Ship & Anchor Showcases Art & Impact at ONE DC's Juneteenth Community Festival in Historic Anacostia
- Sedd
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
On June 19, 2025, the historic neighborhood of Anacostia in Washington, DC, came alive with culture, purpose, and community as ONE DC hosted its annual Juneteenth Community Festival. Among the artists and organizers present, Dev (Devin) — founder of Ship and Anchor — delivered a standout contribution that merged artistic excellence with community engagement and social impact.
As both a performer and entrepreneur, Devin used the event to introduce attendees to his creative work and the broader mission of Ship and Anchor, the social impact enterprise he founded to advance justice, healing, and systemic change through media, community strategy, and storytelling.
Performance That Blends Creativity with Lived Experience
Dev’s performance featured a series of unreleased tracks, each rooted in his personal journey and reflective of Ship and Anchor’s values. Highlights included:
“Whatcanudo” – A song from the award-winning documentary Letters from America’s 3rd World, which chronicles Dev’s incarceration and healing journey. The song is an anthem of possibility, asking: “What can you do with a dollar and a dream?” It's a musical invitation to tap into purpose, even in the face of struggle. With it's melodic cadence and message of resilience, the song landed like a rallying cry for anyone chasing something bigger.
“Da Won” – An unreleased, lighthearted track with a warm summer vibe and flirty lyricism. In this playful performance, Dev switches gears - revealing a more romantic side as he raps about the emotional risk of pursuing more than friendship. It was refreshing, fun and reminded everyone that vulnerability isn't just about pain - it can be joyful, too.
"They Thought..." – An upbeat track that put Dev's pen game on full display. This performance was braggadocious in all the right ways - sharp, fun, and overflowing with pride in his roots. With subtle shoutouts to the #252 (Eastern NC), #BullCity (Durham, NC), and Washington, DC, as well as references to his parents and his ongoing work with formerly incarcerated individuals, Dev reminded the crowd that authenticity and lyrical skill can coexist.
Each track demonstrates Dev’s range not only as a musician, but as a cultural strategist who uses art as a vehicle for social impact.
Engaging the Community Beyond the Stage
In addition to his performance, Devin hosted an interactive information table where he introduced community members to Ship and Anchor and its ecosystem of projects. Through dialogue, visual media, and printed resources, attendees learned about:
Ship and Anchor’s work to reimagine the criminal legal system using narrative, media, and partnerships
The critically acclaimed short film, Letters from America’s 3rd World, which earned the “Best Film” award in the criminal justice reform category at the 2023 International Social Change Film Festival
The 9-part docuseries featuring unreleased interviews and insights from the film
Opportunities to support, collaborate, or gain exclusive access through the organization’s donation platform
The table served as a space for conversation, coalition-building, and deeper understanding of how storytelling and systems-change work hand in hand.
Cultural Impact Meets System Thinking
Devin’s participation at the ONE DC Juneteenth Festival was not just an artistic contribution — it was a strategic demonstration of how culture, lived experience, and enterprise can be woven together to drive social transformation. His dual role as performer and founder allowed festival attendees to see firsthand how Ship and Anchor operates at the intersection of creative expression and structural change.
This alignment between message, mission, and medium exemplifies what effective, community-rooted social innovation can look like — grounded in authenticity, designed for impact.
Learn More and Support the Work
To gain exclusive access to the 9-part docuseries, unreleased music, and behind-the-scenes content — or to support Dev’s mission to transform the criminal legal system through storytelling and social enterprise — visit: 🌐 https://shipandanchorbiz.com/theship