On Thursday, October 29, 2026, Washington, DC, and the African American Music Association (AAMA) will honor The Jewels, DC’s legendary female singing group of the 1960s, with the unveiling of a commemorative street sign, “The Jewels Way.”

The sign will be unveiled in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School, located on 13th Street NW between Upshur and Allison Streets NW. The Jewels attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1962.

Immediately following the unveiling, a tribute celebration will be held in the Roosevelt High School auditorium. The program will celebrate The Jewels’ legacy and feature a performance by The Jewels, marking their first performance in five years, remarks from DC Ward 4 Councilmember Janese Lewis George, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, former DC Mayor Sharon Pratt, and other speakers and a musical tribute by Roosevelt High School students honoring The Jewels as distinguished alumnae,

Funding Need
AAMA completed a year-long process to secure the commemorative street sign, ensuring that The Jewels take their rightful place in DC history. However, the unveiling and tribute celebration are being planned with limited funding.
We hope the Awesome Foundation will support AAMA in presenting this historic day of celebration on October 29.

About The Jewels
The Jewels formed in 1959 while attending Roosevelt High School. The original members were Sandra Bears, Grace Ruffin, Carrie Mingo, and Margie Clarke. While still in high school, The Jewels recorded several local hits and made their first stage appearance at the Howard Theatre. In 1964, the group achieved its first national hit with “Opportunity,” which remained on the Billboard charts for seven weeks. During a performance at the Apollo Theater in New York, James Brown saw The Jewels perform and invited them to join the James Brown Revue. They toured with Brown for one year as his first female background singers.