Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevito Clark.
Hi Kevito, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
‘Love, Peace & Spades™’ is a community of creatives, professionals, and grassroots organizers who curate game-based experiences to honor, celebrate, and cherish our Black family heirlooms (e.g., Uno, Bid Whist, Tunk (or Tonk), Dominoes, and, of course, Spades).
In addition to gameplay, we offer pop-up experiences, skills-based education, tech/VR integration, a comprehensive directory of Black-owned businesses, game developers, and makers, plus an annual Spades tournament and festival for enthusiastic players.
Our mission is to curate Love, Peace & Spades™ as a modern-day “hush harbor,” a protected space created by and for Black people where we can promote intergenerational communion through music, tech, education, and play.
‘Love, Peace & Spades™’ also aims to directly heal emotional traumas from past gaming experiences through ‘Spades Academy™,’ a curriculum-based activation for players looking to learn the skills and strategies involved with Spades and other games.
The event developed as a continuation of my search to find spaces where Black people can play Spades among themselves and their community. As a college student at Kent State University, I would religiously play Spades with friends and it was a central tool in forging lifelong bonds and creating memorable moments. When I moved to New York City, it was hard to find people who genuinely played the game and did not have some sort of scar tissue from trying to learn. I met more people there who shared traumatic experiences associated with Spades, which kept them from wanting to play with others.
So, in 2022, after arriving in South Central from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, I connected with DJ Fredriqué and long-time friend Camille “iLL Camille” Davis to land a home at The LINE LA (3515 Wilshire Blvd.) in Koreatown, where Jennie Wright (Brand Experience Manager) completely saw the vision.
Eliyannah Yisrael (Project Manager), Paris McCoy (Creative Tech Officer), and Jamilah Lemieux (Featured Guest Host) joined to shape the program, and we were blessed — despite obstacles and challenges — to make it a full year in Los Angeles, providing smiles, laughter, and fun all the way.
Our first event, Dec. 21, 2022, quickly became “a rather fly game night” and welcomed Black Los Angeles to gather with those who look like them, feel safe to learn without fear of judgment or repercussion, and meet new people.
As someone who aims to positively invest into the Black community, ‘Love, Peace & Spades™’ has been a Godsend for me and fulfills my personal goal to be a productive member of society.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
With a background in digital media and communications, I have rarely — if at all — put on any live event. The first obstacle that I overcame was landing a venue, which, thankfully, wasn’t extremely hard due to my relationship with native Los Angelenos.
Another hurdle was getting the word out at a time when many people were still asking, “Who’s all gonna be there?” when it came to post-pandemic, outside events. The challenge was to offer something different than what was then out there, as anyone can make a game night. We were successful since we offered “Spades Academy,” a chance for attendees to brush up on their skills or learn how to play altogether.
The remaining obstacle is to find pathways to keep the event free for people to join. As it stands, we operate on a “suggested donation” basis, which allows us to keep operating costs down, but the challenge is to land a partner or sponsor who can empower us to keep ‘Love, Peace & Spades a cost-free gathering where all players feel welcome to kick it with us.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Love, Peace & Spades’ is a monthly game night series curated by SUBJECT TO CHANGE LLC and cultivated here in Los Angeles, California. I was searching for a welcoming community of Spades players after not having much luck previously in Brooklyn, New York City. It had been a goal of mine since college, where I formed my core ideas of fraternity around card games.
Every first Wednesday of the month, we gather at The LINE LA (3515 Wilshire Blvd.) to play what we call Black family classics — Bid Whist, Tunk/Tonk, Dominoes, and, of course, Spades. We offer games from the African diaspora, like Mancala, to amusement like Uno, which has been a long-time favorite in Black households everywhere.
What sets us apart from others is that ‘Love, Peace & Spades’ aims to cultivate a modern-day hush harbor, where Black people can decompress from the day, have a good time with friends both longtime and new, learn how to play the games we offer, and keep our recipes from going stale. Outside of the game night, ‘Love, Peace & Spades’ is positioned to address the emotional and mental health traumas that people have experienced while trying to do all of the above, and with an infusion of music, tech, and education—it is a rather fly night not to miss.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
The role luck played in the cultivation of ‘Love, Peace & Spades’ is a bit like knowing when you have a hot hand with the Big and Lil’ Jokers. For years, I couldn’t find anyone who matched the same energy I experienced while in college, and signs pointed to that changing once I arrived in South Central, Los Angeles. People were coming off being indoors due to the pandemic, and there were still lingering emotions tied into not having seen their loved ones and friends for some time.
The luck of the deal meant that, while not inventing the wheel with a game night, adding some much-needed positive perspective would help chase away any negative feelings for those who weren’t allowed to learn or play Spades or other card games. ‘Love, Peace & Spades’ genuinely has been blessed with the luck to become an integral part of Black Los Angeles’ communal gathering every month, and it feels good to craft a judgment-free zone for those in my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovepeaceandspades.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovepeaceandspades
- Other: https://linktr.ee/love.peace.spades
Image Credits
Personal Photo Credits: Jason Armond
Additional Photo Credits: Jason Armond – Jerome A. Shaw – Isiah Williams
