When most people hear “Utah,” they don’t think of Black joy, entrepreneurship, or creative legacy. But that’s exactly what Michelda Castro is building, with intention and impact, through the Unity Block Party, a multi-day celebration of music, culture, and community that’s becoming a national destination for Black creatives.
“I was the only Black person that I saw and that was when I would look at myself in the mirror on the way out,” Michelda says, laughing, as she recalls her early days in Salt Lake City after moving from Fort Lauderdale. Like many Black transplants, she experienced what she calls “a real culture shock.” But where others saw a void, Michelda saw an opportunity.
How A Moment Of Grief Sparked The Birth Of Utah’s Unity Block Party
The Unity Block Party originated as a response to pain, an urgent need to create joy and connection in a place that didn’t naturally offer them. “I was just sad,” Michelda recalls. “It was post-George Floyd. I was sad. I was sick. I was crying. People at work were having these devil’s advocate conversations about how he died. I’m like, you’re literally playing devil’s advocate with real people’s lives, and they’re dying on the street. So, it became, like, really isolating. I just wanted to feel some joy.”
She happened upon a traveling memorial on Instagram and sent them a message: “Can I do this here in Utah?”Their response: “But are there even Black people there?” Michelda didn’t flinch. “Well, there’s at least one person here that’s Black, and that’s me. I can gather the rest.”…