25 Years of Honey Pot Performance: Who We Are

2026 marks 25 years since Honey Pot Performance (HPP) was founded in 2001, as a Black feminist collective of movement artists and creative thinkers, committed to exploring the complexities of living a contemporary global life. Over two and half decades, HPP and our artistic collaborators have crafted an immense body of work that amplifies our joys, our strivings, and the beauty of belonging in the Black diaspora. We have worked hard to support and uplift PGM/BIPOC communities of artists, scholars, residents, creatives, organizers, leaders, historians, and healers of all walks, always making sure they are leading the way in our organization. Through performances, sharing knowledge, archiving, and engaging with the public humanities, we create a space where the perspectives of artists of the global majority are front and center. Our work focuses on how people navigate their identity, sense of belonging, and differences in their lives and communities.

2026 HPP Programming

2026 was a productive year for us! We continued our focus on artistic programming. Highlights from our recent partnerships include Vinyl & Vittles, Reiki 4 All, and Freedom From Freedom To. We also culminated our multiyear original performance work Pleasure Power Portal with a three-phase progressive performance experience from late September through October, collaborating with many incredible artists. In our public humanities work, we continued our Chicago Black Social Culture Map programming and brought on a new Archives & Research Manager who has worked diligently to help build a stronger infrastructure for our policies and processes.

We also contracted/collaborated with many Chicagoland artists, creators, educators, caterers, volunteers, etc., uplifting their creativity and skills through our community engagement programs. Our programming is made possible through the tireless efforts of our thirteen HPP team members, whom we make a commitment to pay on a monthly basis for their time and talents.

Through our long-standing mission and in alignment with our core values, we have been able to produce all of our programming at a free/sliding scale price point in order to provide public access to this important work. This work has a lasting impact, empowering communities to break barriers, and shape a future where our voices are heard, valued, and celebrated. Your support helps bring new work to life, sustains community programming, particularly on the West Side of Chicago, and supports the artists, ideas, archives, and spaces that make it all possible as we continue to expand our organization.

Giving Back to Our Community

We’re excited to share that a portion of the funds raised from this campaign will be donated to The Fifth City Preschool, the alma mater of our Artistic Director, Meida McNeal. Fifth City Child Development Institute Inc. was established in 1964, and is licensed to serve 88 children on Chicago's Westside, as an educational day care center for children ages 2-12 years. It is located on 5th Avenue, just West of Homan. Creative Curriculum is used by the staff to develop lesson plans that meet the needs of their children. The lesson plans help to expose the children to the whole world and the richness of many cultural heritages.

Their mission is as follows: "To strive to create a loving, caring and secure environment that addresses students' physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth. We are dedicated to developing a curriculum that builds self respect and encourages each child to explore, make choices, and develop age appropriately. All personal staff and directors are trained to use the Creative Curriculum as an educational guide. Through songs, stories, role-playing, drawings, paintings, and trips our teachers help the students to deal with life limits and possibilities on their way to becoming productive members of society."

During a time when so many are facing challenges, we recognize how vital it is to support organizations that fill those gaps and uplift their communities. By contributing to this fundraiser, you’re also helping us provide mutual aid and celebrate the incredible work happening in the Fifth City community.

Click HERE to learn more about The Fifth City Preschool!

The Fundraiser Event

In alignment with our mission and vision, we are proud to present the indelible Jessica F. Morrison featuring Velvet Honey in a featured concert,

Transformation Rooted in Neo-Soul Hymns.

About the work: Somewhere along the way, most of us forgot the sound of our own voice. Life got loud. The bills piled up, the fears settled in, and the melody we were born with got quieter and quieter until we could barely hear it.

Transformation Rooted in Neo-Soul Hymns is an hour spent finding it again.

The night will feature a delicious meal and a dance party with sounds by DJ Jo de Presser. Our Honey Boutique will be open, featuring a mix of vintage and modern clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories for sale. We'll also be selling HPP merch, including limited edition items. You can also check out our Doctors exhibit currently installed in our community exhibition space in the balcony area.

Fill The Pot Program:

6pm - Small Bites & Mingling

6:45pm - Dinner

7:30pm - Performance by Jessica F. Morrison featuring Velvet Honey

Velvet Honey: Breena Husterman, Naydja Bruton, & Ariya Hawkins

8:30pm - Dance Party with sounds DJ Jo De Presser

HPP 2026 Fill the Pot Fundraiser

Team Members