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Written By: Jelisa Raquel

When Michelda moved from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Utah, she immediately felt the absence of something she had always taken for granted: Black culture. The vibrant rhythm, the shared history, and the unspoken sense of belonging that came with being surrounded by her community were suddenly missing. Utah’s beauty and opportunity were undeniable, but for Michelda, there was a cultural void she could not ignore.

“I didn’t expect it to be like Atlanta or New York,” she recalls. “But I thought there’d be at least a little something here for us. It just wasn’t there.”

That longing became the seed for the Unity Block Party, a three-day festival that has grown into one of Utah’s most unapologetic celebrations of Black art, culture, and economic empowerment. What began four years ago as an impromptu gathering outside her apartment without permits or corporate backing has blossomed into a large-scale event attracting attendees from across the state and beyond.

Building a Space By Us, For Us

While Utah had community events organized by the local Black Chamber and occasional cultural gatherings, Michelda noticed that many were tailored to fit corporate expectations or funded by predominantly white-led organizations. Those spaces often required Blackness to be presented in a way that felt safe for sponsors.

“I wanted something fully centered on us, our stories, our art, our music, without changing the message to make it more palatable,” she explains. That authenticity became the foundation of the Unity Block Party.

This year’s festival featured everything from live performances to a film screening and panel discussions. One highlight was the outdoor showing of a powerful documentary that captured a historic Harlem music festival hidden from the public for decades.

“When I first saw it, I cried,” Michelda says. “It reminded me that representation matters. Seeing 14,000 Black people come together like that, imagine the inspiration that could have sparked if it had been aired back then.”

For Michelda, the choice to show the film was more than cultural. It was political. “It’s a reminder of our resilience, creativity, and unity, even when the world tries to silence us.”

The Unity Block Party is not only about music, food, and art. It also serves as a fundraiser for Michelda’s nonprofit creative agency, which supports Black entrepreneurs and creative professionals in Utah and nationwide. Vendors gain a platform to sell their goods, and attendees are introduced to Black-owned businesses they may not have encountered otherwise.

“Utah is a great business place,” Michelda says. “If we ever built another Black Wall Street, I believe it could happen here.”

This year’s event faced serious challenges. Political changes and executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs caused Michelda to lose federal funding and corporate sponsors, even those who had already committed. She also lost her job as a direct result. Despite these setbacks, with the support of her family, husband, and community, she pressed forward.

“God told me to go forth,” she says. “And I trust that He will provide.”

Michelda hopes attendees leave the Unity Block Party with a sense of belonging and empowerment. “I want people to know they belong anywhere their feet touch,” she says. “Blackness is not a monolith. We are diverse in how we live, love, and create. And while this festival is built for Black people, it is also a space for others to come and truly appreciate our contributions to America and the world.”

From her apartment steps to a large-scale cultural movement, Michelda has proven that when passion meets purpose, community transformation is possible. As she looks ahead to year five, her mission remains the same: to preserve, celebrate, and amplify Black culture in Utah without compromise.

Photo Credits: Michelda G. Castro and Daniel Amoros