Written by Staff Writer-Now Moments TIMES
In a world where mental health conversations often feel distant or clinical, a different kind of gathering is taking shape, one rooted in culture, joy, and intentional play.
On August 30th, Play It Forward: Game Night will bring together residents of the DMV for an evening designed not just to entertain, but to restore. The event, led by The Current Event in partnership with the Melanated Wellness Foundation, is set to transform a casual pastime into a community call to action.
To learn about the event, click here!
The venue, Solaire Social in Silver Spring, will become a space where Spades, Uno, Taboo, and Black Jeopardy meet lived experiences, and where community connection becomes part of the solution.
At its core, this isn’t about nostalgia or novelty. It’s about proximity getting closer to issues often kept at arm’s length. The Melanated Wellness Foundation, a nonprofit rooted in mental health access for underrepresented communities, uses gatherings like these to remind the public that joy and healing don’t have to be separate.
Throughout the night, guests will move through rounds of gameplay, conversation, and friendly competition. But the real stakes are off the board: visibility for organizations doing the work, and resources for those often left out of the conversation.
What happens at the table may look like fun, and it will be, but beneath every card flip and trivia answer is a greater purpose: creating space to be seen, to be heard, and to belong.
Those interested in attending can RSVP online. Donations and volunteer opportunities are also open for individuals and groups hoping to support beyond the night itself.
As needs grow and services shrink, Play It Forward reminds the community that support can take many shapes and sometimes, it looks like pulling up a chair.
For more details, visit:
thecurrentevent.org/events/play-it-forward
