from Bottom of Barrel

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Comments

Featured

Quincy Wilson Talks 2024 Olympics, Choosing UMD, Rod Wave & More | Interview

Olympic standout Quincy Wilson sits down with the Washington Informer to discuss his Maryland commitment, track success, and love for music.

Published

2 days ago

October 23, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Quincy Wilson in a studio interview for the Washington Informer discussing his 2024 Olympic experience and UMD choice.

Washington Informer Reporter Demarco Rush caught up with Quincy Wilson to discuss his decision to attend the University of Maryland, his Olympic experience, growing up in the DMV and his favorite music artists.

Video Producer: Demarco Rush

🌐 Visit Us: www.washingtoninformer.com

About The Washington Informer:

Founded in 1964 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, The Washington Informer is an African American, woman-owned newspaper providing positive coverage of the Black community in Washington, D.C.

📸 Instagram: @washinformer
📘 Facebook: Washington Informer
🐦 Twitter: @WashInformer

#WIN #BeInformed #blacknews #BlackOwnedMedia #SupportBlackJournalists#BlackVoicesMatter #BlackMediaExcellence #BlackStorytelling #blackpress #BlackJournalistsMatter #washingtoninformer #DMVNews #DCMedia #blackownedbusiness #LocalBlackMedia #DMVVoices #BlackMediaDC #BlackWriters #AmplifyBlackVoices #BlackCreators #CommunityJournalism #letstalk #blackpress #win #beinformed #washingtoninformer #washinformer

Featured

62 Years of the Washington Informer: Our Origin and Mission #washingtoninformer #shorts

Celebrate 62 years of the Washington Informer as we look back at our origins and the mission that continues to drive our community journalism today.

Published

4 days ago

October 21, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Vintage black and white photo of a newspaper printing press with Washington Informer branding and 62 years text overlay.

#shorts

Featured

From Christies to Bali: The Birth of 11Eleven gallery #washingtoninformer #shorts

Discover the journey behind 11Eleven gallery, from the halls of Christie’s to the heart of Bali. Watch how a dream transformed into a global art destination.

Published

4 days ago

October 21, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Art curator standing in 11Eleven gallery in Bali, highlighting the transition from Christie's auction house to new space.

#shorts

Featured

Nicola Charles on 11 Providing a Space for Artistic Expression and Cultural Engagement | Let’s Talk

Denise Rolark Barnes sits down with curator Nicola Charles to discuss how 11:Eleven gallery uses photography to preserve history and celebrate cultural storytelling.

Published

4 days ago

October 21, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Nicola Charles discusses artistic expression and cultural engagement on the Let’s Talk show with Washington Informer.

In this segment, Denise Rolark Barnes sits down with Nicola Charles, Curator of 11:Eleven gallery. They talk about Washington Informer’s 62nd anniversary, as the gallery is hosting Photogallery Exhibit and Reception, creating an opportunity to celebrate the power of photography to preserve history and tell stories that might otherwise go unseen. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss!

🎥 Let’s Talk airs LIVE every Friday at Noon on WIN-TV

🔴 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
🌐 Visit Us: www.washingtoninformer.com

Host: Denise Rolark Barnes
Publisher – The Washington Informer

About The Washington Informer:

Founded in 1964 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, The Washington Informer is an African American, woman-owned newspaper providing positive coverage of the Black community in Washington, D.C. In March 2020, we launched WIN-TV to further amplify community voices and issues.

Production Team:
🎥 Producer: Shevry Lassiter
🎥 Asst. Producer: Ja’Mon Jackson
🎶 Theme Music by DB Bantino

Guest: Nicola Charles – Curator, 11:Eleven gallery

#Community #Empowering #Education #WIN #BeInformed #WINTV #blacknews #BlackOwnedMedia #SupportBlackJournalists #BlackVoicesMatter #BlackMediaExcellence #BlackStorytelling #blackpress #BlackJournalistsMatter #washingtoninformer #WashingtonDC #DMVNews #DCMedia #blackownedbusiness #LocalBlackMedia #DMVVoices #BlackMediaDC #BlackWriters #AmplifyBlackVoices #BlackCreators #CommunityJournalism #letstalk #blackpress #win #beinformed #washingtoninformer #washinformer

Featured

62 Years of Telling Our Stories: Honoring the Legacy, Celebrating the Future.

Celebrate 62 years of The Washington Informer! Join Denise Rolark Barnes on Let’s Talk to honor legacy and explore the future of community storytelling.

Published

1 week ago

October 16, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Washington Informer's 62nd anniversary gala honors legacy and celebrates future stories.

Join Denise Rolark Barnes for a special anniversary edition of Let’s Talk on WIN-TV, celebrating 62 years of The Washington Informer!

This milestone program honors the legacy of founder Dr. Calvin Rolark and the newspaper’s enduring commitment to informing, empowering and amplifying the voices of the community.

Media producer Alvin Jones shares memories of working with Dr. Rolark on Soundoff at WYCB. Lukas Umana of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District discusses downtown programming, public spaces and cultural experiences bringing Washington, D.C., together. Nicola Charles, curator at Gallery 11, explores the power of photography and the gallery hosting the newspaper’s anniversary exhibition and reception.

Denise also reflects on the unexpected passing of Talib Karim, Director at MORCa.

Celebrate history, legacy, culture and community with us!

Watch Friday, October 16, 2026, at noon on WIN-TV!

The Washington Informer: 62 Years of Telling Our Stories.

Featured

Antoine x Mya Interview @ALC55

ALC55: Mya Trujillo interviews Antoine Thompson of GWRCCC and Charrisse Jackson-Jordan on environmental advocacy in Black communities. Learn how to amplify your voice!

Published

2 weeks ago

October 9, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Antoine and Mya interviewed at ALC55 by Washington Informer

Washington Informer reporter Mya Trujillo sits down with Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) CEO Antoine Thompson and television personality Charrisse Jackson-Jordan at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 55th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) to discuss how Black communties should show up in conversations and advocacy around environmental issues.