Juernes is the latest cultural craze to take off at Columbia Heights, one of Washington, D.C.’s biggest Latino communities. Its name is an ode to its motto, “Jueves es el nuevo viernes,” or “Thursday is the new Friday,” and its aim is to celebrate the neighborhood’s diverse cultures.
According to the last census, Hispanic and Latino communities made up 11.7% of D.C.’s population. Countries such as El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico are the most represented within that percentage.
The monthly event series boasts a vendor market, live entertainment, and free meal distribution for community members. Held in the area’s Civic Plaza, Juernes will start Thursday, April 11 and continue every second Thursday of each month, now through September, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The initiative was spearheaded by District Bridges, a non-profit organization that specializes in impactful community development and micro-economic growth.
“The outcome we’re hoping for is more engagement, as always, with the local businesses, with the community, and for people to know more about community organizations that are working here,” said Paco Ramos-Meyer, District Bridges’ main street manager. “Make our community more connected and stronger.”
