Arts news in brief: Oct. 28

Mautner founder to be honored

The National Women’s Health Network is holding a cocktail reception at Busboys & Poets 5th and K streets location (1025 5th St., N.W.) on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to present this year’s Barbara Seaman Award for Activism in Women’s Health to Susan Hester.

Hester founded the Mautner Project in 1990 after her partner, Mary-Helen Mautner, died of breast cancer. Mautner was started to work toward achieving a health care system that is “respectful of and accessible to all, without regard for their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.” She also co-founded the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

Byllye Y. Avery, founder of the Avery Institute for Social Change and the Black Women’s Health Imperative, will also be present as a guest speaker.

MCC-DC holding Freedom Plaza service

As part of its Opening Doors Comprehensive Campaign, Metropolitan Community Church of Washington will be holding its first-ever outdoor community-wide worship celebration on Freedom Plaza on Sunday with pre-worship music beginning at 10:30 a.m. following by the service itself at 11.

The Opening Doors Campaign featured a week of service. Members of the church volunteered to clean up not only the church and church grounds, but also the surrounding neighborhood. They also helped at events like the “Young, Black and LGBTQ” town hall and have about 40 members planning to walk Saturday in the AIDS Walk.

In other MCC-DC news, singer Oleta Adams will join the church at its Christmas concert slated for Dec. 3 at Lincoln Theater. The Gay Mens’ Chorus of Washington will also perform and is the church’s guest for Sunday’s service. Tickets are $32 and $22 and are available through Tickemaster.

For more information on MCCDC, visit mccdc.com.