There are few local cultural spaces as influential as the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. For the past two decades, the community center and venue has made thought-provoking entertainment accessible to people across the District and this April, it is celebrating 20 years of being a cultural hub. 

Located in the heart of Chinatown, Sixth & I has been a hub for “arts, entertainment, ideas, and Jewish life in Washington, D.C.,” since opening in 2004. According to their website, the community center is proud to deliver events that “inspire more meaningful and fulfilling lives through an unexpected mix of experiences that embrace the multi-faceted identities of those we serve.”

Singers such as Adele and Brandi Carlile, luminaries a la Toni Morrison and Salman Rushdie, and comedians including Tina Fey and W. Kamau Bell have all graced the Sixth & I stages.

Their multifaceted programming is a direct result of Sixth & I’s collaboration with the community. “This place has grown in kind of the scope and the breadth of programming that we’ve offered over the years,” says Michelle Eider, assistant director of marketing and communications for Sixth & I. “As we are reflecting back on all that we’ve accomplished and looking to our next 20 years, this April just provides an opportunity to celebrate the ways that Sixth & I has impacted D.C. and fulfilled our mission of helping people live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.”

The synagogue’s cultural impact is felt across the city. And now, in honor of the 20th anniversary of its opening, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office has officially declared April 22, 2024, “Sixth & I Day.” 

The declaration is a citywide acknowledgment of all the incredible programming the center has provided the city over the past two decades. 

According to the declaration, “Sixth & I is a treasured resource that enriches the District of Columbia with dynamic world-class arts and entertainment experiences that fuel curiosity, encourage new perspectives, and spark inspiration.” 

The synagogue has also transformed Jewish life across the District. Eider says Sixth & I’s programming is tailored to local Jewish people in their 20s and 30s to provide a “radically welcoming, nonjudgmental place” for them to explore their spirituality and engage intellectually with a wide range of perspectives. 

“Everything from an intro to Judaism to a class on the Torah of Taylor Swift is something that we’ve offered this past year,” Eider says. “Last year we sold over 17, 000 tickets for our various Jewish life programs.” This targeted programming has resonated with locals in the 20 to 39 age range, she explains, adding that it has created “a welcoming and accessible place to explore their Judaism for folks who may not necessarily know where they fit in when it comes to their spirituality.” 

The Mayor’s special designation coincides with a fundraising campaign aimed at supporting and sustaining the legacy of the cultural center for another decade or two. Throughout the month of April, all donors who give at least $20 to Sixth & I will be automatically entered to win 20 tickets to use at Sixth & I events over the next year.

“We are using the opportunity to invite the wider community to make a symbolic gift of $20 or more,” Eider says. “Since our founding, Sixth & I has really relied on the support and generosity of our community. We would not be here today without their investment. As we’re thinking about the next 20 years and looking to the future, we’re really hoping that the community will continue to support us.”

Continuing with the organization’s legacy of providing diverse and enriching programming for all of D.C., Sixth & I has an exciting program lined up for this spring. The organization will feature events including a performance by singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly, conversations with thought leaders such as economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, author Gabrielle Zevin, and TV host Jen Psaki, as well as a Passover seder. 

You can find more about Sixth & I’s programming lineup at sixthandi.org.