Rooted in the Region, Rising Together
We created DMV Made to showcase the artistic, cultural and wellness practices that define our region. Now we’re looking toward the next generation of creatives to continue our regions rich artistic tradition.
For 23 years, Words Beats & Life has been building bridges between generations and across geography, using hip-hop as both compass and catalyst. For the last decade, the WBL Festival has amplified voices locally and globally, creating space for artistry, activism and authentic connection.
In 2024, we launched a new festival— DMV Made. Rooted in the spirit of the region and the people who shape it, DMV Made centers culture and wellness by promoting a culture of wellness through music, movement, storytelling, entrepreneurship and collective care. Now in its second year, the festival is becoming a vital space for celebration and transformation.
This summer, we’ve taken another step forward. For the first time, our after-school and summer program— the WBL Academy, is fully aligned with our festival work. This means that students aren’t just learning skills, they’re applying them in real time. They are performing, producing, curating, marketing and engaging their communities— all with DMV Made as both classroom and stage.
We’ve reimagined our curriculum to help students explore the creative legacy of the DMV. From local legends in hip-hop and visual art to wellness pioneers and community organizers— students are connecting to the roots of where they come from in order to create new expressions of where they’re going. Through film, music, poetry and design— they’re telling their stories and reflecting the culture of a region too often underestimated.
At DMV Made, you’ll experience the full spectrum of this work. Our current students will perform alongside alumni, poet laureates, and teaching artists who helped build the WBL Academy. The festival will open with a high-energy Battle of the Bands— DC and Maryland vs. Virginia, and feature showcases and workshops led by dance crews, artists and entrepreneurs from Richmond, Hampton Roads, Baltimore and beyond.
DMV Made reminds us that our culture is not confined to a single city or zip code. It lives in our shared values, our artistry, and our willingness to collaborate across differences. It reminds us that wellness is not just about health, but about wholeness, about creating spaces where young people can grow, express themselves and lead.
This year’s DMV Made Festival will also mark the official announcement of our newest festival— a dance-centered celebration launching in December 2025 called The Way You Move. This winter gathering will bring together dancers, DJs and Producers from the DMV and around the world to celebrate the power of movement as a tool for joy, justice and connection.
We don’t believe the youth are the leaders of tomorrow. We believe they are leading today. And when we invest in their voices, visions and communities, we are investing in a better world now.
Peace, love, unity and having fun have always been at the heart of our mission. Right now, they feel like the best medicine.
Join us.
