Swann Society is in honor of William Dorsey Swann who was born enslaved on the eastern shore of Maryland in the 1850s but by the 1880s, was hosting drag balls in DC.  With pride, we continue Swann's legacy of courageous celebration

Community organizers today continue a strong legacy of people finding radical joy and practicing mutual aid.  By researching and celebrating stories from the past, we can find hope for today.  Swann Society researches stories about moments in DC history where people celebrated and created systems to care for each other in oppressive circumstances.  We host parties and workshops for organizers and neighbors to learn from these historical experiences to energize our work today.