From the Green Book to the Groove
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A campus-wide jazz and cultural activation traces the legacy of The Negro Motorist Green Book through music, art and immersive installations.
From the Green Book to the Groove takes place Friday, February 20 at The ARC (Arts & Recreation Center) and surrounding Ten North Group properties in Opa-locka’s Arts District. Presented in observance of Black History Month, the free public program unfolds across multiple historic sites, connecting mid-20th-century Black mobility and enterprise to contemporary cultural practice.
Live Jazz & Cultural Performance
The evening features two live jazz sets led by saxophonist, composer and educator Simon Mogul, joined by an ensemble of collaborating musicians. The performances reflect the jazz traditions that traveled the routes documented in the Green Book, underscoring music’s role in sustaining community, creativity and movement during segregation.
A featured address, “More Than a Guidebook: The Green Book as an Ecosystem of Black Enterprise,” will be delivered by Michael Valentine of WDNA 88.9 FM, with remarks from Dr. Willie Logan, President and CEO of Ten North Group.
Exhibitions & Historic Site Activations
Visual and historical components include:
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A featured exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Philippe Dodard
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An archival installation centered on The Negro Motorist Green Book
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The curated “Garden of Humanity” corridor with outdoor jazz and reflective installations
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Activations at the ARC, the Hurt Building and the Historic Opa-locka Train Station, home to the Opa-locka Museum of Art & History
Food will be available for purchase from local vendor DBF Kitchen.
Located steps from the Opa-locka Tri-Rail Station, the Ten North Group campus underscores the historic and contemporary importance of mobility and access. Admission is free and open to the public; RSVP is strongly encouraged.