The Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage honors America’s 250th with, Culture of, by, and for the People. The institution will hit the road, using cultural programming to tell the story America.

The Concert of Colors Neighborhood Series is a part of that plan. Its hosting an event called “All Humans Are Created Equal” at Mercado Plaza in Mexicantown on June 27. It kicks off the Concert of Colors Neighborhood Series reframing the phrase “We Hold These Truths”.

La Santa Cecilia, a Grammy-winning band, brings the cosmic barrio to Detroit. They will perform classics and music from their newest album, “Los Años.” 

Betto Arcos will serve as a moderator after their performance. Arcos is a radio journalist, writer, curator, and music promoter from Los Angeles. He’s watched La Santa Cecilia grow from an LA barrio to the Grammy’s.

Betto says La Santa Cecilia has crafted their own sound. “They started to create their own songs, their own original sound that was a mixture of all the things they grew up listening to in their homes, with their parents.”

Raymond Lozano is the executive director of the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, who is co-sponsoring the event. Ray and Betto joined The Metro to talk more about the event and Latino diaspora.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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Detroit is a city where culture doesn’t just live, it moves like the river that shares a name. And this weekend, that energy comes together in a powerful way in Waawiyaatanong.

The Curved Shores Concert: A Native Artists Showcase takes over Spot Lite Detroit on Saturday, bringing together a unique lineup of Native American artists and storytellers.

It’s part of the larger Concert of Colors Neighborhood Programs, an effort to bring global sounds and meaningful conversations directly into Detroit’s neighborhoods. 

SouFy is a Southwest Detroit native and Native American hip-hop artist. When he’s not on stage performing, he’ll be helping bring this entire experience to life as co-founder of Vibes With The Tribes, the producers of the showcase.  

Charles Ezra Ferrell, the director of neighborhood programs for Concert of Colors and SouFy, joined The Metro to talk more about the event and its importance to Detroit’s diverse Native community.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

More stories from The Metro