The Apollo and Kwanza Jones Launch National Roadshow for Arts and Empowerment
ENTERTAINMENT
The multi-million dollar initiative, powered by Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative and the SUPERCHARGED Boost Bus, advances cultural connection, creative excellence, and nationwide community uplift.
A cultural collaboration of epic proportions was announced on Giving Tuesday: The Apollo and acclaimed artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Kwanza Jones are joining forces to launch Culture In Motion™, a national roadshow set to expand The Apollo’s nearly 100-year legacy into communities across the United States.
This multi-million dollar initiative, powered by the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative and the SUPERCHARGED® Boost Bus™, is designed to advance a new era of creative excellence, cultural connection, and nationwide community uplift starting in January 2026.
Amplifying the Apollo’s Legacy
The Apollo has long been recognized as an American cultural treasure and a global beacon for Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. However, the new roadshow represents a bold, groundbreaking expansion of its mission.
The Culture In Motion roadshow is the inaugural activation of the Jones•Feliciano Initiative’s Producing Partner Program. The Apollo was selected as the first institutional partner due to its historic role and ongoing commitment to community impact.
The multi-million dollar investment leverages the Jones•Feliciano Initiative’s Impact Multiplier™ model. This model goes beyond simply providing capital, offering partners strategic guidance, creative support, and operational expertise, a philosophy guided by Kwanza Jones’ belief that “funding is the starting point, not the finish line”.
“Through Culture In Motion, we are bringing the heart of The Apollo directly to the people across the country,” said Michelle Ebanks, President & CEO of The Apollo.
The SUPERCHARGED® Boost Bus™
A signature feature of the Culture In Motion Roadshow is the SUPERCHARGED® Boost Bus™—a custom mobile cultural hub that will deliver The Apollo’s heritage and artistry directly to local neighborhoods. The Boost Bus will transport the legendary Amateur Night spirit, performances, and storytelling into communities, meeting people where they are and giving them a "powerful boost to go further".
The Roadshow is co-produced by The Apollo and led by SUPERCHARGED by Kwanza Jones, the empowerment media and creative studio known for building transformative, high-energy experiences.
The program blends The Apollo's legacy with future-forward innovation through four key pillars:
Arts Access: Live performances and creative showcases.
Community Engagement: Collaborations with local cultural institutions, schools, and grassroots organizations.
Empowerment: Activations designed to spark creativity, innovation, and action.
Legacy & Innovation: Honoring heritage while embracing new technologies and emerging voices.
“My Apollo story started on the Amateur Night Stage... I’m excited that this Roadshow will help even more people create their own Apollo story, one that starts right where they are,” said Kwanza Jones, Executive Producer, Apollo Board Member, and Co-Founder of the Jones-Feliciano Initiative.
The National Tour Begins
The Culture In Motion Roadshow will hold a send-off celebration at The Apollo in Harlem in January 2026 before officially kicking off its cross-country journey in Los Angeles during Grammy Week. The multi-city tour will then travel through vibrant cultural hubs across Southern and Northern California (including Long Beach, San Diego, and Oakland) before heading to major cultural centers nationwide, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C.. International destinations are also under evaluation for early 2027.