NCMPR BLOG

by: Beth Jendro Noël
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, Massachusetts

Conferences are a great opportunity for networking and professional growth. But the real adventure lies just outside the hotel lobby. This year’s national conference is in D.C., home to an incredible mix of people, food, and neighborhoods, making the nation’s capitol one of my all-time favorite American cities to visit.

You all know there is a lot to see and do in D.C., from amazing landmarks and memorials to the popular Smithsonian museums — and of course, National Zoo pandas. But D.C. is also full of hidden gems that celebrate what makes Americans unique. I’ve put together a short list of some of the city’s best cultural spots.

• D.C.’s Neighborhood Heritage Trails are a great way to explore the rich diversity of the city’s past and present. These individual self-guided walking trails cover over 20 neighborhoods, ​​highlighting local history and culture.
• The U Street corridor, often referred to as “Black Broadway,” celebrates the thriving center of African-American culture, music and business in the early-to-mid 20th century.
• A visit to D.C.’s Dupont Circle will connect you with dozens of LGBTQ+ businesses and restaurants, including the Phillips Collection, an art museum celebrating queer artists, diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
• For a peaceful escape, the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens features a Japanese-style garden designed by prominent Japanese-born American landscape architect and designer Shogo Myaida.
• D.C. is home to more than 100 murals created by over 60 artists from diverse backgrounds. Many of the murals reflect the artists’ cultures and lived experiences, including my favorites, “Pass the Crown” and “Alma Indigena.”
• The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the first museum in the world dedicated to championing women through the arts, featuring more than 5,500 works from 1,000 women artists across all periods and nationalities.

Attending the NCMPR national conference is a great learning and networking opportunity, but it can be so much more than professional development. I invite you to join me in stepping out of the hotel lobby and  intentionally seeking out and appreciating what makes D.C. so unique.

Beth Jendro Noël is the NCMPR Director-at-Large (DEI) and director of communications & creative services at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts.