MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Collective,

This week we are spotlighting MACRE member Lushima Lumumba-Kasongo, a long-time martial artist and community organizer who builds spaces where walls don’t belong.

Through Black and Blu Martial Arts, Lushima is designing a community hub for martial arts and collective security that cannot be redlined or gerrymandered out of reach. This season he brings that energy to MACRE with summer martial arts and self-defense classes, taking full advantage of the indoor space and our shaded outdoor driveway on beautiful summer days.

When he isn’t coaching, he’s world-building. Lushima is the creator of Souls Of Sithis—an original tabletop roleplaying game built alongside his 2024-2025 Southside Afterschool Program Pre-Teen Squad. This isn’t your average game; it invites players to make a soul, learn magic, and decide the fate of the world in a martial arts tournament that tests everything from algebra and creative problem-solving to choreography and teamwork. He will also be using the MACRE media lab to edit his upcoming films for the project.

FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: We are celebrating our 1-Year Anniversary Open House this Friday night, June 5th, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Lushima is setting up a dedicated station to offer a sneak peek at his project’s custom spell book and rough drafts of his comic book art.

Come through, talk world-building, and meet Lushima and other MACRE members!

📍 Friday, June 5th | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 🎟️ Free & open to the public (Note: Main space is handicap accessible; restrooms are currently not).

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