SOUFEST 2025 - Help The UnGroup Celebrate 12 Years of Unity

We are The UnGroup Society, a local grassroots organization operating in The Greater Waterbury CT region.

We are asking for support for our year ending celebration of life, love and achievement.

The Spirit of Unity Festival or SOUFEST is a culmination of a years worth of educational and fun programming for youth as well as our general support of the City of Waterbury.

Over the past 12 years our group has cultivated an eco-system of education, emotional support, personal and professional development as well as introductions to artistic experiences for young people to learn and to positively express themselves. 

The UnGroup provides multiple educational after-school classes and projects aimed at Youth Violence Prevention. Our core programs of Youth Financial Literacy, Afro Latin History and Civic Engagement, are enhanced by positive artistic expression centered around our new Expression through Art and Music Production and Positive Lyrical Content Programs all guided by our overall Social Emotional Learning Initiative.

For 2025 we are please to be welcoming R&B / Soul singing legend Howard Hewett.

Joining Howard on the show will be:

Hip-Hop/Soul artist J Holliday,

Rap pioneer Keith Murray

Neo Soul icons Zo! and Tall Black Guy /featuring Deborah Bond

The music portion of the festival not only features performances by nationally known artists but also shines a light on our unity and collective will to come together in support of one another in celebration.

We have seen performances by such legendary performers as Phil Perry, Meli'sa Morgan, Alyson Williams, CeCe Peniston, Intro, Mr. Cheeks, Case, Black Ivory, The Intruders, CL Smooth, Will Traxx, Howard Zo! and Tall Black Guy f/Deborah Bond, Dawn Tallman, Lamone, Monifah and many more.

The entire day features access to resources from the community along the areas of social services, food insecurity, healthcare, education, mental and emotional wellness etc...

The SOUFEST event is much more than a music festival.

It is a celebration of life and a reaffirmation of commitment to our community and to each other

We reminisce on the past memories we carry for one another as we look towards a bright future for ourselves, our children and grandchildren in building new ones

The Event will be held on August 23th, 2025 at Silas Bronson Library Park, 267 Grand St.

Waterbury Ct. 06702

This year our entire event will be putting a focus on mitigating youth violence and addressing urban trauma on all levels

Please support this worthwhile cause and help us meet our goal