Region17Gh Launches in DC to Mobilize Ghanaian Diaspora
Region17Gh has launched in Washington, D.C., aiming to harness the Ghanaian diaspora community to support Ghana's national development efforts.
In brief
Region17Gh launched in Washington, D.C. to organize and harness the Ghanaian diaspora community in support of Ghana's national development. The initiative, reported by CitiNewsroom, represents a formal effort to channel the resources, networks, and expertise of Ghanaians living in the United States toward their home country's growth.
Key Takeaways
Region17Gh officially launched in Washington, D.C., targeting the Ghanaian diaspora.
The initiative is aimed at directing diaspora energy and resources toward Ghana's national development.
Washington, D.C. serves as the launch city, reflecting the capital's significance as a hub for African diaspora communities and international policy.
A Diaspora Initiative Takes Root in the Nation's Capital
Washington, D.C. has long served as a gathering point for African diaspora communities, from the corridors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund near Foggy Bottom to the neighborhoods of Silver Spring and Takoma Park across the Maryland line. The launch of Region17Gh here signals a deliberate choice — DC's concentration of policy institutions, diplomatic missions, and professional networks makes it a logical base for any initiative seeking to bridge diaspora communities with national development goals back home.
According to CitiNewsroom, Region17Gh was established specifically to harness the Ghanaian diaspora for Ghana's national development. Beyond the launch location and stated mission, the source does not provide additional operational details about the organization's structure, leadership, or funding.
Why Washington, D.C. Matters for Diaspora Development Work
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Choosing Washington as a launch city is not incidental. The District hosts the embassies of more than 170 nations, including the Embassy of Ghana, and sits within a metropolitan region that is home to one of the most educated and professionally diverse African immigrant populations in the United States. Organizations working at the intersection of diaspora engagement and international development frequently plant their flags here to access both federal policymakers and multilateral institutions.
The World Bank has documented diaspora remittances as a critical and often underutilized engine of development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Initiatives like Region17Gh seek to formalize that flow — moving beyond individual remittances toward organized investment, knowledge transfer, and advocacy. For Ghana specifically, the diaspora represents a substantial economic and intellectual resource.
For readers tracking DC's evolving role in African diaspora organizing, our DC Politics Guide 2026 and DC Power Players Index track the institutions and individuals shaping the capital's global connections.
Why This Matters in Washington
Washington, D.C. is not just the seat of American government — it is one of the most internationally networked cities on the planet. When diaspora organizations choose to launch here, they are making a statement about where power is concentrated and where they intend to operate. Region17Gh's DC launch positions the initiative inside a city where African Union liaisons, USAID officials, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are all within reach. That geographic calculus matters for any organization serious about translating diaspora ambition into policy-relevant action.
Follow our ongoing coverage of DC's diaspora communities and international policy connections at WDCM Politics and WDCM Culture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Region17Gh?
Region17Gh is an initiative launched in Washington, D.C., designed to mobilize the Ghanaian diaspora in support of Ghana's national development, according to CitiNewsroom.
Why did Region17Gh launch in Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. is home to Ghana's embassy, major multilateral development institutions, and a large, professionally diverse African diaspora community, making it a strategic base for diaspora-led development work.
What does Region17Gh aim to do?
According to CitiNewsroom, Region17Gh aims to harness the Ghanaian diaspora for Ghana's national development. Specific programmatic details were not included in the source reporting.
Where can I follow developments about Region17Gh?
CitiNewsroom, Ghana's leading digital news outlet, reported the launch. Washington DC Magazine will continue covering diaspora and international development stories originating from the capital.
The bottom line: Region17Gh has launched in Washington, D.C. with a stated mission to organize the Ghanaian diaspora around Ghana's national development goals. The choice of DC as a launch city reflects the capital's unique position as a hub for African diaspora professionals, diplomatic institutions, and international development organizations. As reported by CitiNewsroom, details beyond the launch and mission have not yet been confirmed publicly.
What to watch next: Monitor CitiNewsroom and the Embassy of Ghana in Washington for announcements about Region17Gh's programming, leadership, and formal partnerships with U.S.-based institutions.
Reporting drawn from: CitiNewsroom. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
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He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
