Olde Towne East Jazz Festival was founded in 2023 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our organization designs events of cultural importance that will elevate the Olde Towne East and Near East side Communities. This year we have partnered with The Ohio State University Music Jazz Studies Program Head Michael Smith, We Rise Entertainment, Project, Prosperity Faith & Mr. Martin J Ruffin from the “Bringing it Back Home Festival”, this year to bring awareness to Mental Health, Heart Health, Neuroscience/Brain Injury Awareness, Health and Wellness, Promote Family Unity with a Back School Project and Youth Participation Initiative.
About Our Founder:
Like a lot of jazz greats our Founder, Ms. Selina Dawkins is a classically trained pianist. She is multi-instrumentalist and a classically trained Opera Singer who sings in Latin, French, Italian, German and English. She has taught music privately for more than 30 years. Ms. Dawkins resides in the Olde Towne East Community and is very passionate about promoting, uplifting and improving her community in a positive way.
Our Target Area:
Olde Towne East and Near East Side is one of the oldest areas in the city that has gone through transition and is in the process of urban renewal. It is under major revitalization and our goal is to be a part of this transformation and partner with other organizations to help improve this up-and-coming underserved area.
Our office is ideally located in the Olde Towne East Community where we host many community events throughout the year such as “Sip and Play”, End of Year “Nothin But Love” Dedication Musical Event and our Annual Labor Day Holiday Music Series with a host of Online Live Music Streaming Events.
Festival and Community Day:
The Olde Towne East Jazz Festival and The Martin J Ruffin Community Event will bring attention back to a once historical area and give hope to its rebirth and regain its rich history as a great Mecca by sparking community participation.
The 2nd Annual Olde Towne East Jazz Festival is a 3-day outdoor event at Blackburn Park that will feature an All-City Urban Jazz Cypher Kick-off event and Youth showcase Friday, August 16th, 2024 from 6-10pm; Introducing for the first time Jazz Master Classes that will be held 11am -2pm Saturday, August 17th, 2024; Featuring headlining International Jazz recording artists, national and local Jazz Groups as well as community leaders on August 17th - 18th,2024. Our Martin J Ruffin Community Outreach in the afternoon of Saturday, August 17th, 2024 will include back-to-school supplies with Social Services agencies onsite with a family orientated theme and activities for the children. Followed by our 1st ever Jazz in the Park event Sunday, August 18th, 2024 11am-2pm.