Hosted by Brad Anthony Bernard, Milwaukee-based artist and founder of the Community Arts & Funk Festival, “How the Blues Put Us into a Funk” will feature a presentation about the evolution of blues and funk music, including the conditions, historical events and genres in which composers created Black music. After the presentation, guests will participate in an interactive workshop to learn how to create and design your own album cover.

African-American music has a profound impact on the larger musical landscape. Each song has a unique purpose – to uplift, mobilize, tell a story, unite, educate, entertain, bear witness, or send a message.