About Us
Louis Diene Faye Foundation is a multidisciplinary and unique arts and philanthropist 501 C3 non-profit organization incorporated in 2015 in the District of Columbia. It is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes with a variety of functions, more specifically a non-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a socially sustainable future through program interests in arts, culture, heritage, humanities, food, health, nutrition and wellness in DC, the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area and the diaspora. It produces and develops cultural and performing and design arts programs for children, adults and families.
LDFF is working to change the next chapter of the story through its innovative educational and informative programs, research, advocacy and to be the leading voice, brand and resource on arts. It promotes cultural diversity through community outreach events, workshops, exhibits and heritage field trips.
We serve the District of Columbia and the Washington Metropolitan Area with impactful educational and innovative programs and exhibits to encourage learning, engagement and change by supporting, advocating and encouraging the visual, fine, performing, literature, expressive and healing arts that improve the cultural environment of our communities, promote awareness and respect for one’s heritage as well as people of other ethnic origins.
Louis Diene Faye Foundation uses, supports and engages creative arts as a pathway to bring the healing and restorative power of the arts for individuals, families and communities. LDFF advocates and involves expressive and healing arts as tools to improve health and well-being and our mission is to foster and promote the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical development of Africans and people of African descent through cultural art classes, workshops, panel of discussions, seminars, outreach events and field trips.
We believe that the history of black people is important, and their achievement was not taught and there is more to Africans than the negative stories and stereotypes seen on television, movies and the news. Lack of cultural appreciation leads to xenophobia both in the United States and around the world and our mission is to bridge the gap by hosting conferences, workshops, panels of discussions and events, to showcase and celebrate the African and people of African descent Lifestyle, Fashion, Arts, entertainment, creativity, diversity, culture., traditions, values and heritage.
LDFF fosters and prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion and success in the arts for people of African descent by working to grow our next generation of artists and our mission is to increase the awareness and appreciation of art in the District of Columbia and the DC Metropolitan Area, to promote, share the culture and heritage of Africans and to facilitate community connection through the creative arts, expressive and healing arts programs.
We believe that change must come from the communities themselves and everything we support begins with the local community and our programs are tailored around the needs of the African community residents. LDFF is a team of dedicated people who are passionate about coming together, contributing their expertise, talents, capacity and making a difference and making the world a better place.
LDFF provides the participants with opportunities to learn about their own cultures, we instill a greater sense of self-esteem and cultural pride. We provide a platform, give exposure and support empowerment to artists for all ages, skill levels and backgrounds, by providing opportunities for them to connect with other artists and the public with the rich arts and cultural and heritage of the District of Columbia. LDFF also provides multiple venues for visual and performing artists to display their creations to the public (hosting fine art shows, exhibitions, workshops and displays of art in cultural festivals and marketplaces.
Current Programs
LDFF utilizes arts, culture, customs and traditions as a medium to address, engage, educate, express, coordinate, serve, entertain and provide guidance to the youth, family and community through arts, education and cultural traditions.
The programs are open and welcome to all residents within the areas we serve without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, physical or developmental disability.
The organization has three major innovative programs: Creative Arts, Expressive & Healing Arts and Meal & Food Pantry Programs.
The programs are open and welcome to all residents within the areas we serve without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, physical or developmental disability.
The organization has three major innovative programs: Creative Arts, Expressive & Healing Arts and Meal & Food Pantry Programs.
Creative Arts
Louis Diene Faye Foundation is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the visual, performing, literature, media, and healing arts that improve the cultural environment of our communities. promotes awareness and respect for one’s heritage as well as people of other ethnic origins. It promotes diversity and success in the arts for people of African descent by working to grow our next generation of artists. We provide the youth, families and community with opportunities to learn about their own cultures through arts, education, cultural traditions and to instill a greater sense of self-esteem and cultural pride.
It consists of dance and drumming (African/afro Caribbean dance and drumming classes) photography, digital art and painting (including digital art), culinary arts (authentic African and afro Caribbean cooking classes).
Summer camp includes cooking, dance, drumming arts & crafts, design ( including doll making, tribal makeup/ tattoo) modeling and more.
Summer camp includes cooking, dance, drumming arts & crafts, design ( including doll making, tribal makeup/ tattoo) modeling and more.
Expressive & Healing Arts
Heritage Lifestyle Change
The Program consists of heritage lifestyle change program that includes culinary arts (African Heritage cooking and wellness classes) performing arts (African and Afro-Caribbean dance fitness classes). The program uses the art of cooking and dancing to promote health, nutrition and wellness education and disease prevention to encourage heritage healthy dieting, exercise (afro fitness/workout dance) and providing lifestyle wellness education. It guides people to good health through heritage, using programs grounded in science and tradition.
Meal and Food Pantry
LDFF uses Culinary Arts (the art of preparing, cooking, plating, presentation, and service of food) as a tool to provide hot meals to the needy.
We believe that access to nutritionally and safe food is a fundamental human need and right. LDFF is committed to assisting the residents in time of need through food and support services and to ensure that individuals and families have access to food that meets their unique nutritional needs.
We distribute food given by restaurants, catering services and by generous people/families in the community.
We believe that access to nutritionally and safe food is a fundamental human need and right. LDFF is committed to assisting the residents in time of need through food and support services and to ensure that individuals and families have access to food that meets their unique nutritional needs.
We distribute food given by restaurants, catering services and by generous people/families in the community.
Community Outreach events
Bringing the community Together
Our outreach events focus and showcase visual, performing, literature artists from Africans and people of African descent.
LDFF promotes the values of African culture and history to help build an understanding through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities including the exchange of people, ideas and experiences by promoting awareness, understanding, community and partnership between Africans and friends of Africa (strengthen relationship) by also producing educational and cultural programs on Africa and producing festivals, concerts, trade shows, conferences, forums, panel of discussion, workshops, fashion and hair shows, talent show, exhibition, scholarship and community leadership awards throughout the areas.
For the past ten years, we have partnered with organizations to provide enriching cultural events including festivals, fashion shows, dance festivals, community awards events and wellness fairs.
LDFF promotes the values of African culture and history to help build an understanding through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities including the exchange of people, ideas and experiences by promoting awareness, understanding, community and partnership between Africans and friends of Africa (strengthen relationship) by also producing educational and cultural programs on Africa and producing festivals, concerts, trade shows, conferences, forums, panel of discussion, workshops, fashion and hair shows, talent show, exhibition, scholarship and community leadership awards throughout the areas.
For the past ten years, we have partnered with organizations to provide enriching cultural events including festivals, fashion shows, dance festivals, community awards events and wellness fairs.