Virginia Key Beach, founded in 1945 after a nonviolent protest against segregation, became the only beach in Miami legally accessible to Black residents during the Jim Crow era. Beyond being a cherished site for family gatherings, baptisms, and music festivals, it also served as a training and recreation base for Black servicemen stationed in South Florida during World War II. At a time when Black soldiers were risking their lives abroad but denied basic rights at home, Virginia Key offered a rare refuge—a place of dignity, rest, and resistance. The beach played a vital role in community organizing and civil rights activism, hosting rallies and building collective power in South Florida’s Black communities. Today, it remains sacred ground, where waves still carry the memory of joy, struggle, and a people’s refusal to be erased making is an ideal historic space to gather the CUZZINs.

The Poetry Potluck truly is a living activation and a "Gathering for the Art of Community". The poetry is what brings us all together but it's the connections, the random conversations, and the ever-growing community that keeps people coming back and bring those closest along with them.

The Family Room: This space is meant to activate the child in us. The part of us that imagines and asks questions. This is like you and your favorite CUZZINs at Grandma's house except you can touch everything and even eat in here. This space is meant for exploration, learning, discovery, free-thought and open-dialogue. Here is a library. It is a theater, an art gallery, and even a museum at times. And we don’t put plastic on anything here.

The Backyard: This space is meant to mimic the traditional Black family Cookout. There are blankets laid out and games on the lawn. Someone is mixing drinks and people are playing cards. This is where we break bread at the Family Table. This is where the Creatives take the stage. And this space is facilitated by the MC.

What should you bring?

Bring You and Your Tribe

Bring Good Vibes

A chair to sit in, A blanket to lay on,

And something to Sip on and to improve the mood

What should you expect?

• Good times with great people

• Live Performances

• Active Learning Spaces

• Art based Activations games, and activities

• Complimentary food & drinks,

• Relaxation,

• Apparel vending,

• Line dance,

• Give-aways,

• Non-clinical therapeutic art making facilitated by a licensed psychotherapist/art therapist,

• Tasting bar (alcohol & non-alcoholic)

   

Community Resources Center (The People's Pantry)

• Political Education

• Health & Wellness

• Financial planning

• Home Ownership/Housing

• more

   

Market Place (The Open Market)

• Books

• Beauty & Skin Care

• Conscious Apparel

• Jewelry

• Home Goods

• Holistic Healing

• more